The next chapter is here! Enjoy :)

Natalie was going in and out of consciousness.

Despite the fact she could feel something digging into her side.

Her vision kept going in and out of focus as she saw a blur of a being above her. Apparently, they were trying to help her, they were using something to dig something out of her.

"Yeyinde?" She weakly blurted out in a daze.

The shadow above her froze for a moment. Then went back to helping her.

Her body felt like it was aching all over as she continued to drift in and out of consciousness. She would let out a whimper every now and then as she felt a sharp pain.

But they kept going. Until they pulled out what they were looking for.

Then Natalie let out a small hiss of pain as she felt something burning into her side. But her body could hardly move as they tended to the wound.

She was still quite tired when she heard a distorted voice above her that sounded like the translator Yeyinde has.

"Rest now, your wound has been treated." Came a distorted, yet mechanical sounding voice.

Still feeling exhausted, Natalie did pass out shortly after those words. But not before she felt something light and soft draped over her.

"Ok, you have my attention now. What is going on? And what possessed you to bring an ooman aboard this ship?" Bakuub asked.

Yeyinde sighed, he felt this will both be embarrassing and a long story. But he knew his brother had a right to know.

"You haven't heard from me in while. There was a reason for that." The younger hunter said.

He then went into detail about the hunt that went wrong. How he was captured and thrown into a cell. Then how they threw Natalie in his cell with him.

How she taught him the language to overcome the language barrier. How he and her became close during their long incarceration.

Bakuub hung onto every word his younger brother told him. It was both surprising and astonishing at the same time. While his younger brother showed promise as a hunter, he still couldn't have imagined he'd get caught.

But what transpired afterwards was quite interesting.

Here he thought Yeyinde died during the hunt when he didn't hear from him. Bakuub mourned for him, thinking the worse of his baby brother. But he would've never imagined something like this had happened to him instead.

Had he known, he would've gone back for him and gotten him out of this ooman facility that was holding him.

But he was proud all the same that Yeyinde managed to fight his way out in the end. He could tell his younger brother was not happy at the thought that he had gotten caught and spent several months as a prisoner under the oomans care.

In the end though, Yeyinde was triumphant and was able to get out.

"I understand it was difficult for you. But I'm glad that you're ok and you made it out. But despite the fact you were stuck in a cell with an ooman, I still don't fully understand why you would take the time to save her when it's all said and done. Especially after she was mortally wounded. In situations like this, most would've let the other die." Bakuub stated.

"I know, but I just couldn't let it happen. She was an innocent that was dragged into this. She didn't deserve this to happen to her. It wouldn't have been right to leave her behind to die like that. It's why I took her with me." Yeyinde said.

Bakuub then slowly approached his younger brother and placed a hand upon his shoulder.

"Whatever reasoning was behind it, I'm still glad you're alive and well, mei-hswei. But just know, it won't be easy for your ooman. it sounds like she knows a lot about our kind. And because of this, she may be unable to return to Earth. I hope you realize this." He warned.

Yeyinde was aware of this being a possibility. And that is why he was hesitant to ask this question.

"Will they...kill her? Because she knows about us?" The younger hunter hesitantly asked.

"I won't lie to you brother; it could be a possibility. The only other option is for her to stay with us. Either way, she won't be able to return to Earth." Bakuub informed him.

While Yeyinde was a bit relieved at the possibility that may allow her to live, he knows Natalie won't be happy at the fact that they wouldn't let her return to Earth.

At the moment though, he was busy worrying about her and if she will survive the wound she was dealt.

"On another note, I saved your skulls for you. Looks like you were doing well for yourself before the capture. Five ooman skulls is very good Yeyinde." His brother noted, proudly.

While he was happy that his brother preserved his skulls for him. Yeyinde's mind still drifted to Natalie. He hopes that Guan can save her and patch her up good.

Because she wasn't in very good shape by the time, they came for them.

Not a moment later, Guan entered the room. And Yeyinde quickly made his way over to him.

"The ooman, nan'ku?" Yeyinde asked.

Guan nodded, "Nan'ku."

A strong wave of relief washed over Yeyinde at hearing that.

"But I...found something strange while removing the piece of metal from her body and patching her up." Guan stated.

By now Bakuub made his way over and stood beside Yeyinde.

"What? What did you find?" Yeyinde asked.

"Well, upon removing the metal, I noticed she had begun to heal. Which was odd because, even though I'm not extremely versed in ooman anatomy, I still know well enough that they don't heal that fast.

But I literally had to dig into her to get to the metal lodged within her. Because the wound had already begun to heal up quite a bit. During this time, I took samples of her blood from her and found something...strange."

