The next chapter is posted! Enjoy :)
They didn't really go all that far.
Before the pair came to a stop in front of a set of doors. Doors that slid open to allow them in. Apparently, there wasn't a code for this room, so anyone can come and go as they pleased.
Julie gaped at the view in front of her.
It was a massive room. And there were these strange risen platforms dispersed around the area that resembled sparring rings. As noted, she saw a few individuals doing just that, sparring.
Their form of fighting looked rather brutal too. Like a strange, yet violent form of grappling with some other fighting moves mixed in that involved punching and kicking.
She even saw this strange glowy green substance in some areas of their body and on the floor.
'Is that...was that their blood?' She thought to herself.
The young woman didn't have time to think further on the matter, when she heard a grunting sound that turned into a bark coming from their left.
She narrowed her eyes when she recognized the brownish one that was part of the group of three yesterday that came into the cell. This one too knew some of her language and was the first to speak to her and tell her why she was here.
Like Kata'nu, he had his mask off but had a little bit of armor on. It looked like all the others in there were in the same state of dress.
The brown one came to a stop in front of them, he seemed surprised to see her there, as his beige colored eyes swept from her to his friend.
"While it is good to see she hasn't killed you, why did you bring her in here? Servants don't generally belong in the kehrite. Unless they are used as sparring or training partners. Though I doubt this little thing could come close to being used as such." The brown one stated in their native tongue.
"Come now, Bakuub. Even you know, not to judge others based off appearance. As you recall, some of her kind have managed to best us and kill us in the past.
And besides, I brought her here because I feel she was starting to feel a little cooped up in my quarters. Perhaps she may want to observe how it is we conduct ourselves in a fight.
After all, servants must learn everything there is to know about our race and culture while they live among us. And she is a fighter in her own right. I figure, there is no harm in teaching her a few moves here and there." Kata'nu told him.
By now, a few of the other yautja in nearby rings have paused in their sparring and were now watching the two males talk while a small ooman female was standing beside one of their best Elite warriors.
Especially since, new servants were supposed to be kept in the holding cell until they reached home world to be auctioned off to those looking for new servants.
Even the yellow one with the mottled spotting wondered why his own opponent stopped fighting him all of a sudden.
He had his back to the group at the entrance and still hadn't noticed them yet. He cocked his head and stared at his opponent.
"Halkrath, why'd you stop?" He inquired.
The light green yautja before him gestured with a nod of his head over his friend's shoulder.
The yellow one turned to see what he was looking at. His yellow cat like eyes zeroed in on Kata'nu, Bakuub, and...the ooman female!?
He growled in anger and annoyance. What was Kata'nu thinking bringing the female ooman in here!? It wasn't allowed. Since he decided to take her, she should've been kept locked up in his quarters until they have landed on Yautja Prime.
He jumped down from the ring and started walking over to the small group.
While the two males next to her continued chittering on in their strange language, she caught movement to her right and up ahead. Her light blue eyes shifted to another individual that seemed to be headed their way.
He had his fists clenched at his sides as he walked over to them. And despite not being able to read their facial expressions very well, she somehow could tell this one didn't seem all that happy as he came bounding over.
Her eyes widened, when she realized this was the third one from the group yesterday. The same one she kicked and then in anger he tried to hit her, right before Kata'nu stopped him.
She unconsciously shuffled a little closer to Kata'nu beside her.
Then when the yellow one was within distance, he called over to them in their harsh language.
"Kata'nu, what the hell is she doing here!? You know servants aren't allowed in the kehrite on this ship!" He barked in irritation.
The large, reddish warrior turned his attention from Bakuub and set his gaze on the new arrival to the group.
"She is just but one servant, Dachande. And she is here with me. It's not like she could do any damage to anything while in here. The only weapons in here, are the very ones attached to the other warriors." Kata'nu explained.
The one known as Dachande took another couple steps towards them in a menacing manner and a deep growl.
