The next chapter is here! Enjoy :)
The pair made it to the cave just in time. Not five minutes after they went inside, it started downpouring.
Kayla watched as it came down. It was coming down so hard, you could barely see past a few feet out into the open. There was a fullblown hurricane going on out there.
Then the sky light up with lightning followed by a crash of thunder.
They both moved further away from the cave's exit so not to get wet.
Once they did move further back, Kayla heard a grunting sound coming from behind her. She froze, because she knew it wasn't Than-guan. He was standing several feet to her right.
His head whipped around when he heard the grunts. Then quickly pulled his combi stick free and took aim.
"Kayla, get down!" He said.
As soon as those words left his mouth, she quickly darted away, and not a moment later, he threw his combi stick.
She heard a loud howl coming from behind her and when she turned around, she saw an animal lying on its side. It thrashed about a bit with the combi stick sticking out of its side.
Before its movements ceased and it went limp.
Kayla slowly approached it. The animal looked like it was the size of a large mastiff. In fact, it did look very canine in appearance. It had medium length fur, a long bushy tail, and pointed ears.
Only difference was, it had longer canines than a dog. This one's canines jutted out the side of its very long snout.
Than-guan stepped up to it, placed his hand around the combi stick and pulled it out of the dead animal. Then retracted it and put it on his back.
"This is a ft'duyi. Their pretty similar to the wolves and coyotes on Earth. Only difference is ft'duyi are solitary hunters. They don't live in packs. This one must've ran in here beforehand to seek shelter from the storm." He told her.
"I take it they're very dangerous?" She inquires.
"Not really. They are more or less scavengers and ambush predators. You had your back turned to it, so it took the opportunity to come at you from behind from the rock it was hiding behind. If you were facing it, it most likely would've hesitated attacking you. They're quite cowardly. And not very worthy prey to hunt." He explained.
He then pulled out a large, wicked looking knife.
"But they are quite tasty though." He said, then started to carve into the dead animal.
Than-guan started carving out sections of meat from its body and placing them aside. He then looked around and spotted a decent size pile of sticks and brush.
Something probably had a nest in here at some point and that was what was left over. He then turned his gaze to Kayla.
"You mind grabbing a pile of sticks and moving them more towards the center of the cave floor?" He asks.
The young woman nodded and went over to the fairly large pile of sticks and leaves near the back. She can only hope that nothing else was in here waiting to pounce on them.
But this cave, that really looked more like a deep crevice or cavern didn't look that big and didn't look to have any other exits or entrances.
Still, she looked around as she knelt down and grabbed a large handful of sticks and dry leaves.
Then Kayla walked back towards the middle of the cave not far from where Than-gaun was still carving out pieces of meat. And she placed them in a small round pile on the floor.
"How much more do you need?" She asks.
"Grab as much of it as you can and continue to pile it on. I'm going to set a fire so we can eat." He replied.
Kayla nodded and went back to grab another armful of sticks and dry shriveled up leaves. She made sure to grab a lot of the crunchy dead leaves. Because they made for good tinder to start a fire.
She only made a total of three trips back and forth. And he told her this was good enough for now. He then asked her to grab a couple of sturdy long sticks from the pile and pull them out.
It was a little difficult finding any at first. Because most of the sticks were small and very thin. But eventually, she found some decent ones and pulled them out.
The hunter than pulled out the small instrument she called his lighter, because it did produce a decent size flame. He lit a few leaves beneath the pile of sticks. Then lit another few random areas around the pile.
They were pretty lucky that there was a mound of sticks in here to begin with. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to make a fire.
After a couple minutes, the fire was a decent enough size. Than-guan took a small strip of meat and put it on the end of one of the two bigger sticks he told Kayla to grab from the pile.
He gave her the stick with the meat on the end of it. Then repeated the action with his stick. He also made sure to remove him mask beforehand.
And the two of them held their sticks of meat over the flame to cook them.