"What?" Yeyinde inquired.

"Were these oomans at that facility by any chance experimenting with our genetics or anything like that?" Guan asked.

Yeyinde seemed surprised by such a question. But he knew that they did stick her with an injection full of his blood. Still, he was unsure of what it would do.

"While we were there, they did take blood samples from me. And they injected her with some of my blood." The young hunter pointed out.

Guan and Bakuub looked at him, surprised to hear this. Especially, his brother. During this whole entire conversation, not once did Yeyinde state that they took his blood and gave it to the ooman female.

"I see, well, it seems to be having some kind of effect on her body. Judging by the samples I took from her. It looks like it's slowly changing some of her genetic makeup. I don't know how much or will change or affect her. How long ago was she shot before I was able to treat her?" Guan asked.

"I want to say...about a half hour before you came and got us." Yeyinde deducted.

Guan's eyes widened a little at that.

"Yeyinde, judging by her wound, she should've been dead quite some time before then." He stated.

"Really? You sure about that, Guan?" Bakuub asked, seeing his brother seemed a bit stunned at the moment to answer.

The healer nodded, "Yes, it practically nicked her liver. She should've bled out completely within ten-fifteen minutes maybe less. But when you got her to me, she was still alive and breathing.

If she were one of us, then yes, I can see how she survived. But she's not. I think, when they gave her your blood, it did or shall I say, it's doing something to her body.

I doubt it will change her whole physiology completely. Like she won't grow mandibles or sprout a couple more feet. But I feel the blood is definitely doing something to her internally." Guan informed them.

"Is it something...that will eventually kill her?" Yeyinde asked.

Guan shook his head, "I don't think so. If that were the case, I think it would've killed her by now. Instead, it has sped up her healing, and practically saved her life."

Yeyinde didn't know what to think of this news. While he's glad his blood practically saved her, he's still unclear what this meant for Natalie and how it may continue to affect her.

"I also hate to say it, but because of this discovery, I don't think she'll be able to return to Earth. Because we still don't know how it will affect her physically. If oomans notice something different about her, then she'll just be carted off to another lab and experimented on." Guan stated.

Yeah. Natalie sure as hell won't be happy to hear that.

If someone told him something about him was changed, and he couldn't return home because of it, he'd sure as hell be majorly pissed over it.

And sadly, it meant Natalie would have to adapt to his world and his peoples' ways. Otherwise, it will be harder for her to adjust. Now, he will have to find a way to approach her and explain this to her.

"If she can't return to Earth though, then what can we do with her? Surely, the clan and Elders may have a problem with an ooman being among them." Bakuub inquired.

Guan shrugged, "I don't know. I can't say how they will take to her. Especially, after they find out that they mixed our kinds' blood with hers. It's either they may come to eventually except her. Or she may be exiled, ostracized, or killed for what was done to her. But again, I can't say for sure. We've never had a case where something like this has happened. So, I can't say for sure."

The more Yeyinde listened to this conversation the more he dreaded telling her. Plus, he was afraid of what they may do to her.

He finally come to accept he did grow quite a soft spot for this small ooman female during his imprisonment. Because of this, he feared for her future and her safety.

His only hope was, that his father will be willing to listen to him. His father was one of the Elders of their clan.

Yeyinde turned back to Guan and nodded to him.

"Thank you, Guan. May I see her now?" He asks.

Guan nodded, 'Yes, though when I left her, she was still out."

The young hunter left and headed to the med room.

The young healer turned to Bakuub.

"Just what is his connection to this ooman female anyway? I'm still baffled as to why he brought her on board." Guan said.

"I'll explain. For now, let's just grab some food to eat. And maybe a large cup of c'ntlip." Bakuub replied, as he led Guan out of the room.

Yeyinde made his way back down to the med room. He passed Larja-Thwei on the way, but didn't even acknowledge him. He was still a bit miffed about his attitude towards Natalie.

After a few minutes, he made it to the med room and entered.

Natalie was still lying on one of the med tables at the end of the room. But he did note that she did have a thin pelt draped over her body. Which was nice to know that Guan tried making her comfortable.

Yeyinde came to a stop by her table. She was out, fast asleep. But thankfully, her breathing didn't sound labored or haggard like it did before when he brought her aboard.

He slowly reached out and lightly ran his hand over the top of her head, smoothing some of her soft hair back. She reacted a little to his touch. But didn't awaken.

The young hunter was glad she was out of the woods and on her way to recovery.

Now, he can only hope she won't entirely freak out when he shares the news about her not being able to go back home.

Until Next Time ;)