Chapter 31 - Joint chapter

It had always been loud in the training room, at least to Kayla. Sounds of metal, or skin hitting the floor, and frequent roars of victory always seemed to fill the air. No matter if only a few Yautja were in there or if it was just her and H'chakde. It was never quiet, but that wasnt a bad thing. The noise had become normal, like the sound of crashing waves to the captain of a ship.

Kayla stood before one of the dummies she often trained with. A spear with a dulled edge was held firmly in her hands as she smacked and sliced at the thing. All while trying her best to ignore the handful of other Yautja in the room.

A few feet away stood her teacher and holder. H'chakde. He shouted things at her in his language. Most of which she could barely understand and he knew it. However, she seemed to understand well enough when she had done something wrong, and when she had done right. That was enough for him at the moment.

Over the days H'chakde had watched her train, he had come to admire his little apprentice more and more. Both for her potential and her form. It had become more than obvious with how firm her body had become that she was growing stronger. Their training sessions had become much longer, showing him her endurance was improving as well.

All things that would help shape her into a wonderful warrior and huntress. One more than worthy of bearing the clan mark, and someone capable of hunting alongside him. She was his student, and H'chakde expected no less from her.

"H'chakde." A voice behind him made the young warrior lookup. Momentarily glancing at the other Yautja to acknowledge his presence, before signaling for the human to stop.

"What is it?" H'chakde asked, trying to keep the annoyance from his tone. He wasn't too happy about being interrupted.

"The Elder wishes to speak with you." The other Yautja gestured for him to follow. "Bring the Ooman." H'chakde turned to call Kayla to his side but noticed she was already standing next to him.

Kayla still didn't understand a lot of the Yautja's language. More often than not she had to get her words across through charades. However, words like 'speak' and 'ooman' had been spoken a lot around her, ingraining them into her memory. She walked beside H'chakde for the most part, remaining only a step or so behind him. More to give herself a little rest after training then much else.

Skylar was the first thing Kayla saw when they reached where the Elder had called them. A smile grew on her face at the sight of her friend, but after she had a moment to take in her disheveled appearance, it faltered. Kayla's smile turned into a glare as she looked at Skylar's caretaker, but when she noticed he was much in the same state her gaze softened. It formed into one of more confusion than outright anger.

"Hey Sky!" Kayla called out, trying to get her friend's attention.

"Kayla?" Skylar turned immediately. "Oh thank heavens," a gush of air rushed out of her lungs as she moved to approach her. Kweide grabbed her arm loosely, he'd been far off in his mind, unaware of where she was heading. "I'm just seeing Kayla." Her response was gentle and he relaxed his hold. He was obviously still banged up from their encounter with nature only a week before. His mind fogged some days, but only for a short while.

He nodded once before sending Skylar away and over to her as she so pleased.

Kayla stepped passed H'chakde to meet Skylar halfway. Her arms held open, offering her friend a hug. It had felt like an eternity since they had last seen each other. It must have been even longer since they had hugged. H'chakde didn't move to stop Kayla, much to her relief. Although he knew full well she would do what she pleased, he considered it a little reward for her. She had done well with her training, so something to make her happier wasn't too bad.

"How are you? Doing better I hope?" Skylar wrapped her arms around Kayla firmly, the hold was gentle though. She had missed her friend and dying had only made it all the more poignant.

"Physically? Definitely." Kayla responded as her arms wrapped around Skylar in much the same manner. The gashes Kayla had gotten on her abdomen were mostly healed at this point and she was visibly a lot more fit than before. "You on the other hand look like you've been to hell." Kayla joked.

"More like heaven," Skylar replied. She smiled at her own joke despite the truth to her reference.

Kayla blinked at that, as she looked at her friend. All hint of playfulness was gone from her eyes and replaced with confusion and worry. "Um... what do you mean?"

In the midst of their conversation, the doors of the room opened. Both their caretakers had silently slipped in without a word to the other two. They knew they would still be there when the talk was over.

Skylar grimaced for a moment, she hadn't meant for the joke to take things darker. She could cover it up couldn't she? Play it off? One look at her friend's confused face had her internally punishing herself. She couldn't lie to Kayla, not about something so important. "I... well, on the hunt I died, temporarily of course." Skylar struggled to bring a sheepish grin to her face. Death was scary but she faced it once, it put a lot into perspective for her. Things seemed inherently lighter. Most days.

