Skylar- 

"Ooman! No! Again!"  The air was knocked from my lungs as I slammed into the hard sandy ground of the training pit. I had just gotten finished with round one of the worst pillow fight of my life and honestly there was no better way to explain it than that.

Kweide did not think I was ready to deal with real fist to fist combat or weapons. So instead he beat me with a random pelt he took from the bed and stuffed with more of the others.  It was not as soft as I had hoped it would be much to my disappointment.

"Kweide, please! I need a moment to breathe." I managed to choke out between gasps. I sat up slowly and thanked God that the pit was empty at the moment. This display wasn't exactly the highlight of my skills and the Yautja had little respect for those who were not warriors or medics.  

"No, this is the time to fight. Get up!" He held out his hand to pull me up. It took all my  strength not to sigh as he practically yanked me to my feet. There was no softness towards me during training it seemed. He was really taking this seriously. 

After only a moment I saw his arm swing back and I lept away from him trying to dodge the move. Deep breaths. With another sharp inhale as his arm hit my stomach I reminded myself to stay alert even as I tried to keep calm. He would attack whenever it pleased him.

He swung his arm back again and threw myself backwards. Despite finally avoiding his move I landed badly and tumbled to the ground . "Ooman this is pathetic." He huffed and crossed his arms in front of his chest. 

"Yeah, well I wasn't exactly the most fit on earth. I can't become an MMA fighter overnight." My voice was clipped as I responded, his impatience was gearing my temper up.

"We must try again..." He tilted his head as he stared around the large training room. Really it was more like an arena and I couldn't imagine what new horrors awaited me inside his mind. "New tactic." 

He was enthused once more as his gaze landed in the direction of the their little 'gym' area. This whole place wasn't their training dojo for youngsters, it held serious equipment and tools that aided experienced warriors. And personally, I hated being here.

When one is made to feel like Po in Kung Fu Panda it kind of sucks. Especially when Yautja have no concept of level zero nor levels one through five in human standards. You just got pushed into their basic training. And it was rough.

"What is this... new tactic?" I almost didn't want to ask. Knowing him it would be grueling work and I was already exhausted. But curiosity killed the cat. 

"We will practice the hunt." He gestured ahead of himself to the array of areas to run to. "We can simulate it and I will see how well you do." He paused for a moment and turned to face me, "Now, run." With a roar he crouched down like he was about to pounce . If it was meant to get me going, it worked. I was out of there faster than shaggy and scooby doo's circle run.

"Oh crap! Oh crap!" My feet slammed against the dirty floor as I ran in a straight line. I couldn't outrun him, that would be impossible. So I had to fake him out.

He followed me after my head start but I didn't turn around to watch. I kept my eyes ahead and my ears open until the sound of his steps were behind me. With all the force I could manage, I swerved to the right. Immediately I  heard him stumble in the dirt and felt a moment of pride as I began to climb up out of the pit and rolled across the steel floor to my feet.

Heart pumping like a steam engine in my chest I ran for my life. I may have slowed him down but he was not going to stay that way. His claws scraped against steel and I knew it wouldn't be long now before he caught me. I just had to find a soft place to land.

I swiveled my head from side to side but there was nothing. Steel, steel, and more steel.  His charge sounded like a chorus of doom behind me so I did the only thing I could think of when he got close once again. I dropped to the floor right before he dived to tackle me.

The move created an overshot as he flew overhead and slammed into the ground once again. With a growl he skidded to a halt on the floor. Taking a moment to regain his senses he paused and breathed deeply. Then he turned around.

I could not move. I was too stunned and afraid as he jumped and landed above me, lording over me, even in a crouch his seven foot something stature was intimidating. He growled all the while. "That was a failure ooman," He paused after a moment and then tilted his head in acknowledgement. "But better." He admitted.

I didn't expect the compliment but I did manage to nod as I stared up at him. 

Nothing was given away from behind his mask as we stared in silence. It never was. That blasted metal covering him acted like a wall. And that wall shut everyone out. 

"Kweide?" My voice was tentative but I kept my gaze on him. I wanted to know what he was doing or trying to get from this. More intimidation?

Instead of a response, I watched as he reached his hand over and laid it on my head softly. I had no idea what he was doing but I didn't react much except to lean into the open palm. It was better to encourage kind behavior, I'd much rather be pet than something else.

"Better" As if reaffirming his statement from before he repeated it, then promptly pulled his hand back and stood. "Try again," He pulled me to my feet and pushed me in the opposite direction.