It was pretty quiet in there. None of them spoke for a few minutes. Than-guan was surprisingly the first one to break the silence.
"You were right in your assumptions. I am after Lar'nix'va for personal reasons." He said.
The hunter paused for a moment before continuing.
"He framed me. For a crime that he committed back on our home world. I didn't come here to hunt like I originally said, Kayla. I'm actually on the run.
While at the same time, was searching for Lar'nix'va. He stole my honor when he framed me. I'm here to get it back and make him admit to what he done.
It was either I capture him and bring him back before the council and confess. Or I get him to confess during our fight and I use my mask and wrist computer to record the confession. Right before I kill him.
Either way I need to get to him. It's the only way to clear my name and get my honor back.
I was being pursued by Arbitrators in space. When my ship took on damage. I had to find the nearest planet to land it on. Which happened to be this planet.
And this is how I got here." He explained to her.
"What are Arbitrators? And what crime did he commit to frame you?" She asked.
"Arbitrators are equivalent to your human authorities. They are the ones who are sent out to find and track down bad bloods. They either capture them and bring them to justice or kill them.
As for his crime, I caught him raping and killing a young female yautja. I went to go stop him. But he escaped. Other yautja heard the commotion and came.
But none saw him as he fled. They just saw me there, standing not far from the young female's body. Because of this, they believed I was the one who did it.
It was just my luck at the time, I didn't have my mask on. And the recording setting was not turned on, on my wrist computer. So, there was no proof he was even there, just my word.
No one even knew he was on home world. They had no reason to believe he would be. Because most bad bloods flee our home to save themselves. They knew it be dangerous to stick around because it ran a higher risk of getting caught.
I tried to defend myself anyway. Told the Elders it wasn't me, that it was Lar'nix'va. But they didn't believe me. No one really did. Except for a couple of my siblings and my best friend.
So, I ran. I took my ship and fled the planet. And once I was in the clear, I began to hunt for Lar'nix'va." Than-guan admitted.
The more she heard, the more she felt sorry for him. It was clear to her, that he was nothing like her captors.
They were cruel to her. They were going to use her and then kill her. Whereas this hunter saved her life at least twice already. When he didn't have to.
Not only that but he stuck with her and provided her with protection, food, and water.
He was a good man. And then this low-level piece of shit came in and ruined his life. All because Than-guan was in the wrong place at the wrong time, trying to stop this monster from killing an innocent.
"I'm really sorry, Midnight. That was horrible and never should've happened. And I completely understand why you would go after him and want to make him pay." She told him, sincerity was evident in her voice.
Than-guan didn't say anything at first. He just closed his eyes and let out a sigh.
"Better pull your meat away from the flame. It looks done and you don't want to overcook it." He told her, quietly, before his gaze shifted to the downpour happening outside.
Kayla pulled it back from the flame. But didn't eat it just yet. Her gaze went back to Than-guan. There was sadness in his gaze. His expressions may have been hard to read at times with his strange mouth.
But sadness and pain were evident in his eyes.
"Did...did you know her? The girl he killed?" She asked.
His gaze slowly met hers and he nodded.
"Yes. Her name was, Nk'mecci. She was the youngest daughter of one of our Elders. Always smiling and laughing. She was larger than life and very friendly to all that entered her path.
She was...only around fifteen years old in human years. Still not fully grown and wouldn't be ready to mate for another several years.
Still, at fully grown, healers said she wouldn't be as big as the average yautja female. She was born premature and was a runt. But was fortunately healthy otherwise.
It was said her father held her in high favor over all his children. And when she died, he was overstricken with grief and rage. He could barely contain himself when I was brought forward before the council.
He wanted me dead then and there for the crime." Than-guan said.
Kayla had to swallow back a lump forming in her throat.
'Fifteen years old. Barely more than a child. And still had her whole life ahead of her. There is a special place in hell for monsters who do such barbarous things like that to someone who's little more than a child.' She thought.
