Next chapter is up! Enjoy :)
It's been a while now since Natalie was able to grab the translator for Yeyinde.
Within that time, she also explained to him how they wanted her to continue with her English lessons with him and why. Then afterwards, she told him they don't have to anymore because he does have the translator and it wouldn't be a good thing to continue.
Because that's what they wanted.
The young woman was surprised though that he didn't agree. Now that he has his translator, he was even more determined to learn her language.
It would be easier now, because the translator can help. She could say a word in English and the translator would repeat it. And when it did, he would know right away what the word means.
Natalie noticed it did make a huge difference and just withing the last couple to a few days alone, his English has made huge leaps and bounds.
"I'm still unsure this is a good idea. I feel like we're just giving them what they want. And it could be anytime now they decide to come for you or me for more questioning." She says.
"Let them. I st'ill don't thi'nk it will do them an'y good." He said, in roughly accented English.
The young hunter made sure that every single word she said that was repeated on his translator, he repeated back in English. It really help push along his learning. And he found her language truly wasn't that difficult to learn once you got it down. Most of the words were fairly simple to remember. Plus, he was always a fast learner.
"At least they haven't come and collected you in a while. So, they haven't cut anymore away from you. Which is downright horrible that they would do that. I know, the biggest thing with humans is wanting to study alien beings. But I always thought it barbaric that they'd want to take all kinds of samples from them and..." She stops herself.
He tilts his head at her.
"And what?" He asks.
Natalie didn't want to say it. Hell, it made her sick to her stomach getting a brief mental image of Yeyinde strung out on a table, dissected, with his organs all removed and being studied.
"I fear when they are done...they mean to dissect you. To...better study you." She finally confessed; sadness was ever present in her eyes.
He's not dumb, he had an idea it could happen. Even his kinds' own scientist have done the same thing to newly acquired lifeforms in the end. They did it to better learn their anatomy and getting to know the ins and outs of their bodily functions.
"Won't get that far. We'll be out be'fore then." He said, sure of himself.
"I really hope so." Natalie said, barely above a whisper.
"Nat'alie, didn't th'ink you care so much a'bout me." He teased, with a hand over his heart.
She smiled and rolled her eyes.
"Well, I kind of like to think of us as friends. Despite the fact that I don't like how you watch me when I shower." She pointed out.
He just smirks and shrugs.
"Can bl'ame me for be'ing curi'ous?" Yeyinde teased.
Of course, he will never tell her he does enjoy the display. Sure, some of his kinds' females will occasionally walk around topless. But he's never seen one fully nude before.
"Curious, right. Still don't see me eying you when you strip and shower." Natalie continues.
"Won't mind if you do wa'tch." He joked.
She shakes her head, "I swear, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a teenager."
Amusement flitted through his eyes.
"You're not too far off." He replied.
Her eyes widened, "Wait, what?"
Yeyinde chuckles, "In ooman years, I'm only tw'enty-one years old."
Natalie looked at him in surprise. She was clearly surprised to hear how young he truly was.
"Really? Shit. I actually have a good twelve years on you. I'm thirty-three." She replied.
He smirks, "Nope, you st'ill a bab'y. You wou'ldn't say that when you know my true age."
She quirks a brow, "What do you mean? You just told me your age."
Yeyinde shakes his head, "You were'nt listen'ing. I said in ooman years. In yautja years, I'm much old'er."
Her curiosity peaked, "How much older?"
His smirk still has yet to leave his face.
"I'm nine'ty-four years old." Yeyinde stated.
Natalie blinked a couple times, "Bullshit."
He shook his head, "It's true. We age diff'erent'ly than oomans. Age more slow'ly."
"Wow, your kind must leave for a long while then." She stated, clearly amazed.
"A'bout th'ree-hun'dred years, give or take. And th'ose are the ones who haven't died dur'ing a hunt." He stated, like it was no big deal.
But to Natalie, that was crazy.
"Holy shit! That's insane! Most humans are considered lucky if they could even make it to one-hundred!" She blurted.
Yeyinde chuckles, "Don't worry, I won't tell an'y one you a bab'y."
He then jokingly pats her head.
She gives him a look then lightly pushes his hand off her head.
"I'm not a baby. I'm a grown woman. In a way, I'm still more of the adult here. Because it sounds like you still have the mindset of someone much younger." Natalie retorted.
Yeyinde snorted, "Hardly. Still have six'ty-one more years of wis'dom than you. Still know much more than you."
"Yeah, because you're a ninety-four-year-old teenager. Sorry, twenty-one-year-old." She teased.
"And still have lived al'ready at least one wh'ole ooman life'time. You still you'ng and lear'ning." He countered.
Natalie hated to admit it, but he got her there. He clearly has already lived through at least one of her kinds' lifetimes already. Shit, if she calculates it right, he was born in 1929. Which would make him a good few years older than her grandparents. If they were still around.
