Going forward with the story.

'Stupid, stupid, stupid!'

This was the mantra that kept repeating itself in his head.

'Great, just great; you've fucked it up real good!'

He kept walking, slowly increasing his pace, stress plaguing his scent.

The royal guard merely let out a small snort when she caught a whiff of it, but stayed silent anyways.

The fact that he was passing several other Yautja made it worse, fueling his desire to just run, to get away from it all.

Quickly heading to the dwelling, he met up with Kyiv halfway to his destination.

The royal guard left after having confirmed that Mark would be properly guarded.

The veteran warrior gave him a kind smile, happy to see his human comrade as he settled in the inner circle their escorts had formed as to block curious and bravely stupid unbloods from annoying the elite.

"So, how did it go?" he asked, and then he noticed his troubled scent.

The marine turned his head downwards, and the arbitrator understood.

Dismissing his sentries, he gently grasped his apprentice's shoulder, "Come, walk with me."

Ducking out of the main road, Kyiv opted to take a smaller path, so that they could be alone.

He silently led him to one of the public reserves, where they could find cover from wandering eyes.

Mark admired the beautiful scenery: the three moons of Yaut were shining down through the leafs and vines of the towering trees and reflecting in the still water of the nearby lake.

Seating themselves on a large stone, they started to discuss the previous happenings.

"I don't know what took over me when the honorable huntress asked me about my love life. I jus-..."

He sighed deeply, placing his head in his hands "I don't know what to do... it all seems to good to be true. I haven't even completed my Chiva yet and a female is already interested in me."

Golden eyes stared at his hunched form, contemplating on how to best address the situation.

"Mark, you are an ooman and I am a Yautja. I live, fight and die for the code of honor, for it is the way of life set by the gods." he paused for a moment readying himself for what he was about to say.

"We hunt your species, you are prey to us. And yet, you prove to be our equal if not superior. When the high matron judged you worthy of participating in the Kiande Amedha trial, it was because you have the spirit of a true hunter.

When I decided to take you under my wing it was because I saw that you are a warrior."

"You are more of a Yautja than most males aspire to be, and that is why you are a hunter."

Mark was shell shocked at what he had heard, for it completely shattered all of the negative feelings circulating his brain.

"You are favored by one of the gods at the very least, and it is both a pleasure and honor to educate you in our culture and beliefs."

"I know that you are scared and worried of spreading your seed, but fear not: your bloodline shall continue, and your spirit shall never fade, padding on to your pups to be forever inspiring for the future generations of hunters." Kyiv stated while giving his forearm a friendly squeeze.

"I have matters to attend at the tribunal of justice, but-" he paused, pointing a claw southwest, "The trail over there leads to my personal hunting grounds surrounding my dwelling. I trust that you are experienced enough to find your way to my grounds."

"Alright." he confidently answered.

Mark was then left alone.

Feeling that some of the emotional weight had been lifted off his back, he made his way to the bank of the lake.

He did a couple of stretching exercises to loosen and warm up his muscles, and then dived into the body of water, just like he use to do back in marine boot camp, swimming towards the closest building he could call home.

Unbeknownst to him, Mhei r'ka-Guan had listened to the entire conversation by remaining hidden on a thick branch high above the ground; she crept forward, not a sound escaping her steady and slow movements. She had been stalking the human since he had abruptly left her honored aunt's palace, following him ever since.

And her hunt would soon come to an end.

One of her guards landed next to her and spoke: "Mistress, do you wish for us to apprehend the primate?"

The primal hunter whirled around and sent her a furious glare, "You shall not touch him unless I command it, let him be for the moment and stay in the surrounding area." she barked while growling.

The smaller female averted her gaze before leaping onto another portion of the tree, intent on relaying the orders she had received to the other female guards nearby.

Turning her attention back to the male, she decided to talk to him once more.

Mark pushed his body forward one last time and reached the end of the lake.

He climbed back up to his feet and transitioned into a stride, the water pouring off his tired body. He brought his hands up to rub out the liquid clouding his eyes.

When he opened them again, he jumped back on instinct and lowered his stance, prepared to fight the mysterious and unknown opponent in front of him.

He studied the towering and massive frame for an instant before dropping his stance and bowing.

The beautiful handcrafted mesh of jeweled armor and furs covering her toned body as well as the intricate bands adorning her tendrils gave her immediately away.

"Honored huntress." he signed, and waited for her response.

She didn't speak; instead she reached her arm out and grasped his chin, forcing him to crane his neck upwards in an uncomfortable position to look at her.

He saw that her eyes where dead serious, drilling holes into his soul.

"Why did you leave?" she spoke in a whisper.

Her tone somehow made him freeze, and he was unable to retort, unable to do anything but stare.

Even his breath hitched in surprise.

He regained his wits once again, sighing in preparation.

"It made me uncomfortable to talk about my personal and private life." he replied with honesty, knowing it was best not to lie and possibly anger the very intimidating looking female.

