It's an update! And, you didn't have to wait a whole six months for it. I lost a little momentum there after the last chapter, but I had a spark of inspiration this morning. This chapter is beginning to bring up the big plot points of the story. The next chapter will mark the start of the blooding ceremony (and maybe a chapter from A'chide's perspective?).
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Silence weighed heavily on Camilla.
This was not the usual silence between master and pet, the comfortable silence they had shared inhabiting the same living quarters. No, this silence was heavier, and the young woman could see that her master was withdrawn. There were so many untold pressures upon him. Watching him stand before the others had really put into perspective how important her master was to this alien society. It made her wonder how much she really knew about A'chide. She figured that her knowledge only scraped the surface.
They had left the dining hall and were wandering their way down a long hallway with many doors on either side.
A'chide quietly clicked out, "What did you think of the unblooded?"
"I didn't know there would be so many," Camilla shrugged. With over forty unblooded Yautjas, no wonder the training took so long.
Thinking of the unblooded made her remember the talk she had overheard in the dining hall. They had known about her, spoken about her like she was a legend. She knew it was odd for Yautjas' to own humans, especially warriors like A'chide. People of her race were normally employed as breeding assistants or medics, like Mitchell.
Warriors, however, were so unattached to the world, hunting and training so often, that it was strange to think of a warrior owning anything other than his freedom. Yes, warriors had houses and responsibilities to clan councils, but mainly they were rogues – confirmed bachelors without ties to anything.
"She is the one he saved on the hunt!"
What hunt did the unblooded speak of?
Camilla thought about her nightmares, the screaming voices of her father, the canopy of trees, and the red light. They had haunted her sleep since her arrival to this planet as a child. Watching the wide shoulders of her master as they walked, she knew that the Yautja held the key to all these secrets.
Would A'chide tell her about them if she asked?
Before she could muster up the courage to speak, Camilla found herself in a room with padded walls and racks of weaponry on display. Her master was busy pulling things from the rack while Camilla was left to nervously glance around the room.
The Yautja came to stand before her reaching his clawed hand out to take the vial of medicine from her. Camilla almost objected, fearing the loss of her much needed drug. She remained silent though as A'chide set the vial aside and handed her a pole-like object.
It was warm and heavy; the weight balanced evenly on the grip. Camilla stared at the weapon, her arms shaking in a mixture of exhilaration and dread. This was only her second time holding a weapon. Once, she had played with one of A'chide's guns. She had been in his trophy room; her heart racing as she lifted the gun and pointed it. She had pictured her father in that moment, protecting him from the faceless voices that often screamed in her nightmares. Her finger had rested on the trigger, but even then Camilla didn't have the courage to pull it. A'chide had never found out about that. It had been her little secret.
Her master stood before her with his own weapon.
Camilla realized she was being watched. It was unsettling having a giant Yautja with a weapon looming over her.
"Hold firmly in your dominant hand. When you wish to release your weapon, push the button next to your thumb," the Yautja demonstrated testing the weapon in his grip. He pushed the button and a set of jagged spears popped out. The young woman couldn't help but jump when the spears set into place.
He waited for her to settle, and then growled, "You try."
With a calming breath, the girl held the pole in her right hand and tested the weight. Once it rested evenly in her palm, she found the button near her thumb and pushed it. A set of jagged spears popped out at both ends and her master let out a trill of excitement.
"Attack me."
What did he just say? Camilla's eyes were wide with shock.
She remained firmly rooted to the ground as the Yautja advanced on her, "Attack me. You need to practice."
A part of her wanted to follow orders, and then another part of her wondered if this was all a trick. Never before had she attacked anyone, let alone a Yautja. Adrienne and Mitchell had told her stories of humans who tried to escape, and those stories never ended well for the humans. As a child being brought to the planet, Camilla had never once tried to run away. She had never attacked A'chide or tried to harm him; too fearful was she of the giant creature. Instead, she had won him over by being obedient.
There was a sudden movement and Camilla found herself being whacked on the thigh with the blunt end of A'chide weapon. It jarred her more than anything; the hit was soft but forceful (like all of the Yautja's movements). She gawked at A'chide who was regarding her with a blank stare.
Throwing caution to the wind, the woman came forward to lunge the pole at the Yautja's shoulder, a spot that looked rather unprotected. It was blocked easily and she received another whack, this time a little more powerful, to her ribs.
"You said attack you!" Camilla whined as she covered the part of her ribcage that had received the assault.
A'chide quipped, "I did. You attacked, and I attacked back."
