The Yautja Boys
Chapter Six – The Enforcer
By Blackdawn

"You're telling me, I've been hunting that forsaken bird this entire time, and they have them in cages under the temple?" Came in a rough growl from the depths of Hulij-hswei's throat behind his mask, his tone very much agitated, irritated, and flat out upset. Shifting a tense stature from their crouched positions on the ridge line looking over the far temple in the morning warming heat by the distant twin suns.

Jehdin-Pyode carefully examined his mentor, wondering if the stocky male thought with his muscle instead of his mind, but witnessing the smaller brute engage in battle portrayed he was an experienced hunter and held knowledge in the ways of combat. However exceptionally delighted his mentor was upset. Made up for Hulij-hswei lying that he didn't have a high volume of medicine when, on the contrary, had a stockpile of it. Hidden. Buried. While his leg was still puss-filled and infected, swollen and getting worse, the pains held at bay due to the new supply of healing inventory and could at least limp around in a make-shift tourniquet built from branches and vines.

Jehdin-Pyode's top mandible wavered slightly and gaze shifted retorting to the bulking heat source next to him. "Not in cages. They're held within an enclosed area in a chasm under the temple and roam freely consuming the fresh fauna planted down there along with a fresh water supply from an underground spring."

Hulij-hswei rumbled out a heated growl, spitting with fuming reprisal. "What ever happened to being a sacred and rare species?"

"Well," Jehdin-Pyode started. "It's difficult to have a ceremony when you can't catch the sacred meat due to its scarcity. So, they're bred and kept underground." Ending the brief explanation quickly for the topic to linger before finally settling. Eager to meet a reaction from his mentor and as foreseen, the matured male slipped into a series of curses, even slamming a furious fist onto the ground, plucking a derisive laughing bout out of Jehdin-Pyode.

Jehdin-Pyode had always known about this secret. A ruse created by his clan's council to try and appease the Priests and Priestesses in upholding its traditional role. Hunting the N'tk had halted because the council calculated they were wasting resources on a nearly dead species, unanimously deciding to instead corral the sacred bird and instead bolster the numbers locally through contained breeding as well as being an easy catch, meanwhile concealing the bird to keep the clan's citizens following tradition. The Holy Ones never liked stepping away from that path and preached a bad omen to fall on them for straying.

Wayward thoughts had Jehdin-Pyode carefully scratching a birthmark on his right arm. Swearing his markings was becoming more noticeable under his vision with each passing day. His still wrecked mind mulling over how he was his clan's downfall. Now here he was, bringing chaos in tow. It made him wonder if it all was true, that this is what had been lengthily prophesied.

His mentor drew in a sharp, waning breath, exhaled slowly in a shift to his pupil and inquired. "So how do we acquire one?"

Jehdin-Pyode pointed to their right, towards a lone mountain some distance away. "There's a cave entrance on the far end, halfway in there's a spring which leads under the temple. That's the N'tk fresh water source. We can get in and out from there. Problem is we must pass the sentries at the entrance, enter the frigid water and crawl along the bottom to pass the second set of sentries. Once we've entered the chasm, grabbing one must be cautious and precise because N'tk are skittish and noisy and will alert the flock when they see someone. Meaning they will alert the sentries. We must snag one quickly then keep it still and quiet. Which is why we're going to have to force feed it V'ornt root. It will pass right out."

"And where do we get this, V'ornt root?" Hulij-hswei questioned quickly.

An inward grin filled Jehdin-Pyode that eventually spilled out, causing Hulij-hswei to question what he was thinking, then Jehdin-Pyode pivoted his frame around and pointed to behind them. "The root grows on that mountain."

There were two mountains closer to and a third farthest from, compelling a not so enthused groan out of Hulij-hswei who replied dryly. "I'm wondering if the fever is affecting your vision, because it looks to me, you're pointing to the mountain furthest from us."

Jehdin-Pyode nodded in silence as Hulij-hswei cackled in a trilling clatter asking. "Why isn't the root on either of the other mountains?"

Hulij-hswei upset with having to do so much work became comical, reprising another laugh from Jehdin-Pyode who answered back. "The root grows only there because it thrives in great moisture. Moisture hits that mountain first before coming down into the valley."

Yet another displeased growl rumbled from Hulij-hswei, this time from his chest as he shot up in a scowl and turned to lead, stomping off towards their new destination. Jehdin-Pyode on his mentor's heels.

