The next chapter is here! Enjoy :)
The aftermath of what happened that night seemed to filter throughout the clan.
Some were surprised to hear about what Inu did. While others were not so surprised. Those who knew her best had a feeling that there was just something not right in the head with her.
But none ever said anything because you don't speak ill of any of the high Elders' children. Each of them was great warriors of their time and worked hard to reach the position of Elder.
Because of this, most of their children had high expectations to uphold to. And it wouldn't suit anyone well to say that one of them was clearly insane.
A couple Arbitrators came and collected the body. The Elders were not far behind to get to the scene. Elder Setg-in was quick to get to both Yeyinde and Natalie, wanting to make sure they were both ok.
While Elder M'icli-de watched on in sadness as they brought the body of his deceased daughter out. It sad, not knowing that one of your children was that far gone that they couldn't crawl out of that deep dark hole of madness.
He wasn't angry at Yeyinde, Larja-Thwei, or Natalie for causing her death.
It was clear his daughter came here to the young hunter's home with the intent to murder his pregnant mate and most likely him. Seeing the state, the two young hunters and woman were in, it was quite clear Inu proved herself to be a danger to this whole clan.
If she had survived this skirmish, she would've been tried and put to death. And no amount of suggestions or pleading from Elder M'icli-de would have swayed any of them this time.
In truth, he hates to admit that he would've agreed that death was her only option. She may have been his blood. But he had the entire clan's safety to think about.
It took a little while for Natalie to calm her tears.
She had just killed someone. That is something that she will never forget or be able to get over for as long as she lived. Even if it was justifiable and for self-defense. It was still the most horrible feeling she had ever felt.
Yeyinde was still there to be her support through all of this.
Killing was not something that bothered him or any other yautja. It's part of their culture to do so, as hunters. But he could tell it was not something most humans partake in.
In their culture, it was almost always seen as murder. Something they were sent to imprisonment for.
He really hopes his mate will never have to go through something like this. Luckily, it's not something that is a common occurrence in the clan.
Inu just happened to be insane, and she let her insanity take control, which allowed her to break their code and attack others unprovoked with the intent to kill.
As the months continued, Natalie tried to distract herself as much as she could. Spending time with Yeyinde, and some of the other females she considers friends. Like Sakana, Minikui, Luar-ke, and Adilgashii.
They took her clothes shopping for baby clothes a couple times. It was pretty comical. They looked like the pregnancy club. Because Natalie, Adilgashii, Luar-ke, Minikui, and Nakande were all pregnant.
Larja-Thwei even informed them that his mate Da'dtou-di was also expecting. He even introduced her to Natalie.
At first, the large deep blue colored female was skeptical of her. Because she was ooman. But once she got to spend a little more time with her and the other females in her group, she began to like her company.
Natalie was reaching the end of her pregnancy. She was six and a half months along now and looked like she swallowed a basketball.
The baby's hits and kicks were becoming much stronger. Even Yeyinde felt several kicks against his hand. He always smiled and purred when he felt them too.
He could already tell that their pup was going to be strong.
The only thing they seemed to have trouble deciding was baby names. They tried to think of girl and boy names they both liked. But it seems neither of them have the same taste in names.
Though in truth, Yeyinde already said he had a name he really liked if it's a girl. But he has yet to share this name with her. All he told her was that it was special. And that he will tell her the name if they have a daughter.
She hopes it's a name that they can agree on.
At least, Yeyinde said he was willing to compromise naming it Tyler after her brother, if it's a boy. That was something she was happy to hear.
As the weeks went on, it also drew them further away from the nightmare that had just taken place in their home and had the couple looking forward to the future with their child and any other children that follow.
Natalie almost flipped when Yeyinde joked, saying he wanted around ten kids.
"No fucking way, Yeyinde! Three at the most and no more! I will not be pushing as many as ten of your extra-large babies out of this little body. So, get that thought out of your head right now. Because it's never going to happen." She blurted out.
Yeyinde just laughed at her reaction. In truth, he really was joking. Sure, a lot of yautja strive to have as many pups as possible in their lifetime. But he wasn't one of them.
At the most, he would've just settled for five or six pups.
But if his mate was adamant on no more than three, than that was fine. It's her body that does all the work gestating the young after all. And he wasn't going to tell her what to do with her own body.
Not unless he wants his ball ripped off.
Something Natalie had threatened him with once while she was having one of her hormonal mood swings. She also happened to say it in front of Sakana and Luar-ke, who busted out laughing at her threat.
Afterwards, Yeyinde asked the other females if it was normal for pregnant females to act crazy like this. He groaned when he got two sets of nods from both females.
"I threatened to do much worse to Mar'cte and Kantra's father, Kalakta. That male steered clear of me for the next few weeks after that threat." Sakana said, with some laughter in her voice.
"And I sent Kaail running from the room when he said some remarks to me, I didn't like. He had to duck and dodge each sharp object I threw at him on the way out. Which unfortunately for him, were all knives, seeing as we were eating lunch in the kitchen area at the time." Luar-ke added.
Each story just made Yeyinde more and more nervous. And they couldn't help but laugh at the look of dread that appeared on his face.
At the time they had this conversation, Natalie was five months along into her pregnancy at the time. It was also around this time that his older brother Ci'tde came back from his long hunt on various different worlds in space.
While he was happy to great him, Bakuub, and their sisters, he wasn't all that happy when he saw Natalie.
Apparently, he didn't really share his liking of oomans like the rest of his siblings. He did make a big stink about it front of them too. Until Sakana threatened to put his head through the wall, again. If he didn't stop his complaining.
Cit'tde was what you would call the black sheep in the family out of the five siblings. He was the one that got in the most trouble growing up. Both with his siblings and their parents.