But something about that statement did strike her as odd.
"What do you mean fifteen years old in 'human' years?" She inquired.
"Yautja don't age like humans. We can live to be at least 300 years old." He told her.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"What!? Are you serious!?" She blurted out.
It was hard to stay sad with the funny look on the ooman female's face. And Than-guan couldn't help but chuckle.
"Yes, I'm one-hundred and sixty-two years old. But in human years, that's about late thirties." He said.
"Late thirties my ass. Your old." She teased.
Than-guan rolled his eyes.
"At least I'm still a very spry 'old' man. But really, that's not considered old. I'm still in my prime years. Will be for quite a while." He replied.
"Yeah ok, fair warning, this meat looks pretty tough. Just don't ask me to hold your dentures for you while you eat it." She teased.
"Female, don't make me shove you out in this weather and make you stay out there." He playfully threatened.
"Would you like me to get your walking cane for you first before you make the attempt?" She continued teasing him.
"This is warning number two, Kayla. What's the saying again in that sport you humans call baseball? Oh yes, three strikes and you're out." He quipped.
Kayla threw up her hands in mock surrender.
"Ok, ok, I'll stop." She said.
"Just hope you're not wearing adult diapers under that metal piece. Cuz' I sure as hell am not changing it." Kayla muttered quietly under her breath as she brought the meat to her mouth.
A wide smirk stretched across his face.
"Strike three." He said.
Then he quickly got up rounded the small fire and picked up the small ooman female. She yelped in surprise and dropped the stick with her meat on it to the floor.
Than-guan then carried the squirmy young woman across the cave.
"Hey! What are you doing!? Put me down! I was just kidding!" She blurted out as she struggled in his hold.
His smirk never left his face though.
"Nope, you have been warned." He said.
Then he stopped right at the cave's entrance and held her out in the pouring rain.
He chuckled as she squeaked from the sudden onslaught of rain pelting down on her.
"Not funny you ass! Pull me back in now!" Kayla yelled.
"How's the weather out there?" He snickered.
"I'll let you know when I come back in and shove my foot up your scaly ass...Ow!" She was cut off when something small, cold and hard started to hit her.
Than-guan started to laugh more when it started haling on her.
"The fuck!? Is that hale!? Is it haling out here!? Dammit, Midnight! Really not funny anymore pull me in, now!...Ow!" She said, as another big one hit her forehead.
"Apologize first, Kayla. You did hurt my feelings after all with those remarks." He teased.
"Will a punch to the eye make for a good enough apology!?" She yelled.
"You wound me. And here I thought we've become pretty good friends here. Now you threaten to injure me? That's cold, female." Than-guan continued.
"Goddammit please! This rain and hail are freezing cold! Ok! I'm sorry! Now please, bring me back in!" Kayla blurted.
"Ok." He said nonchalantly.
Then he pulled her back into the shelter of the cage.
She was soaking wet. With her clothes soaked through and her dark hair clung to the sides of her face, neck, and shoulders as she glared at him.
The hunter chuckled again at her state.
"Look at it this way. You were starting to stink a little and needed a shower." He joked.
She continued to glare at him.
"I really don't like you right now." Kayla deadpanned.
"You're breaking my heart. Really. But I'll bring you back to the fire, so you can dry off and get warm." Than-guan said.
He carefully lowered her down to the ground and led her back over to the fire.
The hunter went to the back of the cave and grabbed some more sticks and leaves to feed the fire with. While Kayla sat down and rubbed her arms over her chest and shoulders.
Good thing she finished most of the meat on her stick when he made her drop it. But she'd still like another piece to cook. So she picked up the stick and went over to where he made a small mound of meat strips and stuck the end of her stick in one.
She picked it up, sat back down, and placed it over the flames.
Than-guan came back with the bundle of sticks and put more on. Then he sat down beside her and picked up another piece of meat to put on his own stick.
"How long do you think this hunt will take?" Kayla asks.