Wonderful, more running. Just what I wanted. With a groan of displeasure I set to moving my aching limbs into motion. By the time I went home i'd be fit enough to run cross country if he kept this regime up. I could become an Olympic performer and retire as a muscular linguist professor. 

Unfortunately for me I  barely made it fifteen feet before he was on my tail again with nowhere to run. Except for maybe up. Noticing a bar ladder I ran for it like it was my safety net. I'd be wrong if I truly believed that.

 I reached the seventh rung before I was ripped away. My hands scrambled to take hold of the cool metal to no avail. I was flipped over his shoulder and headed toward the steel ground.

Only I didn't hit it, he caught me by the back of my armor and  dangled me there for a few seconds. Then he set me down and shook his head. I was running on fumes.

"We are done." The moment he said those words I swore I could of cried and collapsed simultaneously. "For today." There's always a catch to these things isn't there?

Even still I nodded and did my best to catch my breath. I didn't know if I was more grateful for it to be over or for the fact that I was still breathing afterwards. The answer varied from moment to moment.

He turned to walk away but paused only five feet from me, "Come ooman." He motioned me forward as I shuffled nearer. Did he change his mind? Were we not done yet?

"Are you able to walk?" He looked down at me with a head tilt as I grew confused. 

"Yes... maybe? I'm not sure but i'll try. I'm sorry." I couldn't help the last part, somehow I felt grieved by being so ill adapted for the training. My limbs were aching with protest as I tried to move them more.

"You are just beginning. You will improve." He turned to leave and I followed suit, albeit much slower. My legs quivered from use as I tried to keep up but the further he got  away the less I could force myself to move. It was just too much. 

It only took him about a minute to realize how far behind I had fallen. Turning around Kweide waited until I got closer to lift me up into a bridal carry to walk us back to the room at what he deemed a decent pace.  Had I just been going too slow? I kept silent instead of asking since he seemed a little moodier. 

"Thank you, kweide." It was certainly nice to be carried, it reminded me of the kindness of Elder porcupine. He had always been gentle with me. Kweide was... well he was learning.  And really that was more than I could ask of him. 

I looked down at the watch I found in my bag just a week earlier it was beeping, signaling the change of day. A heavy stone set itself within me as I decided to ignore the date listed in squared black numbers. It reminded me too much of what I was missing back at home.  

I hoped my father was okay, I missed him so much and I know he probably missed me and Kayla too. 

Instead of moping  I tired to  let my mind wander to  something else. Eventually it settled on a question, where exactly had Elder porcupine gone? Why did he not come to see me? Insecurity is ruthless to those in need of something stable and now I had no idea where I stood with him. He had just poofed away...

Was Elder Porcupine somehow tired of me? I felt slightly numb at the thought. We were relatively close and only growing closer, why did he have to go away now?

"Ooman, ooman?" Clawed fingers curled around my face tight enough to get my attention. We were back inside the room. I hadn't even noticed we arrived. 

I refused to answer him as he repeated what he said and lowered me to the floor. "Ooman?"

"My name isn't Ooman, it's Skylar." My mumbles were barely audible but I knew he heard me. His fingers loosened as he pulled back. Had I stunned him with the blunt reminder that I had a name? Maybe somehow he'd forgotten I wasn't just 'ooman'. I was more than that, he had to know that. Didn't he?

"...Get some rest," I didn't think Yautja ever backed up until he changed topics. My face was turning soured in rebellion but I paused. Why was I being so volatile?

It was unfair to be upset at him for avoiding my emotional disturbance. He might have just needed time to process this seemingly new standpoint in his mind. He'd only just begun treating me more like an equal, if I pushed too hard he'd push me out. Our dynamic was fragile. "Good idea... let's rest please."

I pulled gently at his arm, hoping he'd agree and get into bed for sleeping. When he hesitated panic pulled at my chest. Were we back tracking now? Was I going back to the floor and we'd stop talking? 

I'd never know Kweide. I'd be by myself. No more bonding, no more talking or gathering respect. It would be hell. 

"I'm kind of cold., are you?" It wasn't a complete lie, I was shivering slightly from the sweat chilling on my skin but I knew I was really after his company. The less he could avoid me the more he saw me normally. He was a runner from attachment. 

I tried to reason with myself that I hadn't manipulated him as he took off his chest plate and caved to my whim. It wasn't any kind of ploy. But I still felt guilty, maybe I was being manipulative and that was not who I wanted to be. 

I rarely saw Kayla and now that she ranked above me how could I ever treat her the same in front of other Yautja? I was a shadow to the majority and rested at the bottom of the status ballpit. It was just me down there.