Hulij-hswei looking behind to him, not stopping and inquired. "So how do you know all this when everything is supposed to be so secretive?"

"Well," Jehdin-Pyode started, slow to follow from his grueling limp and tight footwear from the small feet of his deceased brother, Guan-H'dlak. "I've had countless visits into the temple by my mother, begging the Holy Ones to appease the Gods to emancipate my Omen. I endured numerous rituals to try and detach my Omen. Some of which involved requiring theN'tk. Even having the dung rubbed on me."

Hulij-hswei cackled with a shake of his head. "Even I think that's disgusting."

Their trek was slow and tedious, close to sunset by the time reaching to and ascending their chosen destination. The two having made it sooner if not for Jehdin-Pyode's failing injury. Now it was Hulij-hswei who watched closely, inquisitively, between his task of twirling stripped vines together to construct a line binding for the N'tk and observing Jehdin-Pyode crushing the now acquired roots together on a rock.

"That's it." Jehdin-Pyode clicked, motioning for the empty container from Hulij-hswei and slathered in the horrid smelling, mucky substance then snapped the lid shut. "Once we're in," he injected. "We must keep quiet and not let the N'tk see us. Sneak up on one. Grab it, then force this into its mouth and it will go to sleep almost immediately." Having shifted to assist Hulij-hswei in finishing with making the rope when a whirring mechanical sound snapped his senses to attention and shot a questionable stare to Hulij-hswei. Knowing the sound wasn't coming from him.

"Look out!" Hulij-hswei's sudden yell made him jump and found himself slammed onto the ground by his mentor when a blast of hot energy shot over their heads hitting a tree causing it to explode sending a thousand fragments of various sized lumber everywhere. Unable to catch his footing and fell uncontrollably into a roll down the mountain side, hitting tree after tree until coming to a stop at another grown timber causing his injured leg to become lodged that sent pain burning through, drawing a piercing screech from his lungs.

Hearing Hulij-hswei shuffle and fire back. His plasmacaster possessed an unmistakable sound about it by having personally modified the cannon to fire a heavier blast, downside was he used up more bolts and had potential of burning himself. Then he heard his mentor cursing and heard him running. A strong spicy odor gathered in Jehdin-Pyode's head making him gag that sent his vision spinning. Once able to focus, he found a familiar parasitic insect near his head on the ground holding a defensive posture that was carrying a clutch of eggs on its abdomen. It was the insect releasing the odor, a defensive mechanism.

Then it finally dawned on him. Parasitic eggs. Parasitic eggs can cause a painful infection by hatching under the skin that doesn't go away. Guan-H'dlak had laced his spear with parasitic eggs.

"Jehdin-Pyode," came Hulij-hswei's strained and fretful voice, breathing heavy under his mask. "We need to go, now!"

Jehdin-Pyode winced as he was forced to move and growled at the pulling, piercing pain exploding in his leg. "Eggs," he rasped weakly. "Guan-H'dlak laced his blade in parasitic eggs. It's why my leg isn't healing."

"Worry about that later." Hulij-hswei bellowed as he yanked Jehdin-Pyode to his feet and forcibly shoved the towering giant into a run down the slope. "We have to move!"

This time hearing something zipping through the air and found himself shoved to the uneven ground by Hulij-hswei once again. A disc came slicing by over their heads, missing, and turned to return to its owner.

There was a furious roar from a third Yautja, then Hulij-hswei cursed and forced them both into another run.

"What's after us?" Jehdin-Pyode delivered promptly, terrified as they jumped back to their feet.

Hulij-hswei retorted vociferously in one swift breath. "An Enforcer!" But his voice distorted, drowned out by the beating of the nearby rapids.

As if on cue, the Enforcer appeared, intercepting by way of the trees due to their reduced speed and landed roughly on the ground to their front.

The male that now stood before them was older than Hulij-hswei, much older. Reaching close to the age of elder. Perceiving so by spotting the long, plated tresses possessing withering tips that were turning white from the lack of blood flow. Fitted in heavy armor and an armory of weapons. Weathered scales and a tough hide riddled with aged fading battle scars. It was the distinct armor that was most noticeable, its design different, pertaining to only one certain clan with its clan's symbol etched upon the wearer's mask.