Kayla blinked a few more times. She opened her mouth to respond, to say something but only sounds came out. Her friend had what? How was one supposed to respond to a bomb like that being dropped on them? The blonde woman struggled to form the words for a few more moments, but finally, they came forth. "You... you what?" Kayla asked.

"I died during the hunt I had to go on. Kweide brought me back, if he hadn't tried to then I wouldn't... be here right now." Skylar admitted, memories of her former end flashed through her mind. They haunted her still at times.

"You don't have to tell me any more," Kayla assured her. Her grip on Skylar tightening only slightly, more to remind her friend she was there to comfort her more than anything else. "Not if you don't want to."

Those words soothed Skylar some, she wasn't sure if she could talk about it. Part of her wanted to admit that in her last moments she had felt so much like a failure, that she had missed Kayla so much. But could she bring herself to say anything? Her blue eyes glanced around them, there were no Yautja there. But the halls were empty and long and unforgivingly able to carry sound. "Maybe another time, there are too many ears around us, all I need you to know right now is that I love you so much Lala and," She covered the hand Kayla used to grip her with. "I'm not going nowhere without a fight."

Kayla let a smile pull across her face. "Oh I know." She said, "You're not allowed to." The statement was meant to lighten the mood, before they stepped into other matters. Kayla thought it was best to change the subject rather than drag it out more. "Do you know what all this is about?"

"Not any more than you do, Kweide and I have had a little prep time but Elder Porcupine is more secretive than he seems," Skylar commented, her eyes naturally flowing towards the doorway.

Kayla's brows furrowed in confusion. "Elder Porcupine?" She questioned.

Skylar blinked. She had forgotten to explain that nickname to her friend. She hadn't had the time to explain anything else yet either. "The Elder Yautja, Lar'ja-luar'ke, he's got quills on his face, lots of them really, and I decided he looked like a porcupine because of them. I wasn't supposed to call him that in front of anyone but-" She paused to weakly smile at Kayla. "-I know you won't call him that so, yeah," She shrugged.

A look of realization pulled across Kayla's face before it turned into a more normal, more lighthearted one. She bumped into her friend playfully as she traced an x over her heart. "I think you made the right decision dear friend." Her tone matched her expression as she spoke. "I shall take your secret to the grave."

"I know, I would have certainly taken it to my grave by myself and that just won't do!" Skylar ignored the pain in her sore body as she bumped her friend back. The rapids had done its fair share of damage to her but she wasn't going to let that stop her from enjoying herself.

Kayla couldn't help but laugh at that, the humor definitely made the feeling of almost losing her best friend less intense. Her gaze turned to the door, lingering a few moments before her hazel orbs turned back to Skylar. "Nice outfit by the way." She commented. Her friend's attire was certainly a lot fancier then her half-stitched poncho and skirt that barely covered anything. Kayla could tell a lot more thought had been put into it as well.

Skylar glanced down, it was the same one she had worn the week before. It had returned stained and soaked but now that it was clean, she could see the appeal again. "Yes...it's certainly very nice." Her hand ran over the hide for a moment before settling back down. She wanted back into her loose red jumpsuit but in public she could not wear that outfit. Not if the Elder would be around to see it. She went to say more when the doors opened and their two Yautja companions walked out. She looked to Kweide's mask, he'd be looking at her, she was certain. He gestured for them to enter as he took a standing position in the doorway. Whatever the Elder had to say, he would say alone.

Kayla glanced up at H'chakde when he had stepped out. Brow raising when she saw an all too familiar look simmering behind his eyes. Pride. She opened her mouth to question it but stopped when H'chakde held up his hand. Signaling for Kayla to enter into the room as well.

"I trust you are doing well?" The Elder's gaze settled on Kayla first before it flickered to Skylar and back again. He sat rigidly in a throne-like seat as he played with a blade in his clawed hands.

Kayla's gaze remained on the floor. Something that had also rubbed off on her was that eye contact wasn't okay with the Yautja. "I'm doing alright." She responded with a slight nod.

"You may look up young blood. Or rather, almost young blood." The Elder stood fluidly although something was stiff about his gate as he began descending down the stairs.

Kayla looked up at him, confusion was evident on her face. "I thought that wasn't allowed? Direct eye contact I mean."

