The Elder's Mate

Thirteen - Compromise

Artemis put her hair in a messy ponytail as she tried to calm herself down, her anger boiling within. Her hands shook she was so full of anger. She needed to do something to get her mind off from the argument she had with Rhage.

A difference in parenting styles definitely hadn't been on her mind, much less it being the reason behind the first argument. Corporal punishment had long gone out of style on Earth. It had been deemed harmful to the development of a child. Hitting them to correct behavior only created more unwanted behaviors that could lead to damaging things, like a lack of trust for the parent, the child believing they couldn't depend on the parent for safety, and so on. There were too many wrongs that could happen.

She never wanted to lay a hand on her children. There was a better way to teach them than to exert some sick power fantasy upon them. Putting fear into them wasn't something she wanted.

She certainly didn't want it to happen with this child. Artemis had heard of the horror stories from her friend Jessie about the cases she encountered as a counselor with Child Protective Services. Hearing how often it turned to full abuse was scary and she never wanted to put a child through that. She had made a vow that she would protect her children, if she ever had any, from pain and fear for as long as she could.

Of course she knew that the Yautja were all about strength but she hadn't known they beat their kids "into shape" as Rhage had put it. It made her heart ache.

Artemis continued to pace back and forth around the quarters trying to calm down. Out of nowhere she had become angrier than she had ever been, even going so far to argue with Rhage, something she'd thought she'd never have the guts to do. Even now she worried what would be the consequences, despite her red hot anger. She could feel the fear replacing her anger little by little.

Could she hide? Was it even possible? Would she even try?

There was no way she could ever pull it off. He hadn't earned title of Elder for no reason. He was considered an expert in hunting at the current point in his life for fucks sake!

Maybe she could pretend to be asleep? Hide in the bathroom? Sleep on the couch to avoid him?

She stopped pacing when she heard the door slide open some distance behind her, cursing at her inability to just make up her mind. Rather than see, she could feel the offending alien. His presence was quiet but her body was on high alert. He didn't speak or make a sound but she knew he was there.

"Artemis, we have much to discuss."

That anger mixed with the fear created a war within her chest as she turned to face him. He stood in the doorway with his beefy arms folded across his chest as he stared at her; fully dressed in his dull grey armor. Instead of pissed off and wanting to kill something like she had thought he would be, he had a perfect poker face. His mandibles were relaxed and his eyes were soft. Seeing him like that made no sense.

She didn't want to piss him off and make him lash out. She had seen how angry Rhage could be and she much preferred the nice version of him. The other scared her.

"That we do." Artemis hissed, trying to contain her anger as it flared up.

Rhage exhaled audibly, his arms falling to his sides as he took slow steps towards Artemis. He stalked towards her with that catlike grace his kind had and immediately she went into defense. The way he walked reminded her of a jungle cat stalking their prey. It was unnerving.

She took steps backwards trying to keep distance between them.

"The pup must be raised like other Yautja. The pup would fall behind its fellow young."