The next chapter is up! Enjoy :)
As they approached the lab, Aurora started to get nervous.
Sure, Cora assured her it wouldn't be bad. But this wasn't another human's blood she was receiving via a transfusion. But a yautja's blood. A completely separate species to her own.
And just because Air'ik's grandmother didn't have any bad adverse effects to the procedure, it doesn't mean the same could be with her. Everyone's body is different and unique and may react differently to certain things.
Air'ik could sense his mate's growing anxiety. He grasped her hand as they walked down the hall and gave it a light squeeze.
"It will be ok, my Da'dtou-di. You're in good hands. I've known Prit'zu for most of my life. He's very careful going about procedures and surgeries. And is very good at what he does." He assured her softly.
Aurora gave him a small semi nervous smile.
"I know, it's just only natural to feel nervous about something as big and life altering as this. And doesn't have to do with doubts about your friend's abilities. I'm just a tad nervous because I am." She explained.
"You're right, it's natural. Mother was nervous too at first. But was quick to calm when she realized it wasn't nearly as bad as she thought it be." Cora chimed in.
Knowing this did help put the young woman at ease. As they continued their walk down the long hallway.
They reached the end after another three minutes of walking. The double doors slid open and allowed them inside.
Aurora looked around at the incredibly large lab. There had to be about a dozen yautja in their going about their business. It was then she noticed two yautja approaching them. One male and one female.
"Gkaun-yte, my friend. It's certainly been a while." The male said, in their language, as he approached the three.
"Gkaun-yte, Prit'zu. It is always a pleasure to see you, old friend. And I see you have your niece with you. She still apprenticing under you, I see." Air'ik said, motioning to the young female standing beside his friend.
"Indeed, I have. It is great to see you again, Air'ik. You going to introduce your new mate?" The female asked, motioning to the ooman female next to him.
Air'ik turned to Aurora.
"Aurora, this is Prit'zu. And the female next to him is his niece, Nee'la. She's a healer in training, learning under Prit'zu." Air'ik informed her.
"It's nice to meet you both. And thank you for seeing us on such short notice." Aurora said.
While Prit'zu understood her language well enough, he wasn't %100 fluent in speaking it. Luckily, he knew just enough to hold a conversation.
While his niece, Nee'la hadn't a clue what the ooman said, and would need to utilize the translator on her wrist computer to communicate with her.
"It's veery nice too meet yoo too. Haas Air'ik explaiyyned the proceedure too yoo at all?" Prit'zu inquired.
He had a fairly thick accent. But Aurora still understood him enough.
Aurora nodded, "He and his dad explained enough."
"Goood. Annd for'giv me. It'ss beeen a veery looong tim'e since I sp'oke yur langu'age. So, I am a lit'tle r'ustee." Prit'zu stated.
"It's ok, I understand you just fine." She replied.
Nee'la switched on her translator a few moments prior. So, she heard as the conversation between her uncle and the ooman translated back into their native language on her wrist computer.
"How much has Air'ik explained to you? He tell you it's not a very invasive procedure at all?" Her electronic voice rang out from the wrist computer.
"He and his dad told me it was more or less like a blood transfusion of sorts." Aurora inquired.
Both Prit'zu and Nee'la nodded.
"That iz k'orreckt. It iz m'ore liike an injecktion." Prit'zu confirmed.
"Do you have any donor blood to utilize? Or do you need a donor?" Air'ik asks.
"Pl'entee of bloood. B'uut yoo may vol'unteer if yoo liike." Prit'zu told him.
Air'ik nodded then turned his attention back to Aurora.
"Would you prefer to use donor blood? Or mine? I have no problem volunteering." He told her.
Aurora just lightly shrugs, "I guess yours will be fine."
"I ju'ust neeed too g'ive yoo a fuul bodee scan f'urst. M'ake suure yur compleetlee he'althee annd therr iz no sign uf dizeaze." Prit'zu instructed.
Aurora nodded. Then Prit'zu and Nee'la led her over to a large medical table. Air'ik helped her hop up. While Cora stood off to the side and chatted a bit with Nee'la.
She laid down on the table, and Air'ik backed up.
Prit'zu went over to his computer screen and tapped a few buttons to activate the scanner.
The machine hummed to life above Aurora and she watched as the thin piece of metal that stretched horizontally across her frame start to slowly move down her body.
A holographic image of her insides popped up above the scanner. Aurora couldn't really see much of the image from her angle, laying down. But everyone else around her could clearly see the images.
Nee'la was off to the side with some type of tablet, tapping out notes and data as the scanner went.
Before the scanner could move on to her lower half though, it stopped above her lower abdomen. A beeping sound rang out from the machine as the image became magnified to look at something there.
Aurora could barely make out what she was looking at from her view down below.
But everyone else seemed to show some surprise.
Prit'zu tapped a couple more buttons to make the image larger. And turned back to the image before them. Even Nee'la was looking on in amazement at what she was seeing.
While Cora was beaming off to the side knowing her assumptions about Aurora were correct. It was no wonder why the ooman had a healthy glow about her. She's seen it before in many other females in the young woman's current position.
Aurora looked around, getting nervous as to why the machine stopped and everyone was staring.
"What is it? Is something wrong? Am I sick or something?!" She blurted out.
