Chapter 10: Excitement
On the bridge The Elder supervised the running of this vessel and checked that preparations for their arrival were being taken care of on the Clan ship. He made sure the quarters a few doors down from his were readied for the ooman, the quarters of Ek'tan and Ke'varde on either side of hers. He would make certain she was protected.
Both afore mentioned hunters entered the bridge, moving to stand beside him. The Elder questioned "How is she?" Ek'tan took the opportunity to show his youth chuckling "I think it was meant to you Ke'varde" smirking.
Growling Ke'varde answered "She is fine. Sleeping" The Elder watched amused and curious as Ke'varde glared threats at Ek'tan who just thrilled laughing.
Stepping forward he turned to the hunters serious "I suggest one of you tell me what is going on…now." looking expectantly at each one.
The hunters both looked uncomfortable like chastised pups Ek'tan opening his big mouth again "The female seems to have a… liking for Ke'varde." For which he got a firm smack on the back of his head from the mentioned hunter "She just knows me better then you pup, therefore is more comfortable in my presence." Ek'tan glared at him "Maybe her preference will change once she gets to know a worthier hunter" Growling loudly Ke'varde moved forward, Ek'tan meeting him halfway with his own growl.
The Elder roared "ENOUGH! Your posturing is useless right now." growling he continued "If you want to fight you will wait to heal first. I will not have two crippled warriors. Find something to occupy yourselves with" dismissing them with his words. Turning to the large screen he couldn't help but chuckle knowingly "The problems of youth are all with females"
The water felt wonderful to Cat, she could stay under its soothing spray for hours and not care if the world crumbled around her. Turning around she moved out of its relaxing reach "Time to get out or I'll stay in here forever" Walking to the door she wiped her eyes with her hand. Just before she could walk into someone she looked up and screamed from fright covering her breasts with her arm and her lower region with her hand "Who the hell are you and what are the fuck are you doing in my room!"
The Yautja stared at her unblinking asking "You are the ooman everyone is talking about?" Moving a step closer to her Cat glared daggers at him "Hold it right there you pervert! Stop staring at me and get me something to cover myself with!" when he still didn't move a muscle she did an imitation of a growl "NOW!" she was a little surprised when the Yautja scrambled to do her bidding "Well imagine that. The growling thing actually works!" When he returned with a fur she snatched it from his hand and quickly covered herself. This one was only to her mid thigh but it served its purpose. Moving past him to the room she sat down at the table, motioning with her hand for him to do the same.
She was still miffed but she could understand his curiosity. Watching him sit down she answered his question "Yes I'm the human. Now you answer my previous questions"
The Predator watched her with fascination "I'm Tix'ver. I'm one of the un-bloods on the ship. We're all wondering what you look like and if you really helped kill the hard meat queen?"
Looking at him more closely Cat realized he was actually quite young. He was almost two heads shorter then Ke'varde and he was dark grey in coloring with black spots on his back and lighter grey blotches on his front, his dreads were short, only reaching to his shoulders and he had yet to receive his mark. Sighing she decided to tell him "Okay…but I don't intend to tell this story every time one of you decides to break in. Call the others and if they want to hear this they better show up soon"
Thrilling with excitement the predator jumped up and to the door opening it. Cat leaned forward to look past him, her moth dropping open she could see five of them waiting outside!
All of them rushed in watching her with wide eyes whispering to each other. Hiding her smile at their excitement and curiosity Cat wanted to make one thing perfectly clear, glaring at each one "If any of you break in to my room ever again I will personally castrate the one who does. Such behavior will not be tolerated. Got it?" receiving exuberant nods from 6 predators she let her grin show "Now spread out and make yourselves comfortable" When they each took their place; some on the floor two on the bed and Tix'ver in the chair opposite her, they all waited expectantly for her to continue.
Taking a deep breath Cat started her tale mesmerizing them with her voice and gestures "I'm a different hunter then you, but a good one none the less. While you hunt the fierce and deadly hard meats I hunt for treasures lost to my world by centuries of war, shifts of the ground and whims of the humans who hid them. My story starts in a hot and humid place on my home planet called Cairo …"
Walking into the ships communal eating chamber the Elder was surprised when he saw only the two hunters still glaring at each other from across the table, a pilot and three medics. Moving to Mir'en he clicked "Where are the un-bloods and your assistants?" The healer looked at him in confusion "I thought you assigned them to some task. One minute they were all over the ship getting in the way the next they were all gone"
Frowning the Elder clicked thoughtfully "This is unlike them, they never miss a meal." thinking "Something must be wrong" Turning to Ke'varde he growled "Find the un-bloods!" to Ek'tan he ordered "You find the ooman, make sure she is safe." Turning back to his friend he said "You are going with Ek'tan in case you are needed." To the other two healers he growled "One of you go with Ke'varde the other with me." Catching the eye of the pilot he said "Stay here if anyone or anything shows up, notify me" Everyone moved to into action instantly.
Moving down the hall cautiously visions of a hard meat sneaking aboard the cruiser and hiding somewhere on his ship assailed his mind. Though they scanned the cruiser before it landed nothing was foolproof. Growling viciously he would kill it with satisfaction if it was one of those beasts. Getting a beep on his wrist computer after tense minutes he opened the channel hearing Ke'vardes voice "I'm in the lower level. No sign of the un-bloods or hard meats. I'm moving up. Has she been found yet?"