 And even Elder Porcupine hadn't come to see me since the day after Kweide left. Which was about a week ago according to when I found my watch. Somehow as I counted the hours I pieced together that the planet we were orbiting rotated much slower than Earth had.

I just wanted to keep whatever was growing between Kweide and I from disappearing. It was my last grab at something that seemed even relatively normal. 

Was I wrong to do so? Perhaps, but the blinking reminder on my watch had only worsened my mood and I needed someone close. It was for my mental health at least. Not that it was any consolation to my prickling guilt.

My mental health seemed on the verge of snapping in two if I wasn't careful with it. I felt like I was losing my mind in all the chaos. This ship was changing me in more ways than physical. 

"Go," He pulled me from my thoughts as he nudged me towards the bed. I couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh as he untied his sandal like footwear.

As he stood before me, Kweide was removing more of his armor. Armor he had refused to take off during the months that I'd been there. I watched, curious about his sudden growth in physical vulnerability as he removed the arm guards and then the ones on his legs. He had his nether regions still armored with metal past his loin cloth and his mask remained, but otherwise, he was near bare besides fishnet.

That's when I realized I hadn't moved. Doing as I was supposed to have already done, I slid beneath the covers and then onto my side once he climbed in. It was quiet except for the sounds of Ferdinand's sleep guided chirps. " I realized something today..." My voice was barely above a whisper as I lay wrapped in his warmth, he was like a space heater. Except more literal. "Back home it's way past Christmas now." 

"Christmas?" A head tilt of curiosity followed.

"It's a time of year where we celebrate God, family, and friends. Those we love basically." I paused as I stared at my fingernails. "I suppose it's different for each person though, what they value most." 

Overall I think he understood, from what I'd seen Yautja believed in their own sort of faith system. One named Paya and the other The Black Warrior. I wasn't sure if that made an equivalent to any holidays though. Yautja didn't seem like the type to throw an ugly sweater party.

 "Christmas... is good or bad for you?"

"Good, it's my favorite time of year. I love Christmas, me, my dad, and Kayla all used to celebrate it together. We'd watch Christmas movies, some of them we didn't all like... but we watch them anyway because we loved whoever loved the movie." I grinned at the thought as my vision got hazy from unshed tears.

"Dad hated the "Rudolph" claymation movie because it always gave him the heebies, but I loved it. And he'd watch it with me all the time." After a moment of silence my voice cracked.

"I love him. I love my dad so much, I can't really imagine what he's doing now. All alone in the house, did he decorate for anything to try and cheer himself up? Is he taking care of himself?" I couldn't stop myself from clutching on tighter to the silent Kweide beneath me.

"He needs Kayla and I, he needs me... I need him." My breathing was shaky as I realized why I was hurting so bad lately. My father had been all alone during the time of year you needed people the most. I couldn't stand it, especially now that I knew it was past new year already. We were nearing February back home.  

Me and Kayla, we'd missed every major family holiday he loved to celebrate with us. And we were sure to miss even the minor ones he liked to rope us into too.  Who would he make those horrible heart shaped brownies for this year? No one in their right mind would eat those thing besides us. 

"You will grow strong enough to go home." The words will simple but they halted my crying altogether and turned my sobs into sniffling.

"But I don't know how I-" Kweide's hand lifted my chin to face him. 

"You will earn it because you must." After a moment he wiped away a tear before he gripped the back of my neck to keep my focus on him. "You will earn it because you can.You have no other choice."   

I was hesitant to feel inspired. These Yautja just expected too much of humans.  "We will have a trial hunt soon,  you will succeed and then you can be  more than just an ooman.  After which I will train you. You are weak, weak physically and emotionally. But you are intelligent and dedicated. You did not quit until I said it was over, not even when you wanted to collapse."

He tapped my cheek to bring my flitting gaze back onto him as he continued, "You have potential. You must stop hiding behind your fears now and stand up."  He brought his other hand up to enclose the other side of my face. I could feel the disappointing anger behind his mask but his hands were nothing  but gentle. 

It felt odd to be cradled so softly between hands that could destroy me. I simply nodded in reply, I had a similar talk not that long ago with myself in the bathtub. But anxiety was a running battle and my bravado didn't carry me far after the time I had afterwards. Anxiety was like a hydra. One head lopped off to only grow two more.

I was fighting so many feelings of inadequacy, loneliness for human companionship, and over all my own need for approval I've had since I was small. Needless to say it wasn't the easiest burden to carry. But he was right, I had to stop hiding behind my fears like a shield. They would not protect me from anything. 

