14

I screwed my eyes closed, waiting for death... but after a few seconds nothing had happened. I slowly opened my eyes to see the Young Blood frozen, spear held high in the air but he wasn't moving to bring it down on me. I was confused, especially when he made a grunting noise.

I looked down to see neon green seeping from his stomach, coming seemingly from nowhere. The invisibility setting came off, and revealed another yautja's spear going through the Young Blood's torso. It was yanked out and the Young Blood fell to the ground. I was shocked, in the yautja culture it was supposed to be forbidden to attack each other, it was seen as dishonourable.

I looked to see who it was and was both shocked and relieved to recognise Makane's bio-mask staring back at me. He didn't say anything, instead focusing back on the other yautja. He ripped the Young Blood's mask off, snarling at him.They exchanged a few aggressive words in their language. I only understood a few things, and they were definitely arguing about me. As the Young Blood went to speak again, Makane brought his spear down through his head and the yautja went limp, dying instantly. More neon green blood seeped down his head, pooling on the forest floor. Makane grunted and pulled out his spear, shaking his dreads before looking at me."...Why did you kill him? I thought you weren't supposed to." I asked, as he helped me up.

"He was dishonourable." Makane simply replied, checking me over for injuries. He noticed the earlier wound from the Xenomorph, and some others from the Young Blood, but I wasn't fatally wounded.

"How? I'm not a yautja... I didn't think that applied to me."

"You are one of the clan now. You passed your Chiva." he said, pulling out what looked like a strange pen. I realised it was the end of a Xenomorph tail, and hissed as he used it to draw the clan's mark on my cheek. I was officially part of the clan, all my hard work had paid off.

Makane dragged the Young Blood's body back to the ship, and I walked beside him. We mostly walked in comfortable silence, but after a while he patted my head. "You did well, Dee. I am proud of you." he said. I smiled a little, glad he was happy. We arrived back at the ship and the others were shocked to see one dead, but after Makane had explained, they all accepted his punishment was suitable for the Young Blood. They all congratulated me on passing before taking the body away. "Are you ready to return to Yautja Prime?" Makane asked, his hand on my back leading me back onto the ship. "Absolutely. I need a bath and a nap." I replied, which he chuckled at.

"You can wash and rest soon. We will have a feast for your passing later. Lu'Tekke and It'eri will be pleased of your news."

I was given proper medical treatment on the ship, my wounds healed completely and I was left with a nice scar from the Xenomorph. I'd also got a few broken ribs from my other encounter, but they were easily fixed and I felt better than ever.

The journey back to Yautja Prime was a lot more peaceful, and I sat and watched the stars as we travelled. Makane was nearby, watching me and discussing with his fellow yautja. Once we got back home, I had a long bath and basically passed out the moment my head hit the pillow.

—---

I woke up feeling Makane basically curled around me, snoring. He was very warm, and I tried to scoot away a little so I didn't overheat but he grumbled in his sleep and just tightened his grip around me. His mandibles moved against my hair slightly, in an affectionate gesture. I tried to move again and it woke him, which he wasn't super happy about.

"Stop moving." he mumbled, barely opening his eyes.

"I'm too hot, I want to get up." I replied. He was displeased but released me and I went to use the bathroom while I was up. I returned to the bed, sitting next to him as he was half asleep. He lazily opened an eye when he felt me sit down again, and he yawned, his mandibles spreading out wide.

"How does it feel being a hunter in the clan?" he asked, stretching out a bit as he started to wake up. His muscles flexed doing that, but I didn't want to stare too much so I focused on playing with my sleeve.

"Not that much different. What happens now?" I replied.

"You will be able to go on hunts, collect your own trophies. You may have your own living quarters, climb up the society at whatever pace you wish, and you may join in mating season if you really wish. Many yautja may not be interested in an ooman though." Makane explained, sitting up. I nodded, liking the idea of being able to get my own trophies. I wouldn't hunt humans obviously, but there was a whole universe to explore and find all sorts of strange creatures.

"My own living space? Like here?" I asked, but Makane shook his head.

"Yours would be smaller, I am an Elite Hunter, so my privellages are greater than yours. Your living quarters would be like... a small living space on Earth." he tried to explain.

"Like a studio apartment?"

"Yes, like that. You would have plenty of space for trophies and weapons, and the neccesary facilities for living."

"..Would I live near you?" I asked and Makane thought for a moment.

"Most of the newly Blooded hunters live in different areas to Elites... but I could speak with Lu'Tekke."

I relaxed at that. I'd grown used to living with Makane, the thought of moving out felt weird. Makane sensed that and sat up, clicking softly.

"You do not have to if you do not want to. I have grown... fond of having you around anyway." he said, patting my head.

"Are you sure? If you want me out, I'm fine getting my own place." I replied but he shook his head.

"Stay... I want you to stay." he insisted, looking a little vulnerable.

"I want to stay too." I said softly and he grunted in approval. He pulled me into a rare show of affection, a slightly awkward hug. I smiled and hugged back, leaning into him. His mandibles moved against my hair similar to earlier, and he clicked softly."I was... worried about you during your Chiva. I would have found it... regretful... if you had used your elimination device." he said quietly, his arms around me tightening slightly. His hand slid lower down my back to pull me closer as he clicked again, almost a purring sound. I sighed softly, this felt nice, being in his arms.

We stayed like that for a few minutes, in a comfortable silence. He purred again and lifted his head.

"You are important to be, Dee." he mumbled, and almost nuzzled his head against me, but seemed hesitant. I smiled and made more of a move, cuddling closer. He liked that, grumbling in delight and pulling me properly against him. I was so comfortable in this moment, and very glad I'd made it here. I barely thought about Earth now, this was my home, with Makane.