"Normally, but...how would your modern human language define it?" He looked to Skylar for help. He did not seem to expect the thinly neutral look on her face. 

It was all just a mask for the emotions simmering beneath her skin. Skylar's frustration and hurt lay curled in her chest like a lake of weighted anger. It was just enough to make the atmosphere uneasy. Her next words made it even worse. "He is an Elder, he can do whatever he wants within Yautja reason."

"Right, that makes sense." Kayla's brow raised as she looked between the two. The tense atmosphere that grew between the two wasn't lost on the woman. She was determined to ask about it, but not until she got the chance to. "So why are we here?"

Elder Lar'ja kept his focus on Skylar for a moment, he looked as if he was going to say something before he stopped and turned to speak to Kayla, "You are going to be allowed, communicators. Both of you have passed your test and it would be unwise to leave you without the ability to speak to us."

"It is unfair to be treated differently just because we are not Yautja, huh?" Skylar's voice was calm, but there was bitterness like a hidden dagger beneath. She was staring above his head, avoiding eye contact at all costs.

Kayla remained quiet, confused gaze never leaving her friend. Most people wouldn't have picked up on the pettiness that was cloaked in Skylar's tone, but Kayla wasn't most people. She had known Skylar for years, and they could read each other like open books.

Elder Lar'ja looked angry and unsure, two emotions he rarely showed. "You are dismissed Kayla. I would like to speak with Skylar for a moment, alone."

Skylar's blue eyes turned sharply onto him. "Not to speak out of turn, but it would be better for us to go get our communicators together wouldn't it? Or is this another Yautja custom I do not understand?"

He did not flinch, but his amber gaze did look away for a moment. His fist clenched taunt in anger but he straightened himself and stared pointedly at her. "It is out of turn, but you are still learning. There are many things you will not understand. You may both go." He turned away from them, his cape flowing slightly from the harsh movement.

"And I don't care to understand them. Not now," Skylar mumbled loud enough that Kayla could hear, not taking into account that Yautja hearing meant he could as well. She did not see his shoulders stiffen as she left the room.

Kayla followed after her, being right on Skylar's heels as they walked. It wasn't until they were out of the room and the door closed shut behind her that she spoke. "What was that about?" She asked softly, head tilted back toward the room they just left.

Skylar didn't look sharp anymore. She seemed frustrated with the common furrow of her brow but more tired than angry. "There's a lot to explain with not enough privacy or time, but-" She looked at the door, "I thought he was somebody I could rely on a little. Someone we could trust." Air rushed out of her chest as she sighed and then finally looked at Kayla. "I was wrong." She half-smiled as she shrugged. "I expected too much I guess. I should have known better." She knew she needed to tell Kayla what she learned but the communicators were more important than that at the moment. But only for now.

Kayla stepped closer to Skylar, voice falling to barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry Sky, but before you know it, we'll be gone." She laid a gentle hand on Skylar's arm patting it. Trying her best to ignore and push down the feeling of uncertainty that began boiling up at her words. It wasn't a very pleasant feeling to have risen up in her chest.

"Yeah. Yeah you're right." Skylar felt her soul lift at the thought of home. Her father, her warm bed and all her stuffed animals and pets. She knew her father would have kept her fish alive, she also hoped he was still feeding the neighbor's cat. 

"Skylar?" Kweide walked from around the corner to retrieve the girl's, the blooded warriors had been waiting for their humans further away than before.

Her head snapped in his direction but Skylar began to calm some more. "Are you ready?" She asked Kayla, eyes assessing her friend. They could talk more later, they'd just have to take extra care not to be heard.

Kayla nodded, watching as H'chakde rounded the corner and came to stand beside Kweide. The pride had never left his expression, but now at least Kayla knew why it was there. "Let's get this done," Kayla said, stepping towards the two, heading straight for her caretaker in particular. She stopped for a quick second to check if Skylar was following as well. The girls didn't get a lot of time together, and she wanted to cherish every little moment she got with her friend.

Skylar followed suit in the distance of both Kweide and Kayla as they walked down the halls. "I wonder how these will work..." She raised a brow at the med-bay coming into view. She halted. "Oh no." Kweide's body bumped into her but she ignored her pain as she looked between her friend and her... sort of companion with worry. She was almost certain the communication devices were invasive. They wouldn't need Lar'ja-thwei otherwise.

