kha'bj-te — maniac/reckless

Inquiring about her bearing my children, I had to turn her from her foolish notions. As the clan leader, I uphold our traditions and beliefs. The clan is accepting of my decision to keep her as my mate, as long as she's kept separate from the clan and isn't privy to the clan concerns and issues.

I love her, and I sacrifice everything for her, she can make this one sacrifice for me.

"I wish you well." I state, to Aduih.

He's moving forward with the genetic modification, a painful procedure to endure, just to be able to breed with his ooman mate. Astba's revelation about our elder father, has prompted him to do this. I, like the other's didn't know about this procedure, I never knew that there was a way for us to breed with them.

Now I know, and somehow Amara knows. I know her, and her questioning wasn't random. Being as how she's living underground with my elder father's spawns, I can only assume that she's run into them, which knowing her, probably wasn't random either.

My brother knows the danger involved in breeding half-breeds, but if this is his wish, then so be it. If the other half-breeds are found out, they'll be put to death, and my brother's child also.

I don't want to be forced into having to choose between my family, Aduih and Amara alike, against the clan. I can control Amara, but my brother I cannot, I can only hope for the best.

The best was thirty two cycle moons ago, Naidka and Bahn haven't been found. The search has been called off, but the order still stands, "kill upon sight". Life has resumed as normal for the oomans, and my brother has moved his mate permanently to the underground community. The latest news from him, is that he's expecting a little one soon.

Everything is well, and as it should be...

I'd been so involved with the matters of the clan, that I didn't pick it up. Another Yautja, one distinct scent that she couldn't get rid of, no matter how much she scrubbed her skin.

She's preparing to leave, her body perfumed with oils that I hate, I love her natural scent. "You'll stay with me tonight."

"I have plans."

"To stay here."

"Oh, I'm allowed to live with you now? I don't have to stay in that big house by myself, with no children to keep me company? Giselle's so lucky, she has a Yautja, who loves her enough to risk having children with her."

She's almost fluent in our language, and I curse the being who taught her, now she won't be quiet. To make matter's worse, she speaks it with a funny tongue, our words with the ooman accentuation. It's an insult, the way that she chops our words up and blends them together, at her choosing. I've learned a lot from her these past weeks, she does what she wants, when she wants.

It's time to bring her to heel, as she's been a kha'bj-te these past weeks. Amara's been angry with me, ever since she found out that my brother's mate was carrying his child. Now she won't let me hear the last of it.

"They'll be no more talk of children, I cannot breed with you."

"Then I'll just have to find someone else who will."

Her words cut, like a knife to an already open wound. In my anger, I go for her, and she backs away. "Don't you dare touch me!"

"Someone like the Yautja male, that I smell on you? Who is he?"

"A friend..."

"You're not to see him anymore."

She doesn't say anything, and I know that she's not going to obey my request. "Amara..." I say, in warning.

"Fine..." She says, pushing past me.

"I don't know what to make of this wild behavior, if she doesn't get what she wants, she attempts to be cruel."

"Then give her what she wants." Says, Aduih.

An angry huff from me, and he shakes his head. "Is she really asking too much?"

Yes, she is... she's asking for something that I can't give.

"Well all I know, is that if you don't... Da'sal most certainly will."

"You know him?"

"Of course.... he comes to our home with Amara, he's a half-breed."

"And you didn't say anything?"

"What was I supposed to say, who she keeps company with, is of no concern of mine."

"You're my brother..."

"Yes, I am... and you're in need of a good throttling for being so dense, brother."

Stewing in my anger at Aduih and Amara's betrayal, my resolve concerning my decision becomes unbreakable.

"You're not to entertain him anymore, and she's not to see him. You'll tell me if she does."

"I see that your role as clan leader has gone straight to your tentacles, it didn't take long for you to become a monster, abusing your power." He says, rising.

"You'll do as I say, Aduih."

"No, I won't, goodbye brother."

AMARA

"This is beautiful..."

Vata's demanded that I stop seeing Da'sal and I agreed, but had no intentions of complying. I'd done more than disobey his command, I'd brought Da'sal topside.

They shouldn't be held in such regard, they're people... beings too. Abominations, what gives them the right?

He's excited about the sky, sun, grass, trees... this is new to him, and I'm enjoying watching him take it all in. "Hey... don't touch that!" He's reaching for one of the poisonous flowers.

"It'll make you sick." I inform him.

"Come on, we have to get you back."

"No, I'm not going back."

"Da'sal, if they see you, they'll kill you."

"I can't go back, not after seeing this."

"This is nothing, it's just grass and trees... It's not worth dying for."

"To you it's nothing, to me it's everything, you've had this all of your life, for me there's so much to see, to explore."

I was trying to be defiant, for Vata commanding me like a puppy. But I'm not about to be responsible, for his death.

Da'sal, please... you can't, where will you live?"

His low chuckle, says it all. "You planned this..."

"Yes, but I lacked the courage, without you who knows if I would have come up at all."

"So this is goodbye?"

"If you don't come with me, it is."

Going to him, I gently kiss him on the cheek, and hugging him, I feel a burning pain in my shoulder. Inhaling loudly, his hold on me tightens, as his tongue slides along my skin.

Releasing me, I touch my shoulder and there's blood on my fingers. "You bit me?"

"I thought it only proper, that you should bear my mark also."

One last lingering look, and he's gone disappearing into the woods. "You can come out now, Dom."

A rustle, footsteps drawing nearer, before there's a shadow by my side. "You're gonna be in so much shit, if he's caught."

"I know, our secret?"

"Scouts honor..."

The secret didn't last long, as they keep an account of their citizens, and one was missing.

The butthole that refused us entry into their community, moves through the small sea of topside citizens, importantly taking a stand on a small crate like object.

"Listen up, ladies and gentlemen! Our fugitive has been on the run for three days. Average foot speed over uneven ground, barring injury, is 4 miles an hour which gives us a radius of 127 miles! What I want out of each and every one of you is a hard target search of every ravine, cave, woods, and canyon in that area. Checkpoints go up at 30 miles! Our fugitive's name is Da'sal! Go get him!

Shaking my head at the nonsense, Dom the movie buff's, doubled over in laughter.