Jehdin-Pyode eye's widened upon realizing who the armor belonged to, who this Enforcer was and gasped out of sheer fright. "Kaail-Halkrath!" He frightfully exclaimed - Rage Shadow. "That's, Kaail-Halkrath!"

Hulij-hswei hissed. "No time to greet, fool. Run!"

Jehdin-Pyode didn't have to be told a second time as he bolted to the right, catching Kaail-Halkrath turning for him but shifted when Hulij-hswei initiated the Ka'rik'na - a summoning of the Enforcer - in a deep, thundering roar of anger and rage.

Another blast overhead made him stop and duck, followed by shock when witnessing Hulij-hswei thrown over his head, contacted the ground and rolled hard and fast until falling off a ledge. He knew the area well and that ledge wasn't but a few noks drop. Which is why concerned welled in his chest when he didn't see his mentor spring back up. Running to the ledge as fast he could hobble and peered over viewing Hulij-hswei's still body on the rocks that was paces away from another sheer drop-off into the racing rapids below. There was blood everywhere and Hulij-hswei wasn't moving.

He dropped down and winced as stabbing pains shot up his leg, through his torso and into his chest. Not even having time to check if Hulij-hswei was okay when hearing Kaail-Halkrath approaching and purposely dashed directly into his view to get him to turn and follow which worked. Leading the Enforcer to the rocky bank and unexpectedly stopped by another blast at his front that sent an explosion of rocks flying. Not even having time to cover as he was struck by the stony flotilla, causing his fall. Then something strong and heavy grabbed his locks that forcefully yanked his head back, perceiving his tresses possibly becoming dislodged. Jehdin-Pyode found himself looking up to Kaail-Halkrath, a single blade sword in the Enforcer's hand raised above his head, ready to strike.

Panicked settled in, followed by a deep distinctive urge to live. To survive. He found himself jumping to his feet and charged Kaail-Halkrath, dodging a swing from the blade and landing one punch across the side of the elder's head that made him stop and stumble on his feet, looking like his senses had dullen. Like he had drank too much c'ntlip. Jehdin-Pyode meanwhile stood back. Shocked. Shocked that he just struck an elder, an Enforcer, and Kaail-Halkrath of the matter.

An explosion from a plasma bolt to his right had him ducking that sent rocks flying everywhere. Kaail-Halkrath coming to his senses and trying to evade but howled furiously as struck by the second blast, the third missed, then the fourth grazed Jehdin-Pyode's own shoulder making him cover his shoulder and buckle over scowling loudly. Upon rolling over and looking found Hulij-hswei up and stumbling, firing blind.

"Hulij-hswei," Jehdin-Pyode shouted at the top of his lungs. "Stop firing!" Grateful his mentor regarded the instruction, then watched him fall. Hearing Kaail-Halkrath aiming his plasmacaster and watched as it positioned for his mentor. His friend. The only Yautja on this planet who never belittled him or ridiculed him. Never spat on him or wished he were dead nor tried removing his gonads. Never said he was a curse upon the land. So, he jumped, intercepting before a shot claim fired.

Bodies collided in thundering raids of fists and talons. Clashing, striking. A towering colossus of muscle and bone, fledgling and untried against a seasoned warrior of metal and artillery, aged and experienced. Even when the ground buckled and gave way, hurling stones amidst the fray. The combatants did not falter, did not sway. They continued their conquest in dominance of power for victory.

However, it was Jehdin-Pyode who gained the advantage. Landing one knock clean across Kaail-Halkrath's mask, snapping his neck back causing legs to wobble and quiver, stumbling under an unsteady frame. Then, Jehdin-Pyode head butted the elder which seemed to have an effect as Kaail-Halkrath completely stopped his advances. Curious as to how hard he could head-butt someone dawning a mask, Jehdin-Pyode gave another strike of his bare head and found the smallest dent across the top. Gave another hit and found the dent bigger now. This time Jehdin-Pyode gave two strikes of his head making Kaail-Halkrath topple and fall to his back. Noticing the Enforcer fumbling for something on the ground, finding the aged Yautja trying to grip his sword and was hastily snatched by Jehdin-Pyode who delivered one hard swing, lopping the left hand completely off. An ear-piercing screech of torture and suffering escaped Kaail-Halkrath that echoed relentlessly behind his mask as spewing blood gushed out the freshened exit. Jehdin-Pyode nearly sustaining being sliced by Kaail-Halkrath's wrist blades that unsheathed as the limb-missing Elite stumbled to his feet.