"Oh no?" Kayla questioned looking back at her friend. When she turned her attention back to where they were, she realized what was wrong. A frown pulled across her face, and her brows furrowed with frustration. "Shit." she breathed. As H'chakde ushered her in, Kayla glanced up at him. "This... this is going to be surgical isn't it?" She asked looking back at Skylar.

"Yes." Lar'ja-thwei answered for her as he approached them with large needles in hand. He was not in the mood for 'chase the human', so he looked to the two males behind them. "Grab them. Firmly but gently." He reminded, a harsh eye on H'chakde.

Kayla blinked, too focused on the needles in front of her, to even pay H'chakde any mind. The warrior advanced toward her. Wrapping his arms around her and holding her firmly to his chest so she couldn't wriggle away from him. He knew Kayla would run and he didn't even give her a chance to.

Larja-Thwei wasted no time injecting the sleep aide into Kayla. He knew very well she was the more likely of the two humans to struggle. He didn't have the patience for her antics.

Kweide did not move to grab Skylar, instead, he rested a hand on her shoulder to get her to look at him. He was gauging if she was going to run, she simply shook her head no. "Just hold my hand, I don't particularly like needles." She said. Much to her comfort, his hand dropped to hold hers while Lar'ja-thwei inserted the large needle beneath her skin. Within seconds she was falling to the floor from the sedative.

"Will they be alright?" Kweide lifted her onto a metal slab as the medic got to work.

"Are you doubting my skills?" Lar'ja-thwei looked up from his disinfectant and tool selection. He glared at the Yautja. There was an almost offended tone to the question.

"Yes." Kweide did not hesitate.

"If she was not so much more tolerable than you. You would have had to find yourself another medic." Lar'ja-thwei's tone was sharp but mostly unbothered as he lifted his hands from the cleaning liquid and grabbed up two perfectly shaped miniature devices.

"Perhaps that would have been preferable," Kweide muttered, hand playing with a strand of Skylar's brown hair. Brown like soil but mixed with the faintest red clay in the light. "I meant you no offense."

While Kweide tended to Skylar, H'chakde moved to set Kayla down on one of the other tables. His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer. Assessing her breathing before turning his attention elsewhere. "Don't worry Kweide," H'chakde assured. "He would know more about the Ooman's anatomy than anyone else on this ship." With a tilt of his head, H'chakde gestured to the sleeping Kayla on the table. "Mostly because of her... mishaps." H'chakde trusted their medic well enough. He had taken care of Kayla's injuries multiple times. Both ones caused by her training, and in the earlier days of her being with him, ones he admittedly caused.

Kweide and Lar'ja-thwei looked up in unison and then looked at each other. Though Kweide's face could not be seen, Lar'ja-thwei knew they were in agreement on H'chakde's behavior. Most of Kayla's 'mishaps' were not her own fault.

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Kayla bit her lip, suppressing her gasp as she was pulled into consciousness. She had the urge to cough but she didn't, her throat hurt too much for that. As her eyes fluttered open she took deep ragged breaths wincing as she did so. The dryness in her throat didn't help her predicament any. Slowly her eyes began traveling around the room. Based on her surroundings and the cold metal table she was laying on, she was still in the medical bay. Slowly her head tilted to get a better look at her surroundings.

Skylar lay asleep on the other metal slab, a metal bracelet beeped on her wrist slowly as Kweide stood beside her like a statue.  Relieved to see Skylar was okay, Kayla let her eyes continue around the room and it was not long before they landed on H'chakde.

He stood next to the medic, Lar'ja-Thwei, about a couple of yards or so away from her. Both were in deep conversation, but Kayla couldn't seem to focus on what they were saying. Her mind was still too hazy. One thing was for sure though, she needed to get his attention. She wanted some water.

Slowly the woman pushed herself to sit up. "H'cha-" Kayla paused, hand shooting toward her throat. She had spoken, she knew she did. The voice though, that wasn't hers, it couldn't be hers.

H'chakde turned his attention toward her, rushing over as soon as he saw her and grabbing her wrist. Stopping her just before her hand could find the stitches on her throat. "Do not touch it, it must heal," He said.