His problem was that he just didn't know when to shut the hell up. It's something that has gotten him into a lot of fights throughout his youth.
His brothers, sisters, and father do care about him. He just needs to make better decisions at times and learn when to stop shoving his foot in his mouth around certain people.
In a way, he kind of reminded Natalie of Larja-Thwei. Their personalities were pretty similar. And she once made a joke out of earshot about him possibly being left on the doorstep when he was a baby.
Everyone got a good laugh out of that.
"I would've agreed to that statement. If he didn't look just like his mother and sister, Minikui. He just happens to have the same personality as his uncle. My mate's brother, Kuhjade. He never knows when to shut up either." Setg-in teased.
The rest of his children laughed and completely agreed. Their uncle Kuhjade was also a bit of a troublemaker in his youth and got himself drawn into a lot of fights.
It was enough to drive their mother and her other siblings crazy at times.
Ci'tde nowadays, would either ignore Natalie or just not acknowledge her. Which was fine with the young woman. She could care less about his snotty attitude.
Though she likes to think one day they may see eye to eye. Because she'd like to get along with everyone in Yeyinde's family.
At least Larja-Thwei has been acting more civil with her since that incident with Inu. And she really appreciates that he, along with Yeyinde, protected her from the crazed female yautja.
"He'll probably never say it out loud. But I do believe he finally sees you as a member of the clan and as a friend. Just don't tell him I told you this. Otherwise, he'll definitely want to use my ass as target practice." Kaail told her one day.
Natalie let out a little chuckle. She would never say it out loud, but she does believe Kaail is a bit intimidated by his brother Larja, at times.
She didn't blame him. She went to the training grounds a couple times and watched him fight. And he was quite the ruthless fighter. He must've had most of his opponents on the ground in five minutes.
The only time Natalie saw him lost, it was against her mate, Yeyinde.
It was a pretty fierce Jehdin Jehdin fight. One that lasted nearly a whopping fifteen to twenty minutes. Bith males were incredibly stubborn and refused to give in.
It was only when Yeyinde sent a powerful right hook to his noggin and effectively knocking him out, that he won.
She thought it funny when he awoke about three minutes later, and with slurred speech, asked if he won. Their other friends laughed at this.
"Only thing you won was a free nap. And it also means, you're buying us a round of drinks later, since you lost." Kv'var-de said.
Larja's eyes widened in surprise.
"What!? I thought you guys were kidding about that. You mean to say that the loser really was to buy a round of drinks for everyone?" He asked, surprised.
"Yep." Guan said.
He grunted, "You paukheads. Fine, first round is on me There you guys happy now?"
"Very, thank you for your generosity, hunt brother." Dachande replied.
Everyone still chuckled at the dirty looks Larja-Thwei was sending them.
It didn't help when his brother Kaail threw an arm around his shoulder and spoke to him.
"And just so you know, mei-hswei, there is that knew strong mix drink I've been meaning to try now for some time. The thing is, it's a pretty expensive drink. So, I thank you in advance for paying for it for me." Kaail said, with a smirk.
Larja leveled him with a look.
"It better not be that naxa tonic drink they just came out with. The one that is so strong, it's guaranteed to knock you on your ass, is it?" He inquired.
"Yeah, that be the one." Yeyinde replied for him with a smirk.
"Oh c'mon! You know how expensive that one is!? That's a pretty good chunk of change right there!" Larja argued.
"Oh, we know. That's why we were thinking of all getting one." Kv'var-de said, with an evil smile.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"I really hate you guys right now." Larja deadpanned.
Natalie couldn't hold it in anymore and started laughing at their antics. She had the translator running on her knew custom made wrist gauntlet and picked up the entire conversation between them all.
It was even better when Yeyinde's brother came along and asked what they were up to after training. When they mentioned drinks and that Larja was paying, she thought she'd die laughing right there from his response.
"Don't mind if I join in for that. Especially, if Larja is paying. I've been meaning to try that new naxa tonic drink everyone keeps talking about." Bakuub said.
Larja's jaw dropped in disbelief, and the other males busted out laughing once more. Now, that made six of those new expensive drinks he had to buy everyone.
Natalie just chuckled and shook her head. This was her ragtag team of hunters; she would fondly refer them as. Her first real friends that she met upon the ship. The same ones that helped prepare her for their world and way of life.
It's something she will always be grateful to them for her.
Yeyinde walked over to her with a small smile.
"Do you wish to come with us or return home? They do have some very good nonalcoholic drinks there if you wish to join us." He offered.
Natalie shrugs, the smile never leaving her face.
"Sure, why not. Might be some great entertainment value there watching you all crash and burn as you fall on your asses after having that drink." She teased.
"Oh please, Natalie. It takes way more than one strong drink to knock us out." Kv'var-de says in part confidence and part joke.
She rolls her eyes, "Yeah, keep telling yourself that. We shall see."
And see she did. It was hilarious as hell watching all seven males go down like dominoes off their seats.
Nakande's mate Chulonte happened to be there and saw the whole thing too. He went over and asked Natalie what was up with them. He snorted, when she told them what had just transpired.
Then he asked the bartender for a large pitcher of water.
Natalie watched in amusement as he walked down the line of passed out males, pouring water over each of their faces as they went. They all woke with a start once the ice-cold water hit them.
Chulonte then called them all idiots, before placing the pitcher back on the counter.
The whole walk home Yeyinde and his friends all had embarrassed looks on their faces. It didn't help when Natalie told Yeyinde's sisters and her friends' mates what had just happened.
Then the hunters never heard the end of it from their females afterwards.
It was times like this and being reminded of the new friends and family that she had, was what was helping her heal from the trauma that happened with Inu.
Until Next Time ;)