The next chapter is posted! Enjoy :)

They have been on the ship now for a few days.

So far, Natalie had met everyone, and for the most part, they all seem descent enough. It seemed like the only one that didn't like her very much was Larja-Thwei.

And for the most part, she tended to steer clear of him.

Their ship was quite fascinating. Natalie was very amazed by the tech they had. It took Yeyinde about a half hour to show her around the entire ship.

The control room was neat and had a huge control counsel up front with a very large viewing window in front of it.

Then he showed her the trophy room and kehrite. Both of those rooms she found intriguing as well. It was quite clear the hunters were proud of the trophies they achieved. Each one of them had their own wall reserved for their skulls.

Yeyinde was more than happy to show her his trophy wall. She was surprised to see that some of them were quite big and impressive. The largest skull stretched from the top of her shoulder down to her fingertips.

He told her the story about that one.

The young hunter and his brother were out hunting together on Planet Kut'y'ae. At one point they split up and headed into opposite directions in the jungle.

Yeyinde told her that he ran into something called a Kuty'y'ae. It was a vicious reptile like creature, and he engaged it in battle.

He had contacted Bakuub during the skirmish. But by the time the older hunter got there, Yeyinde had already killed the animal. He was quite banged up, but proud.

Yeyinde then showed Natalie a scar on his bicep and a couple on his lower right side. He indicated they were from the animal's claws and jaws.

It seemed like the more she learned about Yeyinde, the more she realized he was not one to tangle with. Through his stories, it was quite clear he was a strong and proud warrior.

While all his skulls and stories appeared to be fascinating, she was a bit perturbed to see five human skulls amidst his collection.

Yeyinde remembered his brother telling him that he placed his newly acquired human skulls with the rest of his other trophies. He noted Natalie seemed a bit upset upon seeing them. Though she kept reminding herself, this was what his race does for living.

He eventually led her out of the trophy room and brought her to the kehrite.

That's where she eventually met the rest of the yautja hunters that were aboard. Yeyinde introduced her to Dachande, Guan, and his brother Bakuub.

And while they seemed pleasant enough, Natalie couldn't help but feel that his brother wasn't all that thrilled she was here.

Yeyinde showed her the two large square rings in the kehrite where they spar. Then he showed her the weapons wall near the back of the room.

The weapons were pretty interesting. Different yet at the same time similar. A few were familiar to her because they were the same ones Yeyinde had with him on Earth. And she got a good look at many of them while they were laid out on a table in the lab.

There were quite a few on the wall though that she was completely unfamiliar with. Until Yeyinde explained to her what they are and how they worked.

Natalie thought some of the weapons were quite cool.

Until Larja-Thwei had to open his big mouth again. Stating it wasn't a good idea to show her the weapons and how they worked. And quipped about how she'll probably use one or a couple of them to kill them in their sleep.

At this point, even Natalie was getting very annoyed at this young hunter. She really didn't know what the hell his problem was with her. She hardly spoke to him or acknowledge him as it was.

And he was still going out of his way to act like a prick from time to time.

She could tell Yeyinde was getting fed up as well. He tries to maintain his composure as much as he can while he's around Natalie, because he doesn't want to scare her.

Instead, he chose to ignore the red skinned yautja's jibes.

"Natalie, do you have any training at all?" Dachande asked, curious.

She shook her head, "No, I wish. But never found the time to learn karate or self-defense."

The light green colored yautja was unsure what karate was. But self-defense he was more familiar with. He turned to Yeyinde.

"Perhaps, you should teach her. I think it best she at least knows the basics. I can help out if you wish." Dachande offered.

Yeyinde was a little surprised Dachande offered. But then training Unblooded youth was one of the things he took part in when he was on home world and not off hunting.

Dachande was actually the oldest yautja here. He was one-hundred and fourteen years old and held a higher hunting status then the rest of them here.

Yeyinde looked to Natalie.

"This is up to you. You don't have to if you don't want to. Won't make you." He told her.

Natalie shrugs, "I don't mind. But a fair warning. I don't really even know how to throw a proper punch."

Dachande snorted, "I've worked with pups in the same position as you. Shouldn't be a problem."

Yeyinde grinned, yeah, that was the truth.

Dachande has a surprising amount of patience. It's why he didn't mind doing some basic training skills with younglings who were just starting out.

He seen him working with younglings equivalent in age of ten-eleven years old. Most of which had barely begun to properly know how to fight yet.

The young woman smirked, "Ok. Don't say I didn't warn you though."

The light green yautja turned to his friend.

"Just so you know though, I can really only overlook some training with her while we're on the ship. I know we only have a few days left. Afterwards, you'll have to pick up her training. This work?" Dachande asks.

Yeyinde nodded, "Yes."

Dachande then told Natalie to excuse them for a moment. Then he switched off his translator.

"I think we have some bigger concerns here. What are you going to do with her when we dock on home world? Especially, when it's unclear as to how she will be received. She's lucky that most of us here, besides Larja that is, don't have issues with her for not being a yautja.

But on Yautja Prime, it could be a different story. While some like us, won't mind her presence. There are still many out there that may not take kindly to an ooman walking about the Clan.

