Somewhere in space

  N-Vorl's mouth twists into an angry scowl. Mau-Nis chooses to remain silent as he sits down beside his elder in the transport ship's flight cabin. N-Vorl speaks without turning his head, his expression softening.

  "It was strange...Observing how different the childlings seem. Not only in outward appearance, but in personality. What a stroke of luck that my childling is the better mannered of the two. Serves you right, Mau-Nis. For even attempting to deceive me."

  "I told you of my true motivations, Elder. I did not wish to deceive you."

  "Hmmm. You continue to deny your feelings even now. I saw the look on your face upon seeing Teresa again. How you studied her intensely, your eyes riveted to her swollen abdomen. You knew there was a possibility the childlings were yours. You secretly wanted them to be. After the tragic loss of your warrior mate, I cannot blame you. You have one childling. That should make you somewhat pleased."

  "It does," Mau-Nis admits. "And Teresa is a good mother. Despite being ooman, she loves her children unconditionally."

  N-Vorl once again grows solemn. He stares with agitation through the front view screen.

  "If only...Yautja could be so charitable. We would have no need to sneak around as we do. I could bring Teresa, and our childlings, to live with our clan."

  "That is a battle for the future, N-Vorl," Mau-Nis says reassuringly. "We are not yet there."

  "I know. I know. Doesn't mean I cannot lament the fact that my vil'par and my childlings are so far away."

  "Well...Now, you are not alone in this pain. I feel this hurt as well."

  N-Vorl's eyes narrow to slits and he glances sidelong at Mau-Nis.

  "Ah...Yes. Yau-tala. The settlement leader. The reason you were late for our rendezvous. Did you have a good time?"

  Mau-Nis' mouth curls upward and he pretends to inspect his mech-arm. Cutting his eyes back to N-Vorl, Mau-Nis lets out a short deep laugh.

  "Yes, actually. She found my new appendage quite intriguing. I fear she enjoyed studying it more than she enjoyed my other gifts. But I might be mistaken."

  "Or not," N-Vorl teases. "I do not enjoy your gifts either. She may be onto something."

  Mau-Nis' laughter echoes throughout the flight cabin as N-Vorl looks on in quiet satisfaction.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  -

  -

  Alone

  Mau-Nis enters the chamber where the cryogenic pods are housed. Three pods. Three yautja warriors. The third warrior, Ahoiko, was left to sleep while they explored the surface of V-Daha. Once the system is reset, their sleeping brother will be none the wiser. He will think they have been to Creysius Nomin and back. With nary a pit stop in between.

  The nine Drejk hunt beasts he and N-Vorl captured are already in their cages, waiting to be brought before the elders. They will be slaughtered during the Festival of Chruksh. Sprinklings of their blood used to nourish the blossoming trees.

  Of course, the hunt brother may wonder why they did not wake him. For this, Mau-Nis already has a narrative in place. A malfunction with the pod. To open it might have meant certain death for the occupant. Better to be safe than sorry. This will not work every time. For now, it will have to do.

  Mau-Nis stares down at his sleeping hunt brother, and then goes to work. Thoughts of Yau-tala, and his tiny son, putting his usually worried mind at ease.

  -

  -

  N-Vorl strides into the cryo storage chamber and glances over at Mau-Nis. Mau-Nis is readying his own cryo pod, preparing for the long sleep journey back home. N-Vorl approaches his eril'k with a heart filled with sadness.

  "My childlings...They will be much older even before we rejoin our clan. The next time we are able to visit V'Daha may not be for a very long time. Vor'taalnis has already begun to cleave to the elder of the settlement. Following him closely. Am I doing more harm if I...?"

  Mau-Nis face becomes a menacing grimace. He climbs to his feet, glaring at N-Vorl with angry gray eyes.

  "Do you already talk of abandoning your family? After only one visit to the planet's surface. Have you already forgotten the promises you made to your vil'par? And to your childlings?"

  Mau-Nis steps closer into N-Vorl's personal space, challenging him. N-Vorl does not react, his green eyes narrowed and tusks drawn tightly together. While this is a side of Mau-Nis he rarely sees, N-Vorl realizes Mau-Nis surely did not earn his place in Mahytu's contingent by being soft. There must have been something special about the stoic Nilyautha warrior, to make N-Vorl's grandfather take notice. Not to mention, Elder Glandis; N-Vorl's battle hardened uncle.

  "I asked a legitimate question, Mau-Nis. Do you think I am doing my vil'par and my childlings more harm by leaving them for such long periods...Only to return for a brief time? Next time, I will need a better reason to go off-course. So that I may remain on V'Daha longer."

  "You assume it will be easy," Mau-Nis mutters. "It may not be. We cannot claim pod failure every time we wish to conceal where we have been. And we cannot keep going off of our charted course without being noticed. You must act wisely, N-Vorl. Or risk exposing everyone."

  N-Vorl nods silently but doesn't say another word. He begins programming his cryo pod to wake him at a designated time and destination. Mau-Nis watches his elder with sad eyes. In truth, he has seen such a day coming.

  "If you will not return, Elder...Give me permission to do so. I am a yautja of my word. I do not abandon the duties which are handed down to me. My vil'par and my descendant are on V'Daha. If you ever feel that the burden is too much, I will return there. And I will care for the ones we both love."

  N-Vorl heaves a dramatic sigh and rolls his eyes toward the ceiling.

  "Shut up, Mau-Nis!"

  Mau-Nis' mouth clamps shut more out of agitation than obedience. His tusks form an "x" and his mandibles fold inward. N-Vorl shakes his head, dreads moving wildly with the effort.

  "For now, we sleep."