AN: I know it has been a while. Life has been busy. Although as things change opportunityarises to return to old passions. I hope you enjoy.
A shrill scream. A hiss of an agitated serpent. A deadly click of extended blades. Only then did finally honed senses register what was going on. So'nja saw her guide from last night standing far away from her hammock and the other girls sleepily sticking heads out from behind sleeping curtains. Only to finally register the angered coil of serpent on her midsection.
~The screaming one smells of Prey-Fear. And screams like an injured calf. Can I silence it and eat it? Or will it bring bigger Not-Prey?~ Her serpentine companion hissed both in commentary and query.
She was just starting to suspect her ability to talk to serpentine life forms was related to her other powers. No Yaut'ja was able to replicate her feat. Although apparently it was not universal with her biological species either. Judging by the reaction of the bushy haired girl.
With a soft snick she retracted her arm blades and turned to the serpent on top of her. Hissing back to her companion. ~No. We are in their lair and we must respect their rules of the hunt. I will ask about where good hunting grounds are for you. I have a feeling they will be providing me with vat-meat.~
Assuring her companion she sighed and turned to the other members of her sleeping pod. Two looked like they were going to run and tell everyone what they saw. She knew the type. Even her vaunted species had those who hunted for gossip and stories more than actual prey.
Slipping off her hammock and scooping up her companion. Which slithered up her arm and coiled around the crimson huntress's shoulders. With a deep breath she summoned strength and once again began the Hunt of the Diplomat. Great Hunter preserve her.
"Not smart. Don't hunt sleeping Yaut'ja." She caught herself using her language to define her species with tremendous effort she translated the word. "Yaut'ja. The greatest predators." The human language felt dead on her tongue unable to give life to the great history imbued in her language at her species name.
Emerald eyes flicked as she watched the other two disappear off into a side room. One whose function she hadn't been shown yet. Turning back to the girl cowering against the wall she heaved a heavy sigh. Another point against her biological species. Yaut'ja had learned to mimic many species' auditory aspects. So far only those of a serpentine nature could she understand. Not counting if the species in question was sentient in a linguistic capacity that is. It seemed listening and mimicry was more a skill for the hunter, and not whatever her biological species was.
Holding out her hand she hissed softly. Her companion slithered down her arm and eyed her guide from last night.
"She Centauri razor serpent. She not hunt you." Speaking slowly and cursing herself for not taking the time to set up her learning programs in her bio mask before she fell asleep. With that, the crimson huntress settled into the deep patience of a true hunter. A feeling she knew well. She may detest what she was hunting, But the act of hunting was as familiar as breathing to her. She did take a moment to make a small note to herself to praise the diplomats when she got home. If…she could not stop the fleeting dark thought.
Finally after less than time that she expected the bushy haired she-creature pushed slowly away from the wall and asked. "Razored serpent?"
It seemed So'nja instincts were right. This one was a hunter of knowledge. With a gravely chuckle she nodded. "Yes." She paused as she struggled to find the words. This lack of language as going to continue to be a source of frustration until she could fix it. "Safety. Defense. Not attack. Special ways."
Finally shrugging and giving up she turned to her companion. ~Show off a little but remember you are wrapped around my arm.~
She watched as her serpentine friend rose up slightly and the young woman before her recoiled again. The top portion of the snake above her hand scrunched up and his scales pushed out. A series of under scales slid out. Just looking at them showed them to be natural blades.
"Sharp. No touch." game the soft warning growl. Her sleeping pod companion didn't look like she was going to try and touch but always better to be safe with the unblooded.
Hermione looked between the unusual snake and the red head before her. "You really have been out amongst the stars, haven't you?"
The girl tilted her head as the translation came through. "Yes. Ship home. Star to star."
It was the bushy haired girl's turn to tilt her head in confusion as she parsed out the meaning of the stilted language coming from the tall red head before her. Finally nodding a bit with a comment, "We definitely need to work on your English. Did you want to freshen up before we go to breakfast or did you have some techno doohickey so you don't have to."
So'nja growled at the mention of her language skills. It was a sore point for her. "Freshen up?" She finally inquired.
Hermione sighed a bit with a put upon expression. "Take a shower. Get clean. Wash yourself?"
Understanding finally came upon So'nja like a great beast of the jungle. "Later. You show. Probably not understand. Food now."
~Go and hunt. Scout and find what you can. Do not be seen unless you are hurt hunt the small things but leave anything cat could be a pet alone. Let me know if i need to take you to the forest.~
She felt a soft sibilant acknowledgement through her shoulders and her friend slip off to be a snake.
She was feeling rather proud of the complex human statements she had just said but the look of frustration on the other girl's face let her know she still had a long way to go.
