Grace of An Elder

Chapter 36

Dahdtoudi was face down on the metallic floor and Bhihtu was storming towards her. The male unsheathed his gauntlet blades and T'ahrou was filled with an indescribable fury. He hadn't noticed his voice breaking through the stiff silence of the arena until Bhihtu turned his focus toward him, momentarily allowing the girl to get to her feet and strike. A heavy wave of relief washed over T'ahrou when she finally managed to finish off her opponent, and she turned to bow in respect to both the training master and the onlooking Ancient.

After the tournament had ended, twelve Young Bloods had earned the chance to participate in the kiande-amedha chiva. They were all sent home to rest and heal before returning the next morning ready for the fight of their lives.

It was decided that four groups of three would be sent out, each group venturing to a different planet. The Young Bloods were allowed to pick their partners this time around, and T'ahrou declined every offer he received. Just as he expected, Dhadtoudi was left unchosen.

By the end of it, Dhadtoudi approached a small, slender male named Han'chi and broke the news that he would suffer the humiliation of partnering with a human. Soon after, T'ahrou stepped over to the two and announced that he too needed a team. "Fine, but you will be team leader." Han'chi didn't hesitate in his statement. He was a runt, small and weak, so he knew he would be in no position to give orders...but he'd be damned if he would take them from a pyode-amedha.

Zaiyu had tried to arrange the flight schedule to where he would pilot for Dhadtoudi's team, but the flight master forbid it. "We cannot have you interfering." Zaiyu was instead listed for another team, and when he protested he was threatened with the possibility of being removed from the chiva missions altogether.

When their ship was sent out T'ahrou, Dhadtoudi, and Han'chi fiddled with their gear to pass the time. Plasma burners were taken apart and restored time after time, systems checks were run on their bio-helmets, and self-destruct settings were verified as 'ready to initiate' on their gauntlets. At last they'd done all they could do, so Han'chi moved to a separate part of the ship to pray to the warrior goddess Paya, and Dhadtoudi moved to watch the passing stars through the viewing window.

T'ahrou stood next to her, a giant in comparison. "Are you still upset with me?"

She didn't face him, only kept a fixed gaze on the light show just outside the hull. "One can not afford to be upset when fighting kiande-amedha." She folded her arms over her chest and transferred her weight to her left hip; a strange human habit she had formed when she was a young pup. "Are you still upset with me?" T'ahrou shook his head lightly.

"I was never upset, only confused." Dhadtoudi hummed softly as she contemplated his words, and he continued. "What bothers you now?"

Her expression was blank, her grey eyes fixed on nothing in particular; the way the stars reflected in them caused a glimmering effect like nothing T'ahrou had seen before. "Just thinking of my mother. That's all." Her scent changed in the air.

"Do not lie to me, Dhadtoudi." Her brow furrowed in frustration. She often forgot Yautja could sense changes in pheromones, no matter how slight.

"It's nothing that will affect my performance in the chiva, if that's what you are worried about."

"It's not." She looked up at him now, a strange expression gracing her features. T'ahrou had not seen this expression before, but he did not question it.

"Why do you ask?" He said nothing, and she continued. "Why do you always ask me these things? Why do you ask now of all times?"

"Should I not?"

"No, you shouldn't. Affiliating yourself with me is detrimental to your reputation with the clan. It will complicate your chances with a mate. You know this, T'ahrou."

"Do you think less of me for affiliating with you?"

Dahdtoudi scoffed as she again turned her focus to the viewing window. "It does not matter what I think."

"Why not? You are part of the clan." Another strange expression, but she held a barely noticeable grin. "Have you ever considered that I may not care what the others think of my decisions? Now tell me what is distracting you."

The pilot's voice boomed through the small ship, gaining the attention of the three Young Bloods. "We have arrived. Prepare the landing pods." Dhadtoudi forced a gentle smile up at her training partner, the whites of her eyes tinted a light pink color.

"If we survive, I will tell you."