"It doesn't matter. She doesn't belong in here. Just because you decided to take her in as your charge, doesn't give her free roam of the ship. She could still get into things she's not supposed to.
You've seen for yourself; she is smart and aggressive. A servant with these traits, especially a new one can prove to cause us serious problems if they run loose onboard." Dachande said.
"I understand your concerns. And I'm well aware of the risks I'm taking with having her out here. But I'm also trying to build her trust and show her she is not a prisoner.
And besides, it would be good for her to observe this part of our culture. Seeing as I may decide to train her in the future. Perhaps take her for a training partner." The reddish yautja stated.
Julie heard a strange sound coming from yellow guy. It was an odd combination of sounds like rapid chirps, clicks, and hisses blended together. And his shoulders seemed to shake a little.
If she didn't know any better, she'd say he was laughing.
She saw something similar when Kata'nu made these sounds with her a few times while in his presence. Though she can only wonder what the yellow yautja was laughing about.
"Is that a joke? This little female looks like she could serve better as bait rather than being used for training. You'd be wasting your time in doing so, Kata'nu." He said, with some laughter still in his voice.
Kata'nu just smirked at his friend and fellow hunter.
"And yet, this 'little female' seemed to surprise and hurt you a little with her efficient and strong kicks last night in the holding cell. Which goes to show you she is not as defenseless as she seems." He smartly retorted.
Dachande snarled in anger.
"Enough of this! You may be one of the Elites now, but I'm still one of the ones in charge here. And I command you to bring her back to your quarters, now!" He ordered.
Kata'nu leveled him with a look.
"No, you may be one of the lead ones in charge here. But I have standings here as well, being one of the most seasoned warriors on this expedition. And I say, she stays here." He replied aptly.
The yellow yautja didn't like his answer.
And before Julie knew it, she had to quickly step away as yellow guy came stomping over and to her surprise shoved Kata'nu's shoulder.
The taller reddish yautja barely took a step back from the shoulder shove. But it was enough to make him narrow his eyes and growl in warning at the slightly shorter hunter.
"Enough, stop being such a fucking hothead, Dachande. This is not worth issuing a challenge. Step down now." Kata'nu warned.
Bakuub knew what was coming. And he internally grumbled in annoyance. He hated having to be the fucking referee between these two whenever they went at it.
"For once, Dachande, listen to him. Really don't feel like stepping in for this at this time. Because I'm not in the mood to carry you guys back to the med room afterwards." Bakuub quipped.
"Then don't! And stay out of this, Bakuub! Mind your own business!" Dachande barked at his other friend.
He then shifted his gaze back to Kata'nu.
"And step down? Funny, hearing that from you. Seeing as you never minded jumping at a challenge before. I'm starting to think the short time you have already spent with this female is making you soft.
If so, I'm wondering why that is, and can only think of one reason why." Dachande retorted.
Kata'nu narrowed his eyes, having a good idea of what Dachande was implying. And he didn't like it. He had no right prying into what he did in his personal time.
And he certainly hasn't bedded the ooman female.
"Stop being crude. And adjust your tone. I haven't done anything to what you're implying. Now, go back to sparring with one of the others." Kata'nu told him.
But Dachande still refused to stand down, like the stubborn ass he was. And decided to continue baiting and antagonizing the slightly older warrior.
"Really? You haven't bedded her? What a shame, I hear ooman females actually make for pretty decent mating partners. They must feel good, if your father decided to keep one for a mate. If you don't mind, I wouldn't mind having her for the night and seeing this for myself if you won't use her to satisfy you." He taunted.
While Kata'nu was known to be levelheaded, when it came to family, it was a little more challenging to keep his anger in check. And he certainly didn't like it when Dachande dragged Julie into this, saying he wouldn't mind taking her for the night and mating with her.
She was his, and his alone. He established claim over her and refused to allow another to touch her.