A soft nod and a bounce of curly hair came with the "Alright. Let's go. I just hope we do not have more problems. Last night was enough. Will your snake be an issue"
"Not issue from her." She calmly stated
So'nja followed. Learning the layout. She had no issues learning the shifting geography of the castle. It reminded her much of the many jungles she had visited. But the girl before her seemed to stop and check several landmarks along the way. Seeming to huff when something wasn't where she expected it to be.
Finally they reached the same hall from last night. They headed over to the crimson table. The same crimson from the place she had been taken to to rest at night and given the password to.
The Yaut'ja in human skin began to wonder. Those main body of humans seemed to be younger and she was beginning to think the same young ones were grouped like her young hunter training. When teams were pitted against each other.
It was a thought to be considered for later. For now she saw Silver approach her. Sitting up a little straighter as if an Alpha were coming to talk to her. Her parents had taught her good manners after all.
"Sonja, my dear." Silver enunciated clearly but did not slow down like he was talking to an idiot. So'nja respected him all the more for it. "It has been decided at least for now. That you shall accompany Ms. Granger to her classes. Learn what you can and adapt as you can. We shall try to find your level of skill and if we need to adjust classes for you. We will. For now your only goal is to try. You seem to have learned some magic on your own. Part of your test shall be to see if you can learn more. Part shall be just interacting. Not just with your peers but we will also make time for adults who wish to get to know you. You're Godfather is clamoring for your time."
She felt her faux mandibles spread in a smile. She had been given prey to hunt and something more substantial than the prey of the Diplomat. The prey of the learner was one she knew well. She would do her best to make both Silver and her parents proud of her on this new hunt and she would collect as many trophies as she could. Knowledge was in some ways better than skulls on her wall.
Watching as Silver turned to her guide. "Ms. Granger. You shall continue to guide our guest as you seem to have already formed a tentative friendship. I expect your grades to remain the same but I also expect you to do more than just shove books in her face."
It took the transplanted human a moment to process but finally she understood. Her guide was a bit isolated. Silver had shot two xenomorphs with one bolt. Yes, she respected the man a little more.
"Ladies, enjoy your breakfast." With the final parting comment the old general left them to their meal.
Turning to look at the options, she sniffed deeply and sighed. Everything had the smell of a preserver. She was more convinced it would be a good long while before she actually got to Hunt.
So'nja finally admitted at least to herself she needed help. Turning to her guide and waving her hand over everything. "What is?"
Over the next hour with much halting and sighing came an explanation of the everyday food items that were common. Fried food was definitely not to her liking. It sat heavy and grating in her stomach. The overly sugary cakes were ok in small doses. The various meats were good despite the obvious taste of vat-meat. The vegetables were hit or miss. Some she devoured in large amounts others she tried and then refused. However the fruits were amazing. She had always enjoyed the fruits of various planets. Her biology seeming more adapted to them than a native Yaut'ja. Now being allowed to indulge was one of the few good things she seemed to have access to on this tiny backwater.
Finally having eaten their fill the pair of girls stood and made their way out. Commenting as the left. "Thank you for teach me human foods."
The bushy haired girl smiled tentatively. Like she wasn't used to hearing nice words for a successful hunt or spar. The hunt of the teacher was almost as hard as a diplomat. One could simply not beat knowledge through the thick skulls of the Yuat'ja.
They had left the food hall and not goon e more than one corridor away when they found themselves face to face with three boys if the crimson hunter guessed right. One slightly small but with the air of one used to being followed. With bright yellow white hair. His two companions looked about as loyal as Brute and Rampage but about half as smart.
The one leading the small group began to speak rapidly. Unable to process at the same speed she watched and listened as best she could. She may not understand the human tongue but body language she was finding was more universal amongst sentient species. Although she was having to broaden her definition of sentient it seemed.
"Well Well what do we have hear boys. It seems the mudblood has found a new pet project. Or maybe it's just a new pet. I hear she can barely speak. Probably as dumb as a parrot. Can only mimic sounds and just happens to appear like an intelligent human." Draco drawled out. Of all the mudbloods in the school. Granger was the easiest. And now he had a new target. What was going to be a dull year just got a lot more fun. Grabbe and Goyle gave the appropriately dim witted chuckle. Oh well, it wasn't like he kept them for their rapier wit.
"So tell me Potter. Has your mind been addled to the point of stupidity? Does polly want a cracker? Come on Polly squawk for your betters." he chuckled again to himself. "Dumb blood traitor is so dumb. Doesn't even understand she is even worse than the rest of the blood traitors.
So'nja watched as her guide and new friend curled in on herself with each new obvious insult. She was unaware of what the insults were. Too many nouns and idioms she didn't have reference to. Until finally the translator in her ear gave her one she did recognize. Badblood. The little mite had called her a Badblood. He had challenger her to her very core. She didn't care about trying to be a good diplomat. She no longer cared about the task Silver had set her to learn.
She roared. Long and loud. Her ancestors would hear her challenge and defense of all those of her blood. Two quick steps and she had the mite around the throat and off the ground. She back handed one of the meatheads away. The other looked scared and rightfully so.