Now, Jehdin-Pyode snarled. Letting the rage build, focusing all his years of torment and anguish, and being ostracized from his own clan into his fist and shifted his frame into a strike, docking one blow onto Kaail-Halkrath's ribs across his left lateral, not only causing him to buckle but the excess force of the strike so great it sent the Yautja flying over the bank, his head smacking onto a nearby boulder making him bounce leaving a blood splatter before falling into the river lifelessly and was swept away like a piece of timber. The threat eliminated; his body collapsed. Falling onto hands and knees and began heaving, pains from his infected calf building and felt his fever rising again.

A sudden touch from hands to the back made him jump and swivel around to strike but stopped from it being Hulij-hswei. Relieved to see his mentor, he collapsed onto the rocks, vision spinning and bile making him choke where he needed help in turning over. Gasping between each bile eject, he gurgled. "Kaail-Halkrath." Through a sore throat spitting out fluid. "That was, Kaail-Halkrath."

"I know." Hulij-hswei jutted, keeping him rolled on his side. "I've fought him a couple times already. He's killed some of my clan. Never thought I would see him here though."

"D'ktah-de clan." Jehdin-Pyode gurgled weakly as he forced himself to sit. "He and his Bond Mate, Sain'ja-Kale, are from the D'ktah-de clan. It was Sain'ja-Kale who convinced their clan and mine to form an alliance for his Bond Mate's eugenics endeavors. This is personal to him."

"Well, we won't have to worry about him now." Uttered from his groaning mentor.

Jehdin-Pyode shook his head. "No. I've met him once. He's not a force to be reckoned with."

"Jehdin-Pyode, that force just got washed down river, by you." Hulij-hswei's hand motioning towards the rapids. "You don't know the potential you possess."

Another heave came out, producing more bile having Jehdin-Pyode go limp, feeling like his fever was worsening with every breath.

"You're burning up." Hulij-hswei's undertone uneasy from under his mask. "I can get you to drop site right now, that way I can tend to your condition as soon as the ship arrives."

Jehdin-Pyode shook his head and groaned out weakly. "No. We're almost there. I can't arrive empty-handed. I finally have a chance to prove myself and I'm going to finish it, even if it means killing myself."

His mentor went to assist him to his feet but stumbled and Jehdin-Pyode's eyes widened in horror at the grotesque backside of Hulij-hswei. Not from all the blood pouring down his shoulders and back, but what was missing. Not only were the left side of his tresses missing, but also a piece of his head displaying an exposed skull. "Hulij-hswei," but Jehdin-Pyode's concerned protest having been interrupted by Hulij-hswei.

"I know, Jehdin-Pyode." He growled.

"But your skull."

He hissed irritably. "I know. Can't help it now. You'll have to help me cauterize my wounds before going into the temple."

"Are you sure you can manage that?"

"I'm going to have to it."

Then Jehdin-Pyode finally asked the serious question. The question he had been asking this entire time since meeting Hulij-hswei and was never given a full answer. "Why exactly are you needing the N'tk so badly?"

Hulij-hswei stopped and explained quite simply. "Breeding. The suitor who catches a N'tk gets to breed with the only one of our clan that is female. She said she'll produce a sucker for the one that presents theN'tk to her."

This entire time he was thinking locating the N'tk was for some higher purpose to prove status or even to trade or sell it. No. This was all about a female.

Hope y'all liked this one. The parasitic eggs bit I added of the Widow Clan from the Rage War Trilogy. Haven't read the books, yet. I'm just aware that's how Hashori tortured one of her victims. This chapter has two of my characters from my other story, The Hunter's Way, in it; Kaail-Halkrath and Sain'ja-Kale - Rage Shadow and Warrior Maker.

Next chapter: Capture and Escape - our boys have to capture the N'tkthen have to get off the planet.

Chapter Eight I'm going to make a short crossover story between, The Yautja Boys and The Hunter's Way, involving Kaail-Halkrath. Nothing lengthy, just a look into his life as an Enforcer and how chaotic things get tracking down Jehdin-Pyode as Kaail-Halkrath is seekingrevenge for the Bad Blood having bested him, but his plans on revenge takes different turn than he anticipated.