"Alright, you little shit. You want a challenge, you got it." Kata'nu snapped.
Dachande grinned in triumph and gestured for him to follow him to a ring to their right.
Julie watched as Kata'nu went to follow the yellow yautja. She too went to follow them, until a hand on her shoulder stopped her. The young woman looked up to see the brownish yautja.
"May go to side of ring. But cannot follow him on it. They going to fight." Brownie told her.
Her eyes widened in surprise, "Wait, what? That's what all that was about?"
Bakuub nodded, "Dachande challenged Kata'nu. So, they fight."
He motioned for her to follow him.
Julie hesitated for a moment, before following 'Brownie' as she decided to nickname him as that. She started to feel a little on edge as she felt several pairs of eyes on her from the other yautja still somewhat watching them.
Both Kata'nu and Dachande hopped into the elevated square ring.
She watched as they faced each other as they stood on opposite sides of the fairly large ring. The pair circled about at first, like they were sizing each other up.
Before Dachande crouched down, flung his arms to the side, and let out a loud, challenging roar.
It was almost equivalent to a lion's roar and equally just as loud. She watched Kata'nu do the same as he issued back his own roar with his arms spread.
The two warriors circled each other once more. Before Dachande finally decided to make the first charge. Kata'nu followed suit and met the other hunter halfway.
Julie couldn't help but wince as the two colossal beings met in the middle with a loud thump as their large, heavy bodies collided.
Bakuub just waited off to the side, with his arms crossed. Both hunters were almost evenly matched. But usually, Kata'nu had the upper hand and mainly won all of the challenges against Dachande.
But apparently, the yellow yautja still has yet to learn from all those failures. In his mind, he still believes he will win a match one of these days against the slightly older, experienced warrior.
The young woman watched as yellow guy, whom Brownie called Dachande tried to use his mass to push forward and back on Kata'nu.
But Kata'nu had other ideas. He grasped the other warrior around the torso and tossed him aside. Dachande didn't fall to the floor though, he just stumbled a little on his feet gaining his footing after being thrown aside.
He lunged for the reddish yautja. Kata'nu quickly moved aside. But Dachande managed to wrap an arm around his narrow waist and they both ended up on the floor.
They rolled around trying to gain the upper hand on one another. Until Kata'nu bucked the bulkier warrior off of him. Dachande fell to the side and narrowly missed a punch sent sailing towards his face.
Julie gasped in shock when his punch made purchase in the floor. He had actually punched a small hole in it!
She knew these guys were strong. But the fact he just punched a hole in a floor that looked to be made of some type of solid stone, just proves how insanely strong they truly were, and fast.
Dachande rolled to his feet. At the same time Kata'nu arched his body and bounced back to his.
The yellow yautja lifted his own fist and sent it careening towards the reddish yautja's face.
Kata'nu parried the fist away from his face though and sent a swift punch to his opponent's solar plexus. Dachande grunted in pain as the breath was knocked out of him.
He quickly recuperated from the hit, and with a snarl, sent an upper cut to his taller opponent.
Kata'nu couldn't move back fast enough this time, and the hit clipped his chin, and sent his head snapping back a little. Then Dachande sent another punch into his side.
Having a high pain tolerance though, Kata'nu ignored the pain in his side. And he grasped Dachande's shoulders and kneed him hard in the gut.
The yellow yautja's eyes nearly bulged out of his skull from the brutal hit. And he stumbled back for a few moments clutching his sore abdomen. Seeing this as an advantage, Kata'nu quickly advanced on him.
He sent a powerful downward right hook into the side of the yellow yautja's temple.
Dachande's head viciously snapped to the side, and he went down face first into the stone-like floor.
Julie flinched again when she heard the sickening thwacking sound the hit made. And it looked even more painful when Dachande ended up face planting into the floor.
His head wobbled from side the side a little, before he became still, and didn't get back up.