"No, I will notify you when she is" The top level completed he found nothing to signify the beasts were lose up here. Worried, he knew that only left the mid-level where the quarters were located. Moving towards the stairs he got another beep, this time it was Ek'tan "You can stop the search Elder, there is no threat." Growling in annoyance he asked "What is it then?" the voice anwsering had a trace of humor in it "I think you need to see this for yourself"
Confused he moved down the stairs meeting Ke'varde as he came up "Ek'tan says she is unharmed and that I need to see something" Tilting his head to the side Ke'varde wondered what it was. Not knowing either the Elder shrugged motioning for him to follow. Rounding the corner they both stooped in their tracks looking at the healer's assistants, the engineer, Ektan and Mir'en all staring into the oomans quarters. Mir'en noticed them first, signaling with his hand to keep quiet and move over to him. Doing so, they both watched and listened, their mandibles going slack.
Cat was completely wrapped up in her own story, reenacting parts of the battle. Moving to stand on the chair she mimicked the pose she took while shooting the hard meat queen with her bow "I was panicking as the black hard meat queen charged after me into the tunnel" swiping her hand at her entranced audience "trying to get me with her razor sharp claws, missing inches from my body! Taking another arrow I positioned it and aimed the laser at her head! Letting the arrow fly, it imbedded itself in her head and while she was distracted I severed off her claws with the bow, making her bleed that deadly acid blood!" making the swiping motion she used, her audience thrilled at the gore. Excitedly she continued "Suddenly the Queen reared away distracted by Brownie… uhh I mean Ek'tan! I only saw a little part of that fierce battle as I was focused on reaching Hul'sin and Ke'varde to see if they were alright and if they were able to keep fighting. But alas…" pausing she used a mournful tone "I was too slow. The Queen noticed my desperate sprint for their location." Moving from her chair she used an urgent tone "Using her good hand she swiped her razor claws into my side lifting me into the air and throwing me clear across the huge chamber!" Dropping to the floor she pretended to be mortally wounded almost whispering "The landing broke my body, but not my spirit! I wanted to fight! To kill her as much as she wanted to kill me!" trying to get up she pretended to drop down weakly whispering sadly "But I couldn't. The pain was too intense, the burning in my chest impossible to bear. Though I fought it…the blackness of oblivion beckoned…I had no strength left but to heed its sirens call…" spreading out on the floor with her eyes closed, motionless "damn I'm good" working hard on not smiling. Peeking through her lashes she saw her audience still entranced by her story whispering; about how fierce the battle was, that she was honorable to help, that the hard meats were cunning in their tricks…
"That is enough for today young ones. The ooman needs rest." Hearing the voice of authority they all scrambled up, even Cat who stepped to the side, watching her room clear out "I hope I'm not in trouble for this"
The Elder waited for everyone to leave before ordering Ek'tan and Ke'varde to wait outside. Closing the door behind them he turned to Cat impressed "It was very good. You have a skill of spinning tales to keep the listeners enthralled. It is considered a great gift among my kind, but it also has a time and place."
Nodding Cat fiddled with her clasped fingers looking down at them "He's the only being in universe who can make me feel like a 4year old again" hearing him move closer she tensed a little not knowing what to expect. When he lifted her chin with a clawed finger she definitely didn't expect what he said next. "Next time inform me when you will be telling tales. I will make sure everyone is assembled who can be spared, to enjoy it."
Squelching the impulse to hug him she opted for nodding enthusiastically. "Of course! I didn't mean to cause any trouble. And if I did I'm deeply sorry for it, I hope everything is alright?" getting a slight nod as a response, she watched him leave.
After a few minutes the hunters if front of her chamber entered. Smiling at them in greeting a thought that was nagging her before when everyone was here listening to her story entered her mind again not leaving her alone. "Where's Hul'sin? I haven't seen him for a while" frowning "in fact I haven't seen him since the pyramid. Is his back healing alright?"
Ke'varde glanced at Ek'tan who shook his head no, looking back at her, he clicking quietly "The hunter did not survive. He died killing the hard meat Queen"
Not knowing how to react Cat muttered a quiet "oh" Though she didn't know the hunter well she was saddened by his death. Moving to the bed she turned levering her hands on it and scooted up to sit. "I'm sorry to hear that. I liked him." Moving to crouch in front of her Ke'varde clicked "His death was one of honor and glory. Something every hunter wishes, it was what he wanted"
Leaning forward Cat hugged him. The action surprised him and almost made him lose his balance. Not knowing what to do at the foreign act, he simply remained still letting her hold him, her face pressed into his neck. Feeling her body shake and his neck getting wet he asked curiously "What are you doing?" hearing a shaky and muffled "I'll tell you when I'm done. Now put your hands around me and hold me" Putting his hands around her he lifted her up and sat down on the bed with her in his arms, attached to his neck. Looking at Ek'tan observing them he questioned the hunter "Is this normal?"
Leaning his head to the side he answered "I don't know" clicking thoughtfully he moved to the door "I will get the healer"
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