Air'ik quickly approached her side, he caressed her cheek, and purred to calm her.
"Aurora, everything is ok. More than ok, you're pregnant." He told her, in awe.
Her mind came to a screeching halt.
'Pregnant!? Already!? That was awfully fucking fast!?' Her mind screamed.
But at least it sheds light on why her period didn't make itself known lately.
She swallowed, "Is this for real? Is it really happening?"
A soft smile appeared on his face.
"Yes, my love. It is." He happily confirmed to her.
A small lump started to form in her throat. She was excited to hear the news. But like all first-time pregnant women, she was nervous too.
"She's not very far along. It's still mainly a cluster of cells. That could only mean she's only around 3 1/2- 4 weeks along. But it's there and its growing." Nee'la's computerized voice stated.
A lone tear rolled down the side of Aurora's cheek. Air'ik tenderly brushed it away with a purr.
"Inde'ed. B'uut thiz also means the proceedure will be delaayed un'til a'fter the pup's b'urth. It c'ouuld pro've risskee now too proceeed w'ith the prezzence of the gr'uowing fee'tus. So, the proceedure will hav too wayyt.
The m'uthur's h'ealth and pup's c'umess f'urst." Prit'zu declared.
Air'ik understood and nodded. The last thing he wanted to do was cause stress to Aurora and their unborn pup.
Prit'zu tapped away on the screen for a few more moments. The scanner continued down her legs as it resumed checking her. Once it was completed and all the data about her body's health was recorded did the scanner turn off.
Aurora laid there for a moment. Her hand slowly crept down to rest on her lower abdomen. Air'ik's larger hand came to lightly rest on top of hers.
She turned her gaze to him with a smile. One he gladly returned. They didn't have to commune what they already knew. The two were going to be parents.
She slowly sat up and wrapped her arms around his torso, resting her cheek on his chest. Air'ik wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled the top of her head.
"Words cannot describe how happy I am to hear this news." He quietly told her.
Aurora tightened her arms around him.
"Me too." She whispers back.
Prit'zu came over and lightly thumped Air'ik's back and nodded, congratulating him on the news.
"Conn'grat'oolayytttionnz. Am happeee fur yoo b'oth." The healer told his friend.
"Yes, Congratulations!" Nee'la said.
Cora approached them and rubbed her hand on Aurora's back.
"Indeed, I'm happy for you two as well. This is very exciting news. It's just a shame your father missed out. Guess those errands really held him up this time." Cora stated.
"We'll tell him when we see him." Air'ik replied.
"I ca'an o'verrseee her care. We w'ill clozely mon'itor her pre'gnancee fur the n'exxt few monthz. Not suure how lo'ng it w'ill be. Yautjas g'esstate fur ten monthz and oomans g'esstate fur nine monthz. The pup c'uoold c'ume aneetime be'tween then." Prit'zu informed them.
"That's a long time to prepare. Though I can't image for going as long as a ten-month pregnancy." Aurora said.
Prit'zu shook his head.
"Yoo won't m'ost liikly w'ill. Yur not Yautja fe'male. Yoo may g'esstate clo'zer too yur kin'ds cy'cle. I j'usst did'nt w'ant too sayyy fur ceertain be'cuz yur pup iz ssstill ha'lf Yautja. Th'is is why we w'ill mon'itor yoo clozely d'uuring yur an'nual viz'its." He told her.
Aurora nodded in understanding.
"The developing pup may not grow as big as a full-blooded yautja pup during gestation either, correct?" Air'ik surmised.
Prit'zu nodded.
"Sei-i, the're iz goood ch'ance it mayybeee sma'ller than ty'pikaal gr'owwing fee'tus. And e'ven a'fter b'urth as thhey gr'ow, thhey w'ill m'ost liikely be sma'ller than avv'erage Yautja." The healer stated.
Air'ik already assumed this when he took an ooman female for his Life Mate. Their children will be mix breeds exhibiting traits from both their yautja and ooman parent.
A clear indication and example is his aunt. She was a lot shorter than the average female yautja, with smaller and more delicate looking features. But, despite her smaller size, Cora was still a strong, fast, and a fierce huntress. Who had accomplishments in many hunts just like her older brother, My'hai-da.
Air'ik always assumed over the years that his aunt's unusually small stature and build had to do with some genetic anomaly of sorts. But since the truth was out about his grandmother's origins, he now saw that his aunt had more blended features and her smaller size came from her ooman mother.
None of this mattered to Air'ik. He could care less how his children came out. He'd love them no matter what.
"When's the next time you'd like me back for a visit?" Aurora asks Prit'zu.
"I w'uoold liike too seee yoo back in a month. Annd we'll gooo frrum th'ere." Prit'zu told her.
Prit'zu was curious to see how her pregnancy would affect his friend, Air'ik. Males naturally became more aggressive and protective around pregnant mates.
And seeing that Aurora was from another race with smaller beings, the healer firmly believes Air'ik's protective instincts may go into overload with her.
Either way, it was gearing up to be an interesting few months to about a year.
Now, all they can do; is sit back and watch as Aurora's pregnancy slowly develops.
Yautja Translations:
Gkaun-yte- greetings/hello
Sei-i- yes
Well, this certainly was surprising and exciting news! It should make for an interesting development as the couple adjusts to the pregnancy.
Until Next Time ;)