The next chapter is up! Enjoy :)
When they got back from the lab, the couple were very overjoyed at the news.
And they couldn't wait to share the news with the rest of the family. They wasted no time in contacting his father and siblings to tell them about Aurora's pregnancy.
Everyone was happy for them.
Aurora started to spend a lot of time with Ki'morah and Jau'nti whenever they were free. And asked them everything under the sun about being a mom.
She was grateful that they gave her a ton of advice and told her it was alright to be nervous the first time around. In most cases the males don't really spend time with their pups, they prefer to spend their time training, hunting, or working.
Though there were some cases where the males will continually be present throughout their children's lives. Like Ki'morah's mate and Air'ik's friend Rav'i was very attentive to his mate and suckling.
Aurora voiced her concerns with Air'ik and he assured her that he would be very present in their children's lives and that he wouldn't leave her alone to mainly raise them.
His father informed him that with oomans, both parents raise the children well up into adulthood. So, My'hai-da wasn't surprised when Aurora wanted Air'ik to always be in their pups' lives.
He recalls his own father was present in his and Cora's lives for majority of their youth.
"I certainly have no trouble putting off planet hunting on hiatus and taking up responsibilities here with you." Air'ik told Aurora one day.
"What would you do, while you're here helping me raise the baby?" She asked.
"For a while, I did train both Unblooded and Young Bloods in preparation for their Kainde Amedha Chiva and other Kv'vars. I knew it was something I would eventually fall back on when I wasn't out for extensive periods at a time solo hunting." He stated.
"And when did you plan on starting that?" She asked, while they sat out on a balcony on the second floor of their home.
It has roughly been a month now since Aurora found out she was pregnant. And was now two months along. There was already a very tiny pooch forming below her belly button.
Air'ik would gently caress it every now and then while they say together in an oversized chair on the large balcony.
Aurora's next doctor's visit was tomorrow. She was currently around 8 1/2 weeks along. And apparently with yautja tech they can tell the gender around this stage in pregnancy.
So, when she goes in tomorrow, they will use the scanner which acts like an ultrasound on her to check on the growing fetus and be able to tell her if it's male or female.
Air'ik was going to go with her tomorrow. He told her very early on that he'd like to be present with her during her prenatal visits to experience and see the growth of their unborn child.
It warmed her heart with how involved he wanted to be. She can clearly see that he was just as excited as she was about becoming a parent. Even more so, because this was their first child.
And even though it was still very early in the pregnancy, Aurora insisted on going through potential names for the child. Of course, she can't say she was very crazy about Air'ik's name suggestions. Considering the bulk of the names he like had the word blood in it or other words that associated with death.
She told him maybe they should wait until they know what it is first before narrowing down the selection. Hopefully, it would deter him or steer him away from names like Larja Thwei or Kuhjade. The former translating to Dark Blood and the latter translating to Destroyer.
And those are just a couple of the 'lovely' names from his selection. Aurora definitely said hell no to Vor'mekta and Mar'cte. If he thinks they were going to name their kid something crazy like Stalker, Destroyer, or Killer, then he has another thing coming.
There were a couple Yautja names that stuck out Aurora, especially one in particular. But she has yet to voice her choices to him. She kept telling him that she prefers to find out what the gender is first before sharing the names she likes.
"For the last time, Air'ik. We're not naming the kid R'ka Larja. Why are you so insistent on names with blood and death in them anyway?" She asks as she lays against him on the large comfortable chair.
"They are strong warrior names. And I'd like for he or she to have a strong name that associates with something strong and deadly. Oh, there you go, how about Setg'-in?" He offered.
Aurora blinked lazily up at him a couple times.
"No, we are 'Not' naming him or her 'Deadly'. And who says those are the only names that are good strong names? There are plenty of other good names out there that don't associate with death and destruction you know." She pointed out.
"Then by all means, tell me the ones you like." He said.
"I told you; I want to find out what it is first. Which won't be long now since Prit'zu is certain we will find out tomorrow during the ultrasound. I have at least two names in mind that I like. I'll share them with you tomorrow right after the ultrasound. Surely you can wait just one more day." She teased.
He playfully grumbled.
"Nope, that's too far away to wait." He joked.
"Tough. You'll just have to sit on it, buddy. And don't try giving me your famous cute, kicked puppy look either. Because it won't work this time." Aurora stated.
Air'ik huffed, then smiled and shook his head.
