Chapter 26-H'chakde

The few days H'chakde had been off the ship were long and tiring, but the hunt sure was good. The body of his kill laying over his shoulder, and the wounds on his person were proof enough of that. He hadn't lost his touch with the hunt entirely. His trip had been more than a little beneficial, giving him time away from Kayla. Just what he needed.

He almost found it rather irritating that it had to come to such a quick end. H'chakde couldn't stay away from Kayla forever certainly. The thought of being able to go on another hunt soon was what calmed him. Even if he would have to take Kayla along with. She would need the experience anyway.

Her training had been spent doing the bare minimum due to her injuries. A hindrance he had to remind himself of many times. It was hard, but he did so.

H'chakde wanted so badly to push Kayla past her limit for so long. However now that she was in better condition he could certainly begin doing that. 'This will definitely be fun.' H'chakde mused to himself, as he adjusted the kill on his back.

"I see you've returned." A voice brought H'chakde's attention to behind him. Guan-Bhu'ja, his fellow trainer approached him. Both placed their hands on each others shoulders and shook them lightly in greeting. H'chakde wasn't really social on his ship, but him and Guan-Bhu'ja had a mutual respect for each other.

"I have." H'chakde adjusted the kill on his shoulder again. Half because it was starting to slip, but the other was because he wanted to bring attention to it.

H'chakde already knew he was a worthy hunter. He had many trophie's and scars to prove that. So Guan-Bhu-ja's validation wasn't what he was looking for. It was just satisfying to show off his kill to him.

Guan-Bhu-ja regarded it with a tilt of his head before he continued speaking. "I see you were also successful. It seems you and your apprentice both had an eventful time in each others absence."

Although H'chakde was proud to hear that, he was also confused. What had Kayla been doing while he was away? "Did she continue her training while I was gone?" H'chakde asked.

He felt agitated at the thought, and that surprised him. He didn't need Kayla picking up fault techniques from other Yautja. Especially one that could get her further injured or even killed.

H'chakde would allow her to die while hunting. He actually preferred that if she were to die it would be that way, it was certainly an honorable death. However he didn't want her to die before she could make it into the clan.

"Not by choice I suspect." Guan-Bhu'ja replied, amusement in his tone as his mandibles clicked together. "But R'kadekna seemed to insist on it."

H'chakde's blood turned cold and bubbled simultaneously at the mention of that name. The reminder of the beating he had received at her hand, made him in even less of a hurry to go collect Kayla. He surely could take his time with it.

"Last I checked, they were both in the Kehrite." A thoughtful look pulled over Guan-Bhu'ja's face as he spoke. "Been in there for most of the day."

"I see." H'chakde said, trying to keep his emotions from his tone.

The two bid each other a quick farewell, and H'chakde began his treck back to his room. His movements somewhat hindered as he walked under the weight of his kill. He needed to put it in his room, before he went to go get Kayla.

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When H'chakde had reached the kehrite, he was glad to find Kayla there. R'kadekna however, not so much.

The two stood in front of one another, Kayla a few feet away from R'kadekna. The huntress was babbling to Kayla in her language, none of which H'chakde could really understand. Nor did he interfere. He didn't want to get into another scuffle with the female.

H'chakde walked toward the two, his head lowered as he did so. He waited for one of the two to notice him, thankfully it was Kayla who did. Her shift of attention also brought R'kadekna's awareness to the young male.

"It seems the tarei hsan has returned." R'kadekna growled, lower mandibles flaring as she eyed H'chakde.

With a reminder of what happened last time H'chakde had angered her, he suppressed a growl at the insult. He didn't want a repeat of history. Not while he was still dealing with his punishment from before.

Kayla moved to H'chakde as he gave a small greeting to R'kadekna. The ooman gave the huntress a small nod as she did so. The two began to exchange goodbyes and H'chakde almost let out a breath. However, the feel R'kadekna's eyes on him made him halt.

"She's a fine warrior and hunter in the making." R'kadekna looked to Kayla as she spoke, before her eyes returned to H'chakde. Warning boiled behind them as she growled. "Train her well."

H'chakde felt insulted that R'kadkena expected any less from him. He wanted Kayla to succeed as much as she did. Kayla would succeed in her final hunt as a youngblood, H'chakde would ensure it.

"I assure you I intend to." H'chakde responded, keeping his voice as leveled as possible.

"Good." R'kadekna said, pushing past H'chakde as she moved toward the door. Almost knocking him over completely in the process. H'chakde didn't let out a small growl until he was sure she was out of earshot.

With the huntress gone, he turned his attention back to Kayla. He took in her appearance with a slow glance. She was covered in sweat, and no doubt was as tired as he was. She needed rest, and he needed to clean his kill.

H'chakde tilted his head for Kayla to follow "Come." He said heading right toward the door. When H'chakde looked back, he was thankful to see that Kayla had complied.

When they had returned to his room, Kayla immediately fell onto her bundle of furs. Falling asleep in what felt like mere seconds. H'chakde however didn't move to sleep just yet. The last few hours he remained awake were spent skinning and cleaning his kill.