"Perhaps, but I'm still not a baby as you so put it. Humans are considered adults by the time we reach eighteen years old. So, I've been an adult for quite some time now." She stated.
"And yet, you rough'ly the size of man'y of your world's pups." He teased.
She furrowed her brows, "Pups?"
"Ooman off'spring." Yeyinde replied.
'Oh no, he did not compare me to a kid.' She thought.
Though she hates to admit he has a point. She was only 4ft 11in tall. Hell, she has seen third and fourth graders that were taller than her.
"We call them kids or children. And for your information, in case you haven't noticed, humans are all shapes and sizes. I'm not the only petite adult on this planet. There are many." Natalie stated.
"Yes, I have no'ticed. Oomans are pr'etty small. At least com'pared to a yautja." He said.
"So, your saying, you're not freakishly tall for your kind?" She quipped.
He still had the translator running as they spoke. Because he still was a bit unfamiliar with quite a few of her words.
"No, I'm av'erage size for a male of my kind." Yeyinde told her.
"Damn, guess you really are a tall lot." She replied.
"I still find it st'range ooman fe'males small'er than males. Fe'male yautja are bigg'er than males." He told her.
"Wait what? You're joking." Natalie said.
Yeyinde shook his head though, "No, they are. They are st'rong'er and fast'er too. Don't want to piss off fe'male."
The young woman was having a hard time getting around that concept. Yeyinde was huge and imposing, a solid wall of muscle. And here he was saying his kinds' females were bigger and stronger!?
"That's insane. So, have you ever pissed any off then?" She teases.
He snorted and shook his head, "No, be'cause I'm not stu'pid and don't have death wish."
Most males rather risk dying in a hunt or battle. Then being ripped apart by an enraged female. Some would joke and say it's less painful to die during a hunt then by a female yautja's hands.
His brother made the mistake of pissing off his mate once. And she knocked him out with one blow to the face. He woke up sometime later in bed with his mate standing over him, arms crossed, and glaring. That's when he learned the hard way not to get smart with her while she already was in a foul mood.
Yeyinde laughed when his brother told him. And the younger yautja told him he was lucky she didn't do worse to him and that he was at least still alive and had his important bits.
Then his brother smartly retorted to wait, because his turn was coming soon when he was ready to mate with a female next mating season.
Speaking of, he believes the mating season on his world was close upon them. And just his luck, he wasn't there yet. And he was really looking forward to it too.
Natalie saw and heard him let out a huff. He seemed like maybe he was disappointed about something.
"What's wrong?" She asks.
He turns to her.
"Noth'ing." Yeyinde replied.
He really didn't feel like explaining the aspects of mating with her. She'd either freak out or become a little too curious. And probably want to inquire more about it.
"Doesn't sound like nothing. Sounds like something." She inquired.
Yeyinde sighs, "Just...some'thing im'port'ant com'ing up on home world. Was...look'ing for'ward to it too."
Natalie crossed her legs in front of her.
"Like what? Some big intergalactic party or something?" She asked, getting more curious by the minute.
He internally groaned. Leave it to him to be stuck in a cell with an overly curious ooman female. Doesn't help that it looks like she won't stop inquiring until he answers.
But a part of him wouldn't mind seeing the look on her face if he tells her. If she was very shy when it came to stripping and bathing in front of him. This topic might make her squirm and he may find it amusing.
She saw a smirk slowly form on his face.
"Don't th'ink you want to know, Nat'alie." He said with a grin.
"Why? Is it something personal?" She kept pushing.
"If you must know, lit'tle fe'male. Mat'ing sea'son is a'bout to st'art on home world. Was look'ing for'ward to partic'pat'ing in that." He said, smirk still never leaving his face as he said.
He watched her smile drop, her eyes widen, and cheeks flush pink.
"Oh." Was all she got out.
This made him laugh. It was clear she was a bit stunned to hear this. Just like he expected she would be.
With him laughing though, Natalie thought it was a joke and that wasn't the real reason.
"I'm serious, Yeyinde. No more jokes. What is it that you really don't want to miss back home?" She repeated.
"Am be'ing seri'ous. My kind's mat'ing sea'son is al'most here." He repeated.
Natalie awkwardly cleared her throat and looked away.
"Ok, never mind then. Don't think this is something I wish to hear more about." She somewhat blurted out.
Oh, but he wasn't done making her squirm yet.
"I hear it's rou'gh and at times, qu'ite bru'tal. But in the end...qu'ite pleas'ur'able." He stated with a grin.
"Ok! Ewww! Please stop now!" Natalie blurted out, cheeks all red.
Yeyinde started to trill with laughter again.
"What? That's just how mat'ing is a'mong my kind. It may'be a bit vio'lent. But I was look'ing for'ward to it." He replied.
"Great, stuck in here with a horny alien. Just my luck." She sarcastically replied.
"Don't wor'ry, won't hurt you. It's very dis'hon'orable to take an'other by force dur'ing mat'ing. Would nev'er do such a th'ing." He assured her.