He then reached down for the hundredth time and placed his hand over lower abdomen where the small swell was.
"What do you think it is?" He asks.
Aurora shrugs, "I don't know."
He cocks his head at her, "What would you prefer it to be?"
Her gaze slowly went from him to the sky above them.
"For the longest time, I've always wanted a little girl. But I think the most important thing is that they're healthy, regardless. Do you have a preference?" She asks.
"Not really, as you said, as long as they are born healthy, that is what matters most." He told her.
Though in truth, he wouldn't mind having a little girl too for their first child. After holding his baby niece, Alari, he couldn't help but picture a tiny infant girl in his arms in the near future.
They sat out there for a little longer, enjoying one another's company. Until Air'ik heard a beeping noise on his wrist computer. Someone was trying to contact him.
He pressed a few buttons and began to talk.
"Yes, this is Air'ik, speak." He said, in his native tongue.
"Air'ik, this is Ull'sah. We ran into a small problem here at the training grounds and need an extra hand. We're about to see off a small group of Unblooded to their Kainde Amedha Chiva. We wanted to go over weapons details and training with them right before they set off to Planet Hin'ku where one of the hives are.
But Ary'sa had to leave for a last-minute emergency so, now I'm short an experienced warrior that can lend a hand with weapons details and training to go over with the Unblooded.
Do you mind sparing a few hours to come down here and assist me before seeing them off?" Ull'sah asked.
He thought about it, and why not? Aurora was supposed to meet up with Ki'morah in a little bit anyway at her home.
"Sei-i, I can spare a few hours and assist you. What time do you need me there?" Air'ik asks.
"Preferably, as soon as possible. The drop ship is transporting them to Planet Hin'ku in three hours. And we have quite a bit here to go over." Ull'sah replied.
Air'ik was a bit hesitant. They were certainly leaving quite soon and these types of procedures and regulations tend to take a lot of time. If they were truly leaving within those short few hours, that meant he'd probably have to leave now.
But that meant Aurora would have to walk to his sister's by herself. And he didn't feel comfortable with that. Since they came to this world and she found out she was pregnant, Air'ik walked her just about everywhere.
It was part of his protective instincts kicking in. And he was a bit worried letting her roam about on her own. Hell, he snapped at her the other day for going to a nearby market on her own while he was out running an errand for Cohl'.
Something she was not happy about. And Aurora showed it by accusing him of babying her and acting like she was a fragile china doll. She made a point to make it clear to him that she was a grown ass woman and can take care of herself.
He backed down, albeit reluctantly. Only because he felt like he wasn't going to win that fight. Aurora can be very stubborn and headstrong. To the point that an argument with her most of the times meant he had to back off. Less she give him the silent treatment or cold shoulder to remind him that she was still pissed with him.
Thankfully, it's something that rarely happens. The only reasons he feels it had happened the last couple times were due to her so called 'mood swings.'
But in the end, he was just very concerned for her safety. Something that he eventually confessed to later after that latest spat. Aurora still needed to remember, there were a lot of yautja in this clan.
Most of which, she still didn't know. And quite a few Air'ik knew for a fact, despised humans.
"Air'ik? You still there?" Ull'sah asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.
'Ki'morah's place isn't that far. I like to think she'll be ok walking there on her own.' He thought to himself.
"I'm still here. I'll be there as soon as possible. I just need to grab a few things before I leave the house." Air'ik said.
Then he turned his gaze back to Aurora.
"What is it?" She asks.
Air'ik sighs, "It's Ull'sah, he needs a hand going over last-minute weapons details and training with a few Unblooded that are about to head out for their Kainde Amedha Chiva. Ary'sa was supposed to help him. But he got called away on an emergency. He's requesting my assistance."
Aurora had met Ull'sah. He was a no-nonsense, hardcore warrior, who was very strict with his students. But was very pleasant towards Aurora when Air'ik introduced them.
She never met the other yautja called Ary'sa. But if Ull'sah needed help, then Air'ik should go.
"Ok, well go and help him then. It's obviously very important. I was going to go to Ki'morah's soon any way." Aurora stated.
His mandibles twitched slightly, something she realized not that long ago happens when he's nervous about something.
"What's wrong? You seem nervous." She pointed out.
"It's just, I was going to walk you to Ki'morah's. If I leave now though, I won't be able to." He admitted.
