The pain's unbearable... the sight of his body lying at Vata's feet, bruised, beaten a missing body part... Anger takes over, and I attack, my daggers missing their mark. The female comes for me, anger distorting her features, making her a frightful monster.

That look would have unnerved me, if I wasn't pissed and hell bent on killing the bitch. Taking aim, she's fast eluding my plasma gun, running for me at full speed, Vata doesn't catch up to her in time. I receive a hit, that sends me backwards, through the air. The wind knocked out of me, I'm slow to rise, shaking the hit off.

Recovery is quick, my strength returning as if I wasn't just hit by, what felt like a truck. A kicked to the stomach, topples me...

"This is what you chose, weakness..." She spits out.

The pain leaves as quickly as it came, and I get off a shot, taking an arm. Her howl's amplified, and hurts my ears. Protecting them from the noise, that gives me a headache, Vata has a hold of her.

She struggles, but is unable to free herself from his grasp. "Let her go." I tell him.

"Yes, release me so that I can end her, the way that I did him."

A recording's played of his last moments, his agony, his pain, his terror...

"You bitch..." I state, unable to stop the tears, the heartbreak.

A small chuckle from her, and something within me snaps. I take her head. Vata's surprised at the explosion, her blood splattering onto him.

"A warning, next time..." He says, coming to me.

I miss my friend, he didn't deserve what happened to him, and all because of me. It's been sixteen weeks, and the memory of him, still brings me to tears. "I understand that you're still adjusting to your loss, but it's not good for the little one." Says Vata, gathering me into his arms. His hand going to my stomach, a round tight ball, I nod my agreeance.

Try as I might, i'm unable to stop the tears, and drawing me even closer to him, I hold tightly to him. "Try not to think about it."

We've made it through the worst, our next obstacle is the tribe. My pregnancy has brought about challenges, and threats, that Vata has valiantly faced.

He doesn't let me out of his sight, I'm with him everywhere that he goes.

"We cannot continue like this, as the triber leader, you..."

"I set the laws, I lead us." Interjects, Vata.

As my pregnancy advances, the elders grow increasingly unsettled.

"Yes, but we the tribe, have a say in matters that concerns the tribe."

Tired of their bickering, and their "concerns" about my child, I exit the room, and head outside. The sun's high in the sky, and the air free of smog and chemicals, is refreshing.

Taking a deep breath, my me time's interrupted by the sound of something small landing nearby.

Looking for the offender, a rock comes flying past my feet. Searching for the culprit, a face peers back at me from the woods.

Smiling in recognition, he beckons me to come to him.

His home's far past the woods, and a great distance from the tribe. It takes a day and a half to get there.

I should have alerted Vata, as to my intentions, but he wouldn't have let me go. I didn't know that it was this far away.

It's a large one story home that's still being constructed, cozy and inviting.

"Where did you get the furnishings?" I inquire, stretching out on the soft couch.

"Aduih had them made for me."

"Mmm... that was nice of him." I murmur, lying back, eyes closed.

I must have dozed off, as I'm awakened by Da'sal, gently shaking me.

"I have a bath ready for you."

Helping me up, I follow him to a room, with a bathtub the size of a indoor swimming pool.

"Wow... you spared no expenses, this is beautiful..."

An all white room, it's hard to distinguish where the walls end and the floor begins.

Letting him guide me, I undress and slowly enter the warm water. Relaxing back against the edge, the water's disrupted as he joins me.

We're both silent, enjoying the tranquility, the peacefulness of the hot steam, and the quietness.

"What were you doing in the woods, so close to the tribe?"

I ask, finally able to think straight.

"Aduih was supposed to bring you to meet with me, but the tribe leader made that impossible, keeping you close."

"Aduih's his brother, he wouldn't betray Vata."

"Why do you see it as a form of betrayal, aren't we friends?"

His small smirk, at my blush, causes me to look away.

Da'sal's more than just a friend, that night at the hot springs, I let him explore my body in ways, that Vata has yet to touch me.

The memory of his tongue, worshiping my flower, crying out his name, as his slow teasing, forced me to submit to the orgasms vibrating throughout my body.

Betrayal of the highest kind, was done by me. Yet, and even when Da'sal moves closer to me, I let him touch my stomach.

His mandibles making contact with my neck, there's a light pinch, before his hand moves lower into the water.

Spreading my legs in anticipation, I let him touch me, as only a lover can touch me.

"I've missed you."

Holding onto him, as the pressure of his hand, on my bud creates a tightening, a building of pleasure...

"I want to taste you."

"Yes..."

My body reacting to his teasing, I try to squeeze my legs together, to stop him.

"No." He whispers, keeping my legs apart.

His fingers continue their sexual assault, as I try to flee from the oncoming release.

My orgasm cresting, he holds me in place, and unable to stop it, I surrender to the crashing of the waves, shaking my body.