And while we like to think no one will harm her, there may still be some there who won't have the self-control not to. Especially, Unbloodeds.

While most of them are not eligible to mate yet, their hormones can still cloud their judgement. Especially now with the Mating Season upon us.

I'd say this is definitely a time you may want to accompany her wherever you take her. But that may even be an issue for you since this is supposed to be the first time you participate during Mating Season.

So, just what is it you plan on doing with her when we get home in the next five days?" Dachande inquires.

Yeyinde had given it some thought. And it's something he'd like to speak with his father about. Though he wouldn't be surprised if Bakuub already went ahead and relayed a message about Natalie to him.

"The only thing I'd like to do first before we land, is contact my father. I'd like to ask for his input in all this. Hopefully, he won't give me a hard time about it." Yeyinde told him.

"Good luck with that. As one of the Elders, this decision could put him in a precarious position. Especially, since no oomans have ever come to our world. Let alone live among us." Dachande stated.

"I may not have a lot of options as it is. This is something I will have to talk with him about. Whether he likes it or not." He replied.

This certainly was a difficult position for the young hunter to be put in. Dachande could tell and felt bad for him. But despite his young age, Yeyinde was very bright and quick on his feet with decision making.

These traits were what separated him from other more impulsive youths who have yet to grow out of their cockiness, impulsivity, and recklessness.

Dachande reached up and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Whatever choices are made, you have my support, my friend." He assured him.

Yeyinde bowed his head in gratitude.

"Thank you, Dachande." He replied.

"But first, I think you should talk to Bakuub. Because I think he already went ahead and contacted your father and told him everything. I believe he was trying to find the right time to tell you. But wanted to do so when Natalie wasn't around.

If you wish to go speak with him privately, you can go right ahead. I can stay here with her while you do so. I could start showing her a couple basics both with hand-to-hand and with weapons." Dachande suggested.

The older male knew Bakuub and Yeyinde since they were small pups. He knew their personalities and quirks. And knows when it comes to very important things; Bakuub prefers to talk to Yeyinde in private about them.

Yeyinde sighs, "I suppose. You wouldn't happen to know where he is at the moment, would you?"

"Sorry, I don't know where he could be at the moment. I would ask one of the others. Though knowing his habits, he's probably in his quarters, polishing his awu'asa and weapons. As we know, he tends to do that a couple to a few days before landing on home world.

Most likely does it to look good for Thwei-de." Dachande teased.

The younger hunter chuckled. Yeah, that sounds about right. After returning from their hunts, Bakuub did like to polish up his armor and weapons to look good for his mate upon return.

"If you're right about that. Then I owe you one bout of sparring. But if he's not in his quarters, maybe Guan would know. He tends to talk with him the most out of this group." Yeyinde deduced.

"In the meantime, I'll hold you to that spar." Dachande said.

Sure, the others were good sparring partners. But despite being the youngest, Yeyinde had an edge. He had won plenty of Jehdin Jehdin matches with the yautja on this ship and quite a few on home world.

The thing with Yeyinde, is once his anger got the best of him in a fight, it was hell to bring him down.

For most, anger clouds one's judgement in a fight and it can be a bad distraction with even worse consequences. But not Yeyinde. Anger did the opposite for him. He could still maintain clarity through his anger as he fights, and still win.

One blooded warrior who was older and more experienced than Yeyinde once made the mistake of taunting and goading him during a fight. Normally, things like that didn't bother the younger hunter.

But this time, the older warrior said something that set him off. It took two other males to pull him off the unfortunate warrior. Who ended up in the med room unconscious and didn't wake up until several hours later.

Anger aside though, Yeyinde was an excellent fighter.

"Alright, either way, I'll spar with you before we land." Yeyinde promised.

He then turned to Natalie.

"Nat'alie, you mind stay'ing here with Dachande for a lit'tle bit? Need to find my bro'ther and talk to him a'bout some'thing im'por'tant. I'll re'turn shor'tly." He told her.

Natalie nodded, "Sure, take your time. I'll be here."

Yeyinde nodded, then he headed for the door at the front of the kehrite.

Dachande turned his translator back on and turned his attention to Natalie.

"I saw Yeyinde showed you some of the weapons on the weapon wall. Is there one you liked best over the others?" He asks.

She smiled, "There were a couple I saw that were pretty neat. If I had to choose, the spear was a good one."

The light green yautja smiled, "Then I'll grab you a short staff to practice with and show you a few simple basics."

He then gestured for her to follow him to the weapons wall.

Natalie was quite excited. She always thought learning how to utilize any weapons was badass. And here there were these powerful hunters that didn't mind showing her the ropes on how to use at least one of them.

Kv'var-de and Kaail, who were doing some light sparring together in one of the rings stopped what they were doing briefly and saw Dachande walking over to the weapons wall with Natalie.

This should be quite entertaining.

If anyone is curious to know what the yautjas' names mean, here's a list below:

Yeyinde- Brave One

Bakuub- Straight Spear

Dachande- Different Knife

Larja Thwei- Dark Blood

Kaail- Rage

Kv'var-de- Hunter

Guan- Night

Until Next Time ;)