"Challenge accepted, Mite! I'd kill you here if it wasn't beneath me! Where is your Pit!?" It never even occurred to her that she wasn't even trying to speak the human tongue; her vision had gone as red as her hair. This whelp would either be dead or know his place within the hour.
"S-Sonja…" The crimson huntress heard a stutter behind her. She paid it no mind. She had other things to deal with.
"Where?!" She roared again and shook the little mite. Her sensitive nose caught the vaguest hints of urine. Enough to somewhat please her but not enough to judge who. And certainly not enough to back down from the challenge from the mite.
She heard him squawk in her tight grip. She find his soft hands grab and paw at her tight fist. She let her other arms double blade extend. "Where? Or would you rather I just kill you here for your insult and end your disgrace quickly and cleanly?"
"SONJA! Put him down now!" She heard a new roar coming up the hall and she turned. Silver and Battleaxe where fast approaching. Slim sticks in hand. Silver the calm battlemaster and Battle axe looking slightly more on edge. Although it was obvious she had seen her fair share of trouble
The mite, still in one hand. Turning a faint shade of blue. One set of Brawler blades still extended. "Grave insult has been given! We will settle this in the Pit!"
She felt a little leery speaking to Silver so harshly but an Alpha should know one did not just call someone a Badblood without plenty of proof. Even an unblooded whelp of a hunter.
"Sonja. We can not understand you. Put him down. Center yourself. And I promise we will deal with the situation." She listened to Silver's calm words. The instant anger had given way to more logical thoughts. She admitted it only to herself. The human way may not be the Yaut'ja way. Silver had already earned her respect. She would now return it.
She threw the boy at Silver's feet. Her blades still extended. A blooded hunter she may be but she was still a young hunter. She was still angry. Pointing at the mite and barely managing to growl out. "Call us. Badblood. Settle in Pit"
Everyone from the meatheads to the mite. Her guide to the two older ones looked in every way confused. Like she had still been speaking Yaut'ja.
Battleaxe finally collected herself. "Perhaps if you can explain why calling you a Badblood set you off so much."
"Badblood" She spat out, ignoring the fact they had ignored her rightful request for now. "Betray clan. Killer of family. Worst." She tried to explain everything that made a Badbllod so vile in her culture. Yet she knew she lacked the words.
There was nothing medically wrong with Badbloods. 5000 years of medical science had proven that. And yet they were members of Yaut'ja society, that had for whatever reasons. Abandoned all claims to Kith and Kin. Hunted family for selfish reasons. Killed indiscriminately without claim to trophies or to support the clan. Meat and skulls left abandoned. No longer a hunter but a pure killer.
A soft voice piped up from her side. "H-he didn't say Badblood professors. He said m-mudblood and blood traitor.
So'nja watched as both Silver and Battleaxe turned disapproving frowns upon the mite. She recognized the facial expression from her own time before the reflecting walls on her ship.
Battleaxe said something in a language even her suits systems did not recognize. Which oddly pleased the huntress. Perhaps her biological species had a penchant for languages as her adopted species had a penchant for mimicry.
It was Silver though who spoke so she could understand. "Mr. Malfoy. I thought we had resolved these issues during your first year. You well know that the Blood Wars ended a decade ago. Your insistence on clinging to a fallacy has finally gotten the better of you. I am of half a mind to let Sonja here take you to whatever she defines as a 'Pit'. However, young man, unlike you I can see the value of not jumping to biased conclusions. She had least has the benefit of being a stranger in a strange land. And over reactions can be understood if not indulged. Considering your father's years in politics, I think a month of detention should suffice. To learn the disastrous outcomes of failing at diplomacy."
Eyes of emerald death watched the mite and Silver. Mite did not respond but looked more and more aggravated with each word Silver uttered. She grinned for a moment at hearing Silver may let him take Mite to a Pit and show him the error of his ways. Although her translator finally dashed those hopes.
Finally he turned to her. "Sonja, my dear, Magic clearly seems to acknowledge you as an adult. Mr. Malfoy is not. Please give him this one opportunity to learn from his ways."
Everyone watched the huntress. Her blades were still extended and her temper was still simmering. Although they all knew she needed time to translate.
Finally with a huff she retracted her arm blades with a nod to Silver. She turned to Mite though and growled lightly at him. "One mistake. Mite. Learn. Next time. Blood will flow."
With that she turned her back on him. She could at least insult him in her own way.
The old general gave a small smile and nod. Yet So'nja could read that Silver accepted the situation for what it was. A potential problem and she had at least been willing to give a little this time.
"Ms. Granger. I believe you have Charms next. Would you be oh so kind to show Sonja the way."
Everyone recognized the polite suggestion for what it was. A dismissal of the two girls but not of the boy.
Hermione was ready to get out of there and So'nja was pleased with the outcome so went willingly. All in All, not a bad morning hunt.