Natalie calmed down a bit and felt relieved. Then smirked at him.
"So, do the ladies tend to flock to you during this 'special' time? You seem like you'd be good at smooth talking them." She teased.
He snorted, "Wouldn't know. This be fir'st time mat'ing."
She was quite taken aback by this. He was ninety-four freakin' years old. And he never done it!?
"Yeyinde, are you saying you're a virgin?" Natalie couldn't resist teasing.
His eyes widened and his cheeks tinged a light shade of green. Though she couldn't see the blush, she could see the surprised, yet embarrassed look on his face.
And she started to laugh a little at that. Yeah, he definitely didn't get to experience that fun part of life yet.
"Ooman, it's not that fun'ny." Yeyinde grumbled.
"What? It's nothing to be ashamed of. We've all been there at one point." She said, between laughs.
"Where's your mate then?" He retorted.
Yeyinde watched as the smile slowly dropped from her face. Didn't take him long to realize he said the wrong thing. He opened his mouth to apologize. But she spoke up first.
"Don't have one anymore. He left me several months ago. Before I was kidnapped and brought here." She said.
It still stung to think about. Considering they were together for a long time. Hurt even more when she found out he was cheating on her.
The young hunter wanted to inquire more. Like where he was. But he felt like it may upset the ooman female even more. It was odd to him. Because it wasn't uncommon for the males and females of his kind to sometimes split after mating.
Some sticked together, but some leave.
Like his brother's mate stuck around and didn't leave after they mated a couple times. But some of his other older friends, the females mated with them during the mating season then they split.
And males chose whether or not to stick around after their pups were born. It was common for males to be in and out of their pups lives. Especially, when the males would leave for extended periods of times for hunts. While the females were mainly the primary caregivers at home.
His own father would stop by from time to time during his youth to see him and his four siblings. Yeyinde saw him more though when he became of age to hunt.
Then his father oversaw his and his siblings' training.
He probably sees him more now as an adult than he did when he was a pup. He was a strong, proud warrior, and demanded the best from his offspring.
Anyways, he thinks right now, it may be best to switch topics.
"It's get'ting late. Should prob'ably get some rest." He told her.
Natalie agreed. It's been a while since dinner was brought to them. So, it had to be pretty late right now. And she was feeling pretty tired.
"Yeah, ok." She said.
Then she got up from her spot on the floor against the wall and headed for the bed. Yeyinde didn't get up to follow though. He wasn't all that tired. So, he continued to sit there and filter through his thoughts.
He felt he was close to getting out of here soon. The question was, what happens after? The young hunter knew he could contact the drop ship and they would come and retrieve him.
But what of Natalie? Will she be able to go back to her own life? She already knew so much about him. Which really wasn't good. The yautja didn't like it when an ooman had obtained a lot of knowledge about them. It made them a threat, because they don't want the rest of the ooman populace to become aware of their kind's existence.
It could end up causing problems for their hunts. Because oomans may be expecting them and try to capture even more of them when hunters decide to come to Earth for a hunt.
Yeyinde worries that others of his kind may try to kill Natalie. While it was true, his kind couldn't kill unarmed, harmless females. If they knew though that this ooman carried with them extensive knowledge about their kind and tech, that was just as dangerous as if they were fighting armed prey.
He was unsure they would do it. Because he never came across such a case where an ooman or oomans had such extensive knowledge of the yautja and their tech.
But even his kind knew well enough that if something was a threat to their existence, they wouldn't hesitate to eliminate the threat if it meant keeping their kind safe and a secret from other intelligent beings on other worlds.
Especially, oomans. He had been told many a times through his studies that many of them were quite greedy and dishonorable. And that a lot of the things they did were for their own personal gain.
Still, he knew Natalie wasn't like that at all. She was kind and caring. And very pleasant to converse with. He's not sure if he feels this way due to his current situation.
But he started to view her as a friend.
And because of this, he didn't want to see her get hurt. Whether it be by these oomans or his kind. Yeyinde can only hope he can relay to his brother and the others that she wasn't a threat.
Or perhaps, when this is over, they'll just go their separate ways and then he won't have to tell anyone about her.
Though when he thinks about the thought of going separate ways, it did sadden him a little. A part of him wouldn't mind going as far to keep in contact with the young ooman female if possible.
But he wonders if by doing so, it may put her in danger.
All these what ifs were starting to give him a slight headache. Perhaps, some rest was in order for him after all.
Yeyinde eventually got up and approached the cot. He sat down on the bed and carefully picked her up. She awoke briefly, but closed her eyes when she realized what was going on.
He laid down and tucked her into his side, like he always did when they laid down to sleep.
Natalie hunkered down and got comfortable again and brought her small arm and hand up to rest on his broad chest. Subconsciously, Yeyinde brought his own large hand up and placed it over her smaller one.
The pair fell asleep shortly after.
Until Next Time ;)