Kata'nu then threw out his arms once more and roared to the ceiling in victory.
He wiped a little neon green blood from his chin from where he was clipped before from the uppercut. His amber gaze settled on Julie and softened. He could tell it was pretty shocking for her to see.
But he could also see relief in her eyes.
There was a groan coming from the yautja on the floor. He clumsily rolled over onto his back and looked around. His stomach, head and face were screaming from the hard hits he received.
Kata'nu's hits always felt pulverizing. This time was no exception.
"Dammit! Lost again!" He spouted.
"Yep, do you need help to the med room?" Kata'nu teased.
"Fuck off, I don't need help." Dachande snapped.
Then muttered something along the lines of, 'This time'.
Kata'nu still at least helped his friend to his feet. Then the yellow yautja made his way to the edge of the ring and jumped down next to where Bakuub was standing.
"Have we learned our lesson yet?" Bakuub couldn't resist teasing him.
Then to Julie's surprise, the yellow yautja made a very human gesture, and flipped Brownie the bird. Before making his way to the exit.
Kata'nu still had yet to leave the ring. His gaze went back to Julie.
"You want to spare with me next, R'ka-de?" He playfully asked.
The young woman just looked at him like he was nuts.
"Fuck that. You're crazy if you think I'll be getting into that ring with you or any ring for that matter." She snapped.
"What's the matter? We afraid?" He teased.
She clenched her jaw.
If there is one thing she hated, it was being taunted. Some of the male marines in her unit used to do it when sparring with her in the beginning when she was first recruited.
Julie hated it then, and she still hated it to this day.
And while she may have showed most of them eventually not to fuck with her and piss her off, it didn't mean she was still willing to duke it out with this large, alien male.
She hated the fact she was intimidated by him. Especially, when she swore, she would never let herself be intimidated by others again.
"No, I just don't feel like getting beaten to a bloody pulp by a fucking brute like you." She spat.
Kata'nu cocked his head at her, with a smirk.
"Don't you worry, I promise to go easy on you. Though, I can't promise I won't sit on you, if you do something to annoy me." He joked.
"You try it, and I'll shove one of those daggers you carry around up your ass. Or better yet, one of those metal spears, so you look like a demented scarecrow." She retorted.
Julie heard Brownie beside her trying to stifle his laughter.
"I'm almost starting to see why you chose to take this one. She's just as sarcastic and witty as you are." Bakuub said to his friend.
"Oh, you don't know the half of it. How about you, Bakuub? Up for some sparring?" Kata'nu asks.
Bakuub shrugs his shoulders, "Why not."
He then jumps up into the ring and stands before his friend. A grin settles on his face.
"Are you sure we're not doing this to show off for the little ooman female?" Bakuub stated, teasing Kata'nu.
Kata'nu rolled his eyes.
Though in truth, he never really did mind showing off to females. And apparently that included ooman ones. But then females generally liked watching males fight. It showed off their strength and prowess and helped them pick out strong, suitable mates to sire offspring with.
Julie watched as they started to circle each other. Then Kata'nu glanced at her right before the fight started and did something she didn't expect.
He winked at her. The smug bastard actually winked at her!
She felt her cheeks redden and couldn't help but feel a tad flattered, but mostly annoyed. Then they both let out their roars of challenge before they too charged each other.
While it did look brutal, Julie couldn't help but admire the fights and the fighting styles they utilized. And she would be lying if she didn't say she wanted to learn it.
It was a style she could possibly incorporate with the fighting styles she already knew from training in the marines.
They went back and forth for a while, before Bakuub found himself on the floor and Kata'nu won yet again. He didn't stop there either; the other hunters would circulate the area and spar with different opponents after their last fight.
And Julie found herself actually enjoying watching the matches. It turned out to be a nice distraction from the predicament she found herself in by being here and being sent off to some strange alien world with the reddish yautja that decided to keep her.
Until Next Time ;)