Aurora grumbled, "Not this again. Air'ik, Ki'morah's home is literally right down the street and around the corner. The market I went to the other day was even further than that and nothing happened."
"I know, and I'm sorry. You must understand by now that it's only natural for a male to be very protective of his pregnant mate. I just want to make sure you're as safe as possible." He told her.
Yes, she learned very quickly just how overprotective he could be. Especially, after finding out that she was pregnant. Air'ik would practically growl at every male on the street that so much as looked at Aurora. And because of this, everyone gave him a wide berth when they were out and about.
"I do understand, Air'ik. And I appreciate the fact that you're trying to keep the both of us safe. But as I said, it's a very short trek from here to her home. I'll be fine.
If it makes you feel any better, I'll contact you on my wrist comp when I get there to let you know that I made it. Is this doable?" She inquires.
He supposed that would do. He could always contact Ki'morah on his wrist comp on the way out the door to inform her that Aurora was on her way and to look out for her.
"Alright, but promise me, as soon as you get in her door, you'll call me to let me know you made it there safely." He appointed.
"Ok, I'll call you when I get there. Now, get going. You and I both know Ull'sah hates to be kept waiting." Aurora joked.
Air'ik chuckled, at her remark. Yeah, among many things Ull'sah was a stickler for punctuality. If any of his students were late, he'd lectured them for at least ten minutes on the importance of on showing up on time.
"Yeah, you have a point there. Don't need to be scolded by him like I'm one of his inexperienced students." He teased.
They both got up and went inside.
Air'ik slipped on his chest piece and his bracers before heading downstairs. And right before they left the house, he contacted Ki'morah to let her know they are leaving, and that Aurora was on her way over.
The couple made it down the short walkway, before they parted ways. Where Air'ik had to go, was sadly in the opposite direction of his sister's place.
The walk to Ki'morah's was actually a good 5-7 minute walk from Air'ik's. Aurora had to go down a street with some stands and shops to get there. And the streets here were longer than the streets back on Earth. So, there was a little more distance to cover.
Surprisingly, there weren't too many yautja out and about right now. But then Air'ik told her that sometimes the streets would be a bit barer because hunters and warriors were always coming and going from hunts periodically.
Aurora was currently walking down the street with some shops and stands. Again, not many yautja were walking about.
She was only walking for the next 3-4 minutes when she thought she heard a faint grunt some ways behind her. The young woman slightly looked over her shoulder to see what appeared to be a male yautja walking several feet behind her.
He wasn't alone either, when she walked past one small alley, another male was there. And when he spotted her, he walked out and joined the other male behind her.
She could faintly hear clicks and grunts being passed between them.
A sinking feeling dropped into the pit of her stomach, and she started to get a little nervous. Aurora started to speed up her walk a bit. It was still another 3 minutes to Ki'morah's.
She gradually sped up while trying to make it look like she wasn't trying to run.
Aurora made it as far as a little more than halfway down. Before she was yanked from behind into another vacant ally. And she was shoved into a wall. She hissed as her back made contact.
When she opened her eyes, she saw it was the two males that were walking behind her. Both were standing before her, glaring down at her.
"Filthy ooman. How dare you taint us with your presence here. You don't deserve to bare that mark on your face." One of them spat.
She was starting to get nervous for herself and her unborn baby. But she was also pissed that this asshole told her she didn't have a right to be here.
"I have every right to be here. And you have no say in it otherwise." Aurora snapped.
Both the males briefly glanced at each other and trilled at her response.
"Hardly, you're from a race of soft, weak, and cowardly beings. The only usefulness you'd have here is being someone's whore." The second one retorted.
Her blood began to boil at their disgusting implications. How dare they! How dare these to ignorant bastards presume to know anything about her or what she can do!
"I'm well aware of what I'm capable of. And I don't have to prove myself to a couple of ignorant fuck ups with a superiority complex the size of Planet Jupiter. So, kindly fuck off and leave me alone!" She practically yelled.
Apparently, they didn't like that response. They snarled at her, and went for the young woman.
Normally, Aurora could fight off multiple opponents if she had to. But those were human opponents. One full grown male yautja was extremely challenging as it was, but two; she was in big trouble.
Aurora dove between them and rolled, until she landed behind them.
They were not expecting such a move and were a little surprised that she evaded them that quickly and effectively. The males then saw her make a dash for the ally's exit back to the main street.
She was just about there, when one of them caught up to her, and wrapped his hand around her neck from behind.