I could not just lay here and think that I am unable to fight for my worth. Or that I am too weak, too lacking. I had to try and fail and fail again if I must. But I truly had to try. 

I would not be perfect. This would not be easy. But I would go home to my dad and I would take on every challenge with Kayla at my side once I could stand with her again. "Ooman, let this be one of the last times I call you by this tittle. We go hunting in seven planetary rotations. Become a warrior by then." His words were encouraging as he let his hand go lax behind my head.

"I will. " I was blazing with energy despite my physical weariness, I was ready to prove to the world I had some fight in me. Some spunk for real this time. 

But as I laid back down I also had questions, "Can I ask you why you're encouraging me?" I wouldn't care if his answer was selfish or manipulative or not. It had worked and that was enough for me. 

His head rested back down as he seemed to mull my inquiry over. "I needed this same truth once. I was much younger than you. Well, at least by physical body." He absentmindedly toyed with my hair as he spoke. It was such a calm atmosphere I wondered how we reached it.

"When I was told this truth it was much harsher and much more physically painful. But you-" He looked down, "You are much more delicate, like an old skull you need gentle shining not harsh scrubbing. It works better for you." So he knew me a little better than I thought. How observant. Had he been learning about me just as I had been learning about him?

I hadn't thought he'd be invested enough to take notice of anything besides basic needs, I suppose I was wrong for that assumption too. He was craftier than some of the others. More thought out.

"You're incredibly smart honestly, you really observe things deeply" I couldn't help but let my thoughts out quietly. I had meant it as a compliment. Hopefully he could pick up on such a tone.

"Do not mock me." He bristled beneath me and I knew perhaps I stepped in the wrong direction. 

"I swear I'm not, I really meant what I said Kweide." I made sure to look him in his masks eyes, knowing I could technically get away with it at the moment. I wanted him to see my honesty.

"... " He seemed as if he was debating the validity of my statement before he began to relax again. "Sleep" He pushed my face towards the left as he laid back.

 "Goodnight, Kweide." I ducked my head down and stayed where I was, firmly flopped nearly entirely over him. He was far comfier without the armor.

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"Ooman! Wake up!" I stared up at Kweide completely startled. Our position had changed drastically, he was kneeling on the bed as I lay flat. His hands, that he had used to shake me quickly just moments before, were resting on my shoulders. I was too confused to comprehend the situation. 

"What's wrong? Is something happening?" I tried to sit up but his arms were too heavy, locked in place like steel chains.

"Blood, hurt, failed, internal damage." His panicked rambles didn't make any sense as I stared at him. Then I looked down to where his helmet's gaze faced.

Oh. Oh my gosh. I nearly burst into shocked laughter but then it turned to disgust. I was covered in blood, looking like a shark attack victim I realized I had been visited by mother nature. She had quite the timing.

My period was always worse the first three days, the flow was heavy and the cramps were killer. My nether acted like some bloody Niagara falls and the moodiness could turn me into an emotional wreck. Not at all what I needed, not on this ship. 

 I thought I had been dealing with enough. Apparently my body thought otherwise. As if knocking on my uterus and going, "Ah hello old friend I heard you needed me back now!"

It was only after I heard Kweide began to chitter with panic that I realized I needed to explain myself before he busted a hole into something. "Kweide," I hesitantly lifted my hands to touch his arms. "I am okay."

He shook his head, "No ooman, internal bleeding is serious. I must have hurt your body during training. I was too rough." His hand delicately tried to lift my soft armor for inspection. "How did this happen? Do I move you to Lar'ja-thwei or will this simply make it worse?"

I didn't understand the entirety of his words but I caught the important parts. It dawned on me that he truly didn't understand what was going on. Not even at all. I was undoubtedly bruised from yesterday but nothing was bad enough to cause me this. "It's not what you think, you didn't do anything wrong. It wasn't you Kweide."

Soothingly as possibly I rubbed his arms in hope he would relent and relax. He was all tensed and coiled muscle beneath my palms so it was best to tread carefully. Just like a spooked animal back on earth, you had to be gentle. Reassure and coo, no harshness.

Within a few moments he seemed to start to relax though he kept his arms on either side of me still.  I must have not said enough because he seemed confused still. "It's a period, human females get them all the time. Once a month in fact, usually in a range of three to seven days." I kept my tone even, trying to soothe while not seeming insulting about it.

"Period?" He seemed to be calming more now that he knew it was a natural process.

"Yes, we bleed once a month because we did not get pregnant. It's a cycle, do Yautja females have cycles?" 