The girl tried to hit the Yautja again, this time aiming for his leg. Her attempt was pitiful as the Yautja grabbed her weapon and pulled her forward with it. As she fell forward, she received another hit to her ribcage. With only a quarter the amount of energy as before, Camilla tried a third time to strike her master. Haphazardly, she swung at his head with an exhausted wail. Her attempt, of course, was defended and a final whack was applied to the small of Camilla's back. This time tears were brought to her eyes as she clutched her lower spine, surely that hit would bruise.
This wasn't fair, her mind screamed.
She had no experience with weaponry. Her life up until now had consisted of domestic chores! The only type of danger she posed was to the lifeless animal carcasses A'chide brought to her for meal prep. Camilla threw the weapon in her hand at her master's feet, wheezing, "I can't do this. I'm not fit to fight!"
Picking up her abandoned weapon, the Yautja came upon his charge. Camilla recognized that the hair-like tendrils on his head were raised – a sure sign of anger. Falling to her knees, the young woman lowered her head as a sign of weakness. She saw his clawed feet come into her line of vision and she waited for some kind of reprimand – or worse another hit. There was silence, so the girl peered up at him.
"It is my fault you are not properly trained. Get up, we will continue."
There was no anger in his words, only a hint of frustration. Her weapon was placed back into her hands and Camilla rose to her knees with the assistance of her master.
For the next hour, they went over basic drills. She learned how to throw the spear, how to use it as leverage for escape when assaulting an opponent. They sparred again, though the woman was still unable to touch the Yautja. It figured, A'chide had decades of experience and this had been her first time. At the end of it, her arms ached and her body was sore all over. The cramps that had dissipated were beginning to remerge and Camilla clutched the wall for fear of fainting. A warm hand was on her lower back and she turned to see A'chide looming over her.
"You will need food and rest. We leave tomorrow for the training planet," his voice was warm and Camilla slowly smiled. The weapon she had used was still in her hand, deactivated. She motioned for A'chide to take it, "Thank you for the lesson, I fear I will not be much of a warrior."
The Yautja chortled, "No, you keep it. You will have time to learn."
They left the sparring room in a more hospitable silence. Camilla swung the weapon lazily in one hand while the other gripped the vial of liquid Mitchell had given her. Though she was exhausted, there was a sprig in her step as she tittered happily next to her master. A'chide seemed pleased as well. A part of her wondered if she could ask A'chide about what the unblooded were saying. He seemed in a happy mood, and would no doubt indulge her for her good behavior. The pair came upon Gur'rung standing outside of A'chide's suite, his jaw set tightly. At the sight of A'chide's second in command, the woman sighed and filed away the question for another time.
Noting the young woman's weapon, the second-in-command laughed in his alien-like manner.
"The little pet has a weapon. I will have to test her knowledge of it soon."
The woman bristled and narrowed her eyes.
His wide set mandibles clicked together happily and the woman frowned. She didn't dare try and challenge him; with one lesson under her belt she would not survive against a blooded warrior. Before she could say something, A'chide interjected on her behalf, "She is more skilled than you were at her age, Gur'rung."
Camilla sniggered as she met her master's gaze. She treated him to a toothy smile and the Yautja chuffed happily. Gur'rung growled in annoyance, but knew better than to object to his leader. The second-in-command followed them inside the room. The woman saw a healthy portion of meat, bread, and fruit set on the table. Depositing her new weapon along with her medicine on her sleeping roll, the woman went over to inspect the offerings.
A'chide was in whispered conversation with his second-in-command. They spoke quickly and low, so that Camilla only could catch pieces of what they were saying.
Gur'rung rapidly clicked, "Renegades spotted in the third quadrant. A band of ten carrying weapons."
With a wave of his hand, A'chide motioned for Camilla to help herself to the meal.
The woman took a seat at the table, eagerly serving herself a generous portion of food. She wasn't really interested in their conversation, her instincts telling her to focus on eating. Eventually, the two Yautja made their way over to the table as well.
"We will deal with any problem, should one arise. For now we move as planned," A'chide growled. Camilla, in between bites of meat, watched the two Yautja carefully. Something had both of them bothered.
After the meal, Gur'rung left them. Camilla had ventured to her little nest in the corner choking down another swig of Mitchell's nasty serum. She fell to her back, running her hand over her new weapon. Her master remained at the table looking over figures on his touchpad. There was a buzz of energy throughout her body. Tomorrow they would leave for the hunting planet, her new life would begin. More importantly, A'chide saw promise in her. They would have more lessons together and slowly Camilla would unravel the mysteries of this world.
The young woman slowly fell asleep in a ball, her arm curled around the weapon.