The next chapter is up! Enjoy :)
For Than-guan, these two months seemed to have dragged by for him.
But at least, he was finally cleared and earned his status back. Not only that, but he didn't receive his original status of Blooded back. Since he was able to take out at least one of their worst bad bloods out there, they updated his status to an Elite.
For him, it was a great honor to be able to achieve it. He'd been working hard most of his life to get to Elite Status, and now he finally had it.
Once he and Vor'metka returned to Yautja Prime, they were met by a couple warriors that worked under the Elders. They were formally escorted to the Elders Council Chambers.
Than-guan made sure to bring the heads of the Bad Bloods with him.
Once there, the Elders informed him that they all reviewed the recorded footage closely. Not only that, but one of them stated they were able to also obtain footage from a deserted area right outside the docking port.
Someone went through great lengths to scramble and screw up the footage, but their techs were finally able to repair it.
When they did, they did clearly see Lar'nix'va sprinting to his ship, where his brother waited inside in the pilot's seat. And they saw him take off and leave.
It further proved that the Bad Blood was here at the time of the young female's murder.
They surmised that his brother Mar'cte must've used a scrambler to tamper with the footage that surrounded the port. That way they could sneak through unseen.
The murder took place not far from the port at that time.
All the pieces fell into place and each of the Elders cleared him and gave him a formal apology. Elder Bet-Karh, whose daughter Nk'mecci was the one that was murdered thoroughly appreciated that Than-guan returned with the head of her killer.
To him and the other Elders, justice had been served.
But what seemed to intrigue them was the ooman female that accompanied Than-guan and help him defeat the bad bloods. They inquired about her and wished to know more about the young woman.
Especially, after they saw the recorder footage from Than-guan's mask that showed her killing Mar'cte.
Than-guan started from the very beginning and told them how Lar'nix'va and his small group of followers kidnapped the young woman from Earth and brought her to Planet Kut'y'ae.
They did so with intentions at first to use her as bait. But learned they changed their minds not long afterwards and lar'nix'va made it clear to him that he intended to keep her as a pet.
He also shared with them that the evil bad blood, his brother, and two others planned on eventually raping her and keeping her for entertainment.
The Elders were quite appalled when they learned about these findings. These bad bloods were truly a despicable lot. Especially, Lar'nix'va. To date, he was one of the worst bad bloods they have come across.
He had one of the longest lists of crimes out any other bad blood.
Most bad bloods are implicated in usually one or a couple crimes then spend the rest of their lives on the run and under the radar. But Lar'nnix'va and his brother Mar'cte created a path of destruction wherever they went.
They enjoyed hurting and torturing others. And never bother to hide it.
It was why, many of their Arbitrators made it top priority to go after him above the rest.
Why the bad blood made the rash and bold move to return to Yautja Prime, they may never know. And as for Than-guan, it really did seem like a case of in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Still, it gave Than-guan incentive and opportunity to hunt down the notorious bad blood and his group before they had the chance to hurt anyone else.
His mother and siblings were happy to see him and find out the great news. Even most of his children were happy to find out he was declared innocent of the crime.
But then, most of them believed from the start that he was innocent. And they were impressed when he came back with the bad bloods head.
What really shocked most of them though when he informed them that his ooman companion killed one of them herself.
They almost didn't believe it, until he showed them the recording. It was strange, yet intriguing watching an ooman nearly three times smaller than her opponent take him out with a few swipes of a sword.
But she did. And they couldn't help but be a little impressed by it.
His mother and a couple of his siblings wanted to know more about this ooman. Like how she ended up with him and why she was in that planet.
Than-guan told them the same story he told the Elders.
He talked of her plight and will to survive. And despite her small size, she was very resilient and strong. Which was obvious, seeing as she did kill a bad blood.
They also saw through his mask's feed how she mortally wounded Lar'nix'va by blowing off his arm and effectively saving Than-guan's life.
Vagouti, Than-guan's mother observed how her son talked of this female. Her other children may not have noticed it, but she did. She's been around long enough to know when someone held someone else in high regard or held interest in them.
Once his siblings left to return to their homes, the older female yautja pulled him aside and inquired more about the ooman female.
Than-guan talked a little more about Kayla. He recalled how they stuck together during their time on Planet Kut'y'ae. How they learned so much from each other and about each other.
When it was all said and done, the younger yautja was not expecting the next statement that flew out of his mother's mouth.
"It almost sounds like you love her, Than-guan." His mother stated, as a matter of fact.
Than-guan was completely caught off guard and went silent for a moment. And for the older female, it was enough to confirm her thoughts.
"Well, do you?" She asked.
He couldn't lie to his own mother. But he was unsure what she may say or how she will react to his answer. But he needs to bite the bullet and just tell it to her straight either way.
"Yes, mother. I do, very much." Than-guan confessed.
Vagouti cocked her head to the side, "Then why send her back to Earth?"
"Because she has family. And she wished to go back and see them. They had a right to know that their child and sibling was alive and well. Wouldn't have been right otherwise to keep her from her home." He replied.