"Only heat cycles, they are not often nor do they cause bleeding. Most females do not fail in getting pregnant when they wish to. If they do not wish to I do not know what happens, but this bleeding I have never heard of." Kweide pulled his arms back slowly as I began to sit up.

"Heat cycles... makes sense I guess. I suppose periods are the price human's pay for the ability to choose not to have or to have a child any time." I chuckled and then blushed at my words. A simple scientific observation turned mortifying if you were shy enough.

"Both sides of oomans... have constant heat?" He altered his position on the bed to face me, he seemed surprised by the new information. 

"Ah no not really! It's more like the male Yautja, you aren't all constantly thinking about mating right?" Kweide's nod edged my explanation further, "But you also don't have heat cycles like the females do. You get motivated when they are. So do humans, they can mate at any time that they want or feel motivated to. Does that make sense?"

I tried to distance myself from the facts as far as I could by using 'they' instead of 'we'. It was a little embarrassing to feel like you were going through sex ed a second time but as the teacher.

"Oomans... are different." 

"Yes... well um we are different species...  Speaking of, could you take me somewhere so I can clean up? This isn't good to leave just pouring about." I gestured to the bed,my leg, and then froze in horror at the sight. Kweide had blood on him too.

"Oh my gosh I am so sorry!" I barely managed to choke out an apology as I sat up horrified. I wanted to vomit and truthfully I didn't know if it was from the anxiety or the blood fest going on. 

Kweide looked down with confusion and then surprise. It seemed he had only then noticed or remembered he had it on him. "You did not purposely bleed on me, there is nothing to be apologizing for. It is natural function." He rolled from the bed and offered a hand to lift me to my feet.

"I will take you to the baths while I speak with Lar'ja-Thwei and handle the room. Will that be alright?" He seemed hesitant on how to act now that I was leaking more blood than he'd probably ever seen come out of a living un-wounded creature.

"Yes, thank you. I just hope the waters soothe the cramps" I pressed a hand against my abdomen as another wave of trembling muscle hit me.He stopped walking to look at me. Had I said something?

"It brings... cramps?" He gestured to my belly before leaning down with interest.

"Yeah, cramps are muscle spasm sorta. It can be really bad during some people periods, my first three days are absolute torture.

"Is it so painful?" Kweide was now squatting low enough that he was below my height. But only barely.

"Yes, they're-" I paused as my stomach trembled from the sheer velocity of the clenching and unclenching muscle. Without hesitation I moved his hand to touch the spasming flesh. "Awful." I finished speaking with difficulty.

Kweide seemed to freeze as he felt it too and then after a moment he looked up at me. "May I try something?" I was confused by the question but nodded.  If he had some way of lessening the pain so be it. 

He leaned forward and placed the cool metal of his mask against my belly. What was he doing now? I turned red at the proximity but let him continue.

It wasn't long before I finally heard the sounds of purring, they started softly but raised in intensity until I felt them. My mouth dropped open a little in shock, the purring was from him.

I didn't know how to react to him until I realized why he was doing it. The tension in my stomach decreased majorly against the purrs. He was soothing my cramps in the only way he probably could.

"That helps." I admitted as he drew back, my cramps were dulled down some but I knew they'd rise back soon.

"Then I will do it when you need it. Such a condition is not treatable by Yautja medicine." He stood and began applying his armor, looking to me every few seconds. "Even female Yautja do not go through such pain regularly."  

Was there a slight bit of respect in his tone? Maybe this horrible turn wasn't so bad after all.  Female humans +1 point, if only this was a card game.

We walked in a comfortable pace as we left the room. "If you meet others in the bath be wary. Females of my kind are..." He paused his speaking to look down at me. "More lethal."

I gulped. Well so much for feeling comfortable in the bath. "Oh, okay..." I looked away nervously. Would the females hurt me?  I could vaguely remember the female that had stood in my defense when I thought Kayla had died. She was massive. 

 So far no one had tried to injure me on the ship besides that one male but I did not know if that would last.  Especially with how revered their females were. "Kweide?" He turned to look at me but I lost my words. "Nevermind, my bad." I sighed and faced forward again.

"Do not insult them and you will be fine."  He offered me the advice just as we came to stop. "Can you do this?" 

"I can." I nodded before taking a deep breath. "I will." Stepping forward through the doorway, I paused to look back at him. "Thank you Kweide." And then I moved into the nerve wracking unknown. 

(A/N  - Sorry it took so long guys! It's my fault this time XD, the characters just wouldn't talk to me ya know? But here you go ! :3 <3 -Admin Sapphire )