The Elder's Mate

Two - Shit Situation

Rhage was impressed with the female.

She was terrified of him, yet she approached him. Her dark blue orbs were full of a determination to force her fear to the side. Seeing such strength from the female was surprising. Normally humans were terrified of Yautja and ran at the mere sight of one.

There was nowhere for the female to go. Instead of trying to escape she decided to face him. Those eyes of hers were full of intelligence. She knew he was the father of their child — he could see it in her eyes, the way she looked at him with curiosity despite her fear.

He was no small male and knew it. His sire had been large as well, rivaling some of the females who were normally bigger on average among his kind.

"H-hello. I'm Artemis." Her arms wrapped around her middle protectively, a tiny smile on her lips.

Rhage clicked his tusks together curiously as he thought over her name and its origin. He wondered why she had been given such a name. This human was no huntress. Human naming practices were fascinating.

"Rhage." He replied, softening his voice so it was less of a deep throaty growl.

"It seems we're both stuck in here, huh?" She added a short chuckle, her fingers twisting together. The Hunter took it as a human tell for her nervousness.

Her body was screaming to run. He could smell it. The female fought against her instincts however, choosing to be courageous.

"So it would seem."

His eyes cast to her round middle, her maternal swell pushing against the fabric just enough to show the bump. She followed his gaze only to quickly look up again; her small hands caressing the swell gently. As she did so a look came upon her face. A smile stretched her face.

Those emotions swirled within his breast as he observed the joy on her face. He recognized love in her ocean-like eyes. Love for their child. He was witnessing the bond that humans formed with their unborn children, a sight he had personally never taken the time to observe. Seeing her have such emotions for their own pup cooled the rage that burned within from how she had been dishonored so greatly.

"Would y-you like to feel it?" She whispered, stepping closer.

• • •

So far he had not attacked her, just as she had hoped. This was her giving him a rope to build trust. He was her "baby daddy" after all. He had every right to feel his unborn child kick.

The massive Yautja shifted his body in the shadows, his large shadowed form leaning closer like he was resting his arms on his knees. His eyes met hers, the glowing orbs studying her.

She hoped he wanted to. Artemis wanted to see if Rhage felt any sort of fatherly bond.

"Yes."

Artemis gave him a shy smile and cautiously stepped forward into the shadow where he hid himself. A part of her longed to see what he looked like, that curious part of her wanting to know, but she had a feeling he was doing so on purpose. What did his face look like? Was he human looking? The scientists nor Dr. More had been forthcoming about what his species looked like. They only ever spoke about how vicious and efficient his kind were when it came to killing people.

A large hand grasped her shoulder gently, stopping her in her blind approach. She swore she felt claws on the tips of his fingers. His hand was warm and very large; the size of it enough to fully cover her delicate shoulder. Briefly she felt the texture of what felt like a thick thumb graze across her exposed collar bone, his touch leaving goosebumps in its wake.