She let out a short yelp as he grabbed her and yanked her back. Her hands instinctively flew to her lower abdomen to protect her unborn baby. By now, she was getting afraid that one strong blow to the gut from one of these pricks could make her lose it.
"Please, let me go. I'm..."
She tried to get out that she was pregnant. But before she could finish her sentence, she was roughly thrown back into the wall again. The back of her head hit the solid wall and she saw stars.
Aurora dropped down onto her side, her head throbbing, and her vision blurred from the impact.
Even through the pain though, it didn't stop her from clutching her abdomen and drawing her knees up to protect her middle.
'PLEASE! SOMEBODY HELP ME!' She pleaded in her mind.
One of them spat at her, "S'yuit-de, you have no place among us and never will. We should just end your miserable existence here and now."
A couple tears rolled down her cheeks onto the ground beneath her. The second one was reaching down to grab her, when the three of them heard an Earth-shattering roar at the ally way's entrance.
Both males shot to their feet and focused their attention to the newcomer. Only to see a large, enraged female yautja charging at them.
The two of them barely had time to get out of the way, before she was upon them. She threw a vicious right hook to one male's face. A loud sharp cracking sound rang out as two of his mandibles were shattered and he was sent flying back a few feet.
She quickly whipped her head around eyeing the second male. Then charged him and plowed into the shorter male. She viciously slammed him into the wall on the opposite side of the ally.
She effortlessly lifted him up by his neck and roared in his face. The male permeated with h'dlak as he stared into the pissed off female's face.
The female reached up with her other hand and grabbed a fistful of his tresses and violently ripped them from his skull. The male howled in agony as she did this, as his fluorescent blood spilled out onto both of them.
By now, the first male yautja she decked, picked himself up, and clumsily dashed down the other end of the ally.
She then punched the male twice. Once in the face, the second time in the gut. With each deadly hit, the sharp sounds of bones crunching and cracking could be heard.
Then she threw him several feet down the ally, where he didn't get back up, and seemed to be out cold.
Aurora struggled to sit up. The blow to her head was pretty bad, she could feel wetness at the back of her head where the back of her skull connected with the wall. And her vision was still blurring in and out.
She slowly looked up to see the female approaching her position. The young woman squinted; she didn't recognize this female yautja. She had a very rough and intimidating look about her.
The female came to a stop in front of her and crouched down to look at the ooman.
"Pl...please, help me. I'm pregnant. I...I need to get to a healer." She practically sobbed.
The female's eyes widened for a fraction of a second upon hearing the ooman's words.
With surprising gentleness from the large, brutish female, she picked Aurora up. She then turned around and sprinted out of the ally and down the street.
If Aurora wasn't fighting to stay conscious, she'd be amazed at how fast they were going.
The female yautja didn't slow down at all, just kept sprinting. Every now and then, she'd look down at the small ooman female in her arms.
To think, she was on her way to one of the market stands to pick up some fruits and vegetables. When she heard the confrontation coming from the nearby ally.
She was surprised to see a small ooman female, and even more so, two males were assaulting her. It was clear, the ooman wasn't armed and wasn't there looking to pick a fight with them.
It filled her with rage as she saw the dishonorable little pauks get rough with her and slam her into the wall.
So, she did the honorable thing and intervened, and incapacitated the two pauk-des that were attacking the small, unarmed female. Then she activated her wrist comp's translator as she made her way over to the prone female on the ground.
When she noted that she was injured and mentioned she was with pup, the female yautja knew she had to move fast, and get her to the healers.
She pressed a button on her wrist comp and started talking into it. She notified her mate at home of the situation and told him she was enroute to the healers with the female.
A few moments later, the ooman in her arms began to speak again.
"Please, if you can. Contact my mate, Air'ik. He needs to know where I am." Aurora said, still fighting to stay conscious.
"I will contact him shortly. Right now, I need to get you to the healers as soon as possible." Came the electronic voice on her wrist comp.
"Can you take me to Prit'zu? He's the healer that's been overseeing my pregnancy." Aurora said.
"Yes, that's where we're going. We'll be there shortly." The female replied.
The female yautja continued her run. At the rate she was going, they would be at Prit'zu's lab very shortly. Hopefully, the young ooman female can hold on for a little longer until then.
Yautja Translations:
s'yuit-de- coward/pathetic
pauk- fuck
pauk-de- fuckers/fucking
Sei-i- yes
Until Next Time ;)