Her grip tightened, and pulled him upwards to a standing position, nearly lifting him off the humid soil and chocking him.

"You would dare to so blatantly defy my questions and orders male? You, an unblood, would disobey me, a primal huntress?" her mandibles flared with barely contained rage, the crimson red stripes across her reptilian skin seemed to glow in the moonlight.

He started to sweat, sensing imminent danger, but Mark pushed through it, refusing to show a weak facade.

"The condoning of such behavior is to be immediately and swiftly punished." her talon was now piercing his cheek from the amount of pressure she was exerting on her hold; causing a single drop of blood to run down her finger.

The human ignored the stinging pain and soldiered on, not backing out.

"Perhaps I shall whip you myself for your offense." she muttered in a dark manner.

Still, he kept eye contact, his blue orbs clashing against her red ones.

They stayed like that for a while, and Mark could hear the pounding of his own heart resonating in his ears.

'Go on, do it. Kill me.'

She tensed up, indicating the inevitable blow she would cast upon him.

The navy seal let loose the remaining air in his lungs, ready accept his fate.

...

The strike never came.

She relented: her grip lost most of it's force, and her posture relaxed.

The human noticed the smallest of smiles forming on her face.

"It seems that you are truly honorable Mark Johnson. You possess a firm and durable willpower, alongside a compassion and determination much like my own." her tone became noticeably warmer.

"Your sense of honor is strong even in unjust circumstances like the one I have just purposely created." she talked, softly rubbing the cut on his cheek, in an an almost motherly way.

"You are becoming more of a hunter each passing cycle, and most importantly you have a good heart, blessed by Lilka herself."

She took a couple steps to his right, so that they stood parallel to one another.

"If you become the warrior I expect you to become, then it would be my desire to bear your child and continue your bloodline." his mouth hung slightly open at her statement.

Her clawed digits slowly traversed downwards to his pecs and abs sending bursts of electricity through his well defined muscles.

Her eyes studying all the crevices and scars sported on his chest.

"The discipline you have used in your time as a marine is admirable, comparable to that of an arbitrator." she continued, while still reaching lower.

"And if those ooman females have truly refused to mate with such a fine male as yourself... then they really are no better than prey." her hand brushed against his manhood, causing it to swell in response.

Flushing, he bowed once more.

With a nod of her head, Mhei left, at a moderate and even pace; her black cape trailing behind her.

Only when she was out of earshot did he rise back up.

Mark took deep breaths, and sat down, reeling from Mhei's thoughts and impressions of him. He grinned, while a new sensation started to expand from his heart, seemingly erasing his exhaustion.

He started to sprint towards the dwelling, going faster and faster feeling more alive than ever before.

Perhaps this was not such a bad night after all.

To say Kyiv was surprised would be an understatement.

The night was nearing it's second midnight, and Mark was still awake.

And he was holding a well packaged container, decorated so it could be classified as a present.

"Listen, I know it's late but I need this to be delivered to the High Matriarch's palace, so that the honored Mhei r'ka-Guan may receive it. And please don't ask me about it."

Deciding to play along he answered: "Very well."

He then took the package from the ooman's hands into his.

Walking towards the main gate, he caught a whiff of a smell coming from the box. He realized that the smell was the one of a polishing lube.

Grinning, he leaned his head in a quiet laughter.

"I have taught him well." he whispered to himself.

He spotted Gruvin on his way to the entrance.

"Honored elite." the arbitrator said, addressing his superior.

"I require your favor to bring this gift to the matron's grounds. It is for the primal huntress."

Gruvin bowed forward once more before turning around one hundred eighty degrees.

"Arbitrator, you are relived of your duties for the next cycle, you have earned it."

The veteran yautja was calmly sipping some aged C'ntlip, savoring the slight burn it left in heat throat.

She was interrupted from her meditating when her computer wrist showed her the request of one of her many servants to enter her chambers.

Approving the request, the door slid open, and the servant placed the package in front of her.

"Honored warrior, this package has been sent from the elite arbitrator Kyiv ar'khan."

"Very well, leave."

When she was alone again, Mhei opened the case.

Inside there was another package, alongside a note written in Yautjan.

She picked it up and read it:

"Honored huntress,

I apologize for the late hour, but I felt that this is needed to eliminate whatever insult or offense I have generated to your noble figure.

I apologize for my lack of respect and I must ask you to please consider this as a gift to restore the peaceful harmony between the two of us.

Sincerely, Mark Johnson."

Placing the piece of paper on a table, Mhei opened the second bag and was stunned to see the pearl white skull of Da'nua.

A sense of pleasant happiness and content washed over her in the form of a purr.

"May the gods be blessed for creating such a pure hunter." she silently prayed, thinking back to the blue eyed human that had caught her interest.

And done.

I have to apologize for the lack of an update in these past few months. I had a bad case of writer's block with writing the interaction between Mark and Mhei and I hope that you were left satisfied with it.

Please comment your impressions with it, for I always approve of constructive criticism.

Until next time.