Than-guan paused, before choosing his next words.
"I...I do intend to return to her though, in two months' time. I wish to take her for a Life Mate. And if she agrees, I would like to bring her back with me." He added.
She did kill a dangerous bad blood. That alone should earn her a right to live here among the clan with him.
He thought his mother may have been upset with his decision, when she didn't answer right away. Then she placed her hand upon his shoulder with a soft smile.
"If this is your choice, then I will honor it. I saw the recording. She did save your life at one point during your fight with Lar'nix'va. And for that, I will always be grateful to her. She certainly is brave and fought hard, even with the odds against her. It' clear, she is worthy.
And I certainly wouldn't mind meeting her. If not to thank her for saving your life and making it possible for you to return to us and clearing your name." She said.
Than-guan was relieved and happy that his mother didn't judge him for wanting an ooman for a mate. And it already seems she like's Kayla and is already in her good graces because the young woman saved his life.
The younger male placed his hand over hers on his shoulder and gave her a small nod.
"Thank you, mother." He said.
As they stood there staring at each other. Vagouti felt like she was looking at her late mate, Warkha, Than-guan's father. Her son, so much like his father in so many ways.
Warkha died during a hunt about ten years earlier. And while she had on and off mates during mating season when she was young, Warkha was different.
He was strong and fierce. Yet compassionate and caring at the same time. He also was quite humorous and tended to have a flare at times for practical jokes. All these traits are what made her fall in love with him and decided to take him for a Life Mate.
Than-guan was his father's clone. He looked like the late warrior to a 'T' and had his personality in almost every way.
At the moment, the seasoned warrior with his new Elite title was about to enter his ship. It was finally time to return to his beloved Kayla. And he wanted to get there as fast as possible.
"Hey, Than-guan, hold up. Where you off too?" Came a voice behind him.
He paused and turned around to face them. The hunter smiled when he realized it was one of his friends, Kuhjade.
"Hello, Kuhjade. I'm leaving for something very important at the moment. Did you need something?" Than-guan asks.
"No, don't need anything. Just wondering why you seemed to be off in a hurry. You were moving like there was possibly a rjet stalking you and closing in." Kuhjade teased.
Than-guan let out a small chuckle.
"Not exactly. There was just somewhere important I was headed. And it will take me a few days to get there." He replied.
The light beige yautja in front of him crossed his arms over his chest with a knowing smirk.
"You're going to see your ooman girlfriend, aren't you?" He smugly replied.
Than-guan's eyes widened.
"Wait, what? I mean...how did you know?" He somewhat blurted out.
Kuhjade trilled in amusement at his friend's reaction.
"Vor'metka may have let slip about the two of you. Apparently, you two were 'very' loud while on his ship." He teased.
Than-guan's mouth dropped open and his cheeks flushed. This only made Kuhjade laugh even more.
"So, it is true. Who'd have thought. Well, can't say anything. It's your choice who you choice to be with. Though, I probably would've had a few choice words with you or thought you were nuts if you said you mated a hard meat queen.
Thankfully, that's not the case. Either way, I'm glad you found someone special while you endured this personal hell you were in. And I'm never going to let you live it down, now that I saw she saved your ass from being gutted like a fish via Lar'nix'va's wrist blades." The light colored yautja continued to tease.
This was usual banter from Kuhjade though. And Than-guan was used to it. It's why they were good friends. Both of them have a sense of humor and would knock each other every chance they got.
And he has no doubts that Kuhjade won't let him live that down.
"Nah, no hard meat queen. But I did see a rjet that strongly resembled your sister while there. I had to stop for a moment and get a second look. Because for all I know it could've been Luar-ke. Planet Kut'y'ae is one of her favorite stomping grounds to hunt after all." Than-guan joked.
Kuhjade rolled his eyes.
"Funny, though I doubt it would've been her. She's here, busy taking care of her youngest pup and won't be able to hunt for a while. But it is still nice to see you survived with your humor intact, my friend." He stated.
Than-guan smiled, "That will never change, no matter the circumstances. But I do need to go. I'll introduce you to her when I bring her back with me."
Kuhjade nodded and they shared their goodbyes. Before Than-guan turned around and proceeded up the short ramp.
But before the door slid shut behind him, he heard Kuhjade speak again.
"Oh, and if she happens to have any sisters, let me know. I'm currently available." He joked.
Than-guan groaned and shook his head.
"She has one sister. And no, she's not available. Later, Smart Ass." He told him.
The last thing the navy-colored warrior heard as the door slid shut, was Kuhjade's laughter.
He couldn't help the chuckle that left him though as he proceeded down the hall. Nice to see some things never change with his friends. He's sure Kayla would get a kick out of them too.
Than-guan entered the control deck and sat in the pilot's seat. He pressed a few buttons and the whole control panel lit up. After a few moments, there was a faint rumble as the ship started to leave the ground.
Once he cleared the port, he grasped one of the levers and took off into space. It would take about four days to reach his destination. Which would bring him to the sixty-day marker he promised he would return by.
Until Next Time ;)