Kayla blinked as him in response, her eyes blown wide with shock. All hints of weariness they once had were gone, oh no, she was completely awake now. She could understand him perfectly.

 Lar'ja-Thwei was the next to approach her. He handed her a steel cup, full of a liquid Kayla didn't really recognize. "Drink slowly. It will numb your pain."

Kayla couldn't help as her eyes moved to Lar'ja-Thwei. She looked at him for a long solid moment before she turned her attention to the cup. At the first sip it took everything in her not to chug the whole thing down. The way it soothed her aching throat was just amazing. It was difficult, but she forced herself to take small slow sips. "Thank you." She muttered. Her voice was greatly unsettling now. Kayla knew for a fact that it was her, and that she was the one talking, but it sounded so different. So Unusual. She wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

"Ooman Kayla!" An excited, but familiar voice brought the confused girl out of her thoughts. Her attention now being brought to the sound's source. In the doorway stood R'kadekna, her chest swelled out with pride and excitement. She entered the room and made her way over to Kayla's side. As she did, H'chakde visibly stiffened from his place in front of the human.

"I heard the news and thought I would come to check on you." The tall huntress said as she slowed to a stop.

"Thanks. . ." Kayla said, taking another small sip from the contents of her cup.

"R'kadekna, I ask that you do not make her speak much. The first two days she will need to rest her voice." Lar'ja-thwei gave her vitals a once over as he spoke. He knew she could do as she pleased but he hoped for the human's sake that she would listen.

"Very well brother." R'kadekna eyed her half brother as she nodded. She respected him enough to listen to him. He knew what was best for the human and she didn't want to go against it. Besides, there would be plenty of time for her to converse with Kayla when she recovered. The huntress had many stories she wanted to share. Until then she would wait, R'kadekna was very patient. 

Her gaze shifted to H'chakde, warning simmering behind her crimson eyes. The young male kept his own gaze to the ground. A good choice, considering the history the two had shared. R'kadekna would not be as patient with him. "Once the Ooman is healed a little, I would like to speak with her. Tend to her well." There was an unspoken or else that accompanied the growl rising in her throat.

"I will," H'chakde said, he would take good care of Kayla, as best he knew how anyway. However, the thought of having to cross paths with R'kadekna again once Kayla was better made him hesitant.

The huntress turned her gaze back to the human, just as Kayla took another sip of her drink. "I wish you a quick recovery," R'kadekna said before turning on her heel and heading straight out of the room.

Once R'kadekna was out of sight, H'chakde turned back to Lar'ja-Thwei. "After two days, do I need to bring Kayla back in so you can check on her?"

"Yes." He tilted her head delicately as he watched the already healing stitches. They were tight but there was almost no way she could pop them open. Even still, he looked to H'chakde. "Be gentle with her. Give her even more care this time than before." Her insides were more delicate than the surface damage on her skin.

H'chakde nodded, sharing a look with Kayla, both knew very well gentle wasn't an easy thing for him. The training over the past while was enough proof of how he liked to push her to her limit. However he would hold back, if only for this time, for her well being more than anything. The hunter turned his attention back to Larja-Thwei. "How long should I wait to start training again with her?"

"You will bring her in for a second check-up in a week and a half. If she is well, I will clear her for training. If not. Then I will re-evaluate and give you a more accurate time frame." He looked at his datapad. "Humans can be tricky to heal, even with our superior technology."

"They certainly are," H'chakde said under his breath, before turning back to Kayla. He held out his arms gesturing for her to climb onto them. He didn't want her falling over and tearing her stitches on the walk back. When she looked unsure he spoke. "I will carry you."

Kayla didn't hesitate once she understood his offer. She leaned forward doing her best to climb onto the Yautja. As her shock faded, her fatigue began to set in once more. She wasn't even entirely sure if she would be able to walk properly on her own back to the room.

H'chakde did his best to assist her, scooping Kayla up as gently as he could. He took a moment to situate her in his arms, one was placed under her knees, while the other supported her back.

The tired girl let out a sigh as she rested her head against the strip of leather on his chest. Her limbs began to feel light once again as sleep called her. As H'chakde began to walk, the slight sway of his movements reminded her much of being on a boat.

Her eyes fluttered closed, her breaths becoming deep and even. Her mind was cloudy, yet blank all at the same time. It wasn't long before she was finally pulled out of consciousness.