The hunter shrugs, "Not sure, hopefully not too much longer. But in the meantime, while we're here, I think I should train you a little. So, you at least know how to defend yourself."
"I doubt any amount of training could prepare to face off against them. It's quite clear you guys are bigger and stronger than humans. So, whatever move I dish out, would probably hardly do any damage to them." She replied.
"Shouldn't doubt yourself and what you are capable of. Humans have been able to kill my kind before. So, it's not impossible.
You also fought hard against that bad blood youth that was trying to harm you. And probably would've been successful at escaping if you didn't run into that snare trap." He assured her.
Kayla turned to look at him.
"What have you seen? Were you watching?" She asks.
Amusement flickered in his eyes.
"Got there just when you nailed him in the balls. Was pretty funny to see, even if it is considered a cheap shot. But still, you fought hard for your life and your freedom." Than-guan stated.
She was silent for a moment, before speaking.
"I did take three years of Jui-Jitsu and some self-defense. So, I do already have some experience." Kayla admitted.
"What kind of fighting style is that?" He asks, not too familiar with the name.
"Jui-Jitsu? It's a form of grappling. People who utilize it go for the take downs and use a series of moves that apply pressure to the pressure points on the body. It's kind of similar to wrestling." She said.
"Ah, ok. Makes more sense. Sound a little similar to our grappling style of fighting. This is good. But do you know how to throw kicks and punches?" He asks.
"Yeah, learned how to during self-defense lessons. Also know how to utilize knees and elbow moves." She replied.
"Well, when the rain lets up and we have time, I'd like to see what you can do. Do you know how to use any weapons?" Than-guan asked.
She shook her head though. That was a little disappointing.
"Ok, well the easiest ones to start you out with would be the combi stick and sword. I do have an extra combi stick on me you can borrow." He told her.
He may not have time to give her any thorough training. But it's better than nothing. And it helps that she already has a background in fighting.
Than-guan hopes it will be enough. He already failed Nk'mecci. He didn't want to fail Kayla too.
They sat there by the fire continuing to chat as the weather persisted. He told her sometimes the storms here can last a while. And informed her that she may want to take this time to rest.
When they were done eating, Than-guan stomped the fire out. And Kayla curled up on the ground.
Sleep would prove difficult though this time around. Before she had some soft grass or moss to sleep on. But this ground was solid rock. And no matter how much she tossed and turned trying to find a comfortable position, she just couldn't.
Than-guan noticed this too. This hard floor wasn't the best thing to rest on. And she needed sleep. He knew humans couldn't go for long periods of time without it like his kind.
Kayla laid there on her side, trying to use her folded up arm as a pillow.
She wasn't laying there for too long when two large arms scooped her up and off the ground, surprising her again.
"What are you doing now? Was trying to sleep." She said.
"And you will. Just no on the ground." He told her cryptically.
The young woman was confused at first. Then he shifted her in his arms, sat down, and leaned against a large, flat rock.
Than-guan had her on his lap and lightly pressed her to lean against him. She tensed up a bit at first. But gradually relaxed against him.
He was very warm, his muscles were also very firm. But still, not as hard as the rocky floor. And...
'When did he take his chest plate off?' She thought.
His chest was bare as he had her lay her head against it.
The left side of her face was pressed against his pecks. And she could hear the strong steady beat of his heart. It sounded a little different than a human heartbeat.
But still, no less soothing.
She also heard another strange rumbling sound coming from him. Kayla couldn't put her finger on what it sounded like at first. The only thing she could distinctly describe it to was possibly a cat's purr. Only a bit louder.
Between his heart beating and the strange purring, she found her eyes slowly drifting shut. The young woman found herself surprisingly relaxed.
And soon, Kayla drifted off into a deep sleep.
Than-guan stayed awake a little longer. Before he too joined her. Falling asleep to the steady sound of rain and distant rumble of thunder outside.
Until Next Time ;)