After he had hung up his chosen trophies, he delivered what remained of the creatures meat to the cooks. Before returning to his room for some much needed rest.

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When H'chakde awoke the next morning, his senses were hit by a strong smell of blood. Or at least what he had thought was blood. Whatever this was smelled similar, but was off.

He sat up from his bed slowly, his eyes glancing around the room. H'chakde had half expected to see Kayla up and about messing with something she shouldn't have. However, the ooman was still on her mat covered by her furs. So this was not the case.

As H'chakde moved from his bed and toward her, he noticed the smell got stronger. Was the smell coming from her? Or from around her? H'chakde knelt down beside her, and yanked back the furs from her.

Dried red covered her legs, and fresh blood was still on the furs he had pulled up. The stench was much stronger now. Confirming that it was indeed coming from her.

Panic overtook H'chakde at the sight. Quickly he scooped Kayla into his arms and bolted out of the room and headed straight for the medbay. H'chakde received a few stares from the yautja around him as he ran. He paid them little mind though, there were more pressing matters.

Kayla had woken up as soon as H'chakde had picked her up. She started her usual griping at him, but again H'chakde paid it little mind. His mind too focused on the task at hand, and trying to figure out how this happened. Where had he failed? Had R'kadekna done something to cause this? Kayla had been in her care prior to this morning.

A growl rose in H'chakde's throat at that thought. If this had been her fault, he would fight her. As much as he hated having to face the female again, it was better than letting her get away with this.

"Lar'ja-Thwei!" H'chakde called as he barged into the medical bay. A half asleep, and agitated Kayla still in his arms.

"Here and still not deaf." The medic grumbled out. He had been clearly organizing before H'chakde had come in.

The frantic hunter moved to Lar'ja-Thwei quickly, holding out Kayla for him to take. "Something is wrong with the ooman! She is bleeding." H'chakde said, looking down once more to make sure the ooman was still conscious. She looked confused, something that surprised H'chakde. Wasn't she in pain?

"What wound did you give her now?" Lar'ja-Thwei asked, giving H'chakde a sharp look as he took Kayla. "From the way of the blood flow. . .it is internal perhaps."

"I haven't wounded her." H'chakde shook his head. "I woke up and she was bleeding."

He watched as Kayla carefully as the medic held her. It wasn't until after she had been handed over to him that she noticed the blood on her legs. Even then, she didn't seem alarmed.

"Can it be helped in anyway?" H'chakde didn't need Kayla dying, not before her first hunt.

"I do not know, but if anyone is capable of saving her from your negligence it's me." Lar'ja-Thwei turned and placed Kayla on a table, before he brought over a scanner over to get an X-Ray. "What wound does this bleed from?"

"I'm not hurt, this is natural." She responded to him. Although H'chakde had to piece most of her sentence together.

H'chakde tilted his head at her. It was normal for humans to bleed this much? Were they stronger than the young warrior had thought?

"Normal how? Speak more, we cannot heal or learn with basic knowledge." Lar'ja-Thwei huffed before opening his holo cube to record.

H'chakde stepped back, since he couldn't be much more help in this situation. He just watched as Kayla began to explain exactly what she had meant to the medic. However it wasn't long before he got bored.

He turned his focus to around him. Looking about the room until his eyes landed on another yautja standing near one of the other examination tables. Watching the trio.

H'chakde recognized him almost immediately, although he couldn't seem to remember his name. He had been one of the young bloods he had trained, when he first started being a trainer. His personality was as fiery and bloodthirsty as most his age, but unlike others. He was smaller than other his age.

A light trilling noise sound from him. His gaze never left H'chakde or Kayla, even after the young warrior had noticed him staring. He seemed almost amused by the scene before him.

"You fret so much over such an easily wounded, and weak creature." He finally spoke. "A servant no less." His tone was mocking as he spoke.

H'chakde turned toward him, meeting his eye. His lower mandibles flared as the other yautja met his stance, and moved closer to him.

"I do. Is there an issue with this?" H'chakde growled. It had been awhile since H'chakde had challenged someone, but defeating this male wouldn't be much of a chore. He was much smaller, and less skilled than H'chakde.

"Perhaps there is." He answered stepping forward once more.

The two stood there for a long moment. The violent tension growing in the air the longer they did. Just as H'chakde lifted his fist the throw the first blow, Lar'ja-Thwei interjected.

"I have an issue with both of you messing up my med bay. If you have some inane hate for one another than take it out of here." He wielded a syringe in just a way that it gave off a silent threat. "I have enough blood stains to deal with." Lar'ja-Thwei's voice brought H'chakde back to his senses. Now wasn't the time for this, he had an apprentice to look after.

Reluctanlty, H'chakde was the first to back down from the challenge. Much to the other Yautja's pleasure no doubt. But H'chakde would handle him later. He was sure they would have another opportunity to settle this.

For now however, H'chakde moved back toward his apprentice and Lar'ja-Thwei. He returned back to his spot and turned his attention away from the other Yautja.

H'chakde could feel his gaze burning into his back, but (much to his relief) he didn't follow. He stayed where he was and didn't push the issue further.