Many of the settlement's residents have turned in for the night when Elder Scar returns to the temple. Standing before Lex's altar, Scar releases a heavy sigh.

  If they had only used the L'so elixir. Lex might still be alive today. Or not. Oomans tend to live very shortened lives.

  Attempting to birth a childling at such an advanced age had been risky at best. The numerous powders, potions, and elixirs which had prolonged Lex's life and altered the rate of her aging; had proven to be her undoing. The trusted yautja remedies had given them both a false sense of security about her body's capabilities. When she'd become heavy the final time, Scar had thought nothing of it. It wasn't until Lex lie bleeding in his arms that he'd realized their mistake. His vil'par was dying. And there was no magic chamber with which to revive her. Not on this forgotten world.

  Scar's hatred for Elder N-Vorl burns anew. The young elder which would abandon the mother of his offspring and that of his eril'k.

  Scar is so deep into his musing that he does not notice when Teresa enters the temple. She crosses to where Scar stands and studies his unhappy features. Hesitating only briefly, Teresa lightly touches Scar's left forearm. Scar turns to greet her, a smile building on his face.

  "I won't make any promises," Teresa says, her voice low and unsure. "But this is our new home. And Vor'taalnis is very fond of you. He misses you if he doesn't see you at least once a day. I don't know what I'm saying. Or why. It's just..I've always been one to fall hard for those I have strong feelings for. It's gotten me hurt more than once. I think I have feelings for you. But I don't know how to interpret them. I love N-Vorl. He's already forgiven me for one transgression. I don't think he'd forgive another. I don't want to hurt him. I don't want to hurt my son. However...As you said...Mating is not only for vil'par. We oomans believe that too."

  Scar's eyes narrow and he cups Teresa's face with one hand. His mouth says one thing, while his body feels another. A vibration begins at the base of Scar's spine and ascends to the back of his neck. He takes in a deep breath before letting it out slowly.

  "I will not rush you. When you are ready...I will be waiting."

  "And if I was to say...I am ready now?"

  Scar's smile grows wider and he cups the other side of Teresa's face. The vibration has nearly turned into a tremor. He struggles to keep his hands from shaking, lest they reveal the depth of his readiness. It is a good thing that oomans are not able to sense such changes on the same level as a yautja. So out of touch are most oomans that they barely understand their own sensual desires. Speak nothing of the desires of others.

  "Are you certain...This is what you want?"

  "Not really. I can't explain what I feel. It's confusing. Then again, I've been confused since my fellow humans began tormenting and experimenting on me on Weyland Station Thirteen. I made love to my lover's eril'k. Not long after we rescued our son. All I kept seeing, every time N-Vorl touched me, was damned images of..."

  Teresa takes a step back and lowers her gaze. She steeples both hands in front of her face, her expression becoming one of utter confusion. Biting her lower lip, Teresa seriously considers her options. After a moment, her facial muscles relax and she drops her hands from in front of her face.

  "I'm sorry. I think I've made a mistake. Not about you, Elder Scar. I never should have said those things. I apologize."

  Teresa moves as if to leave, but Scar grips her under the elbows with both hands. He draws her close and stares into her doleful eyes.

  "I do not judge you. You should not judge yourself. You were put through a great ordeal. But now, you are here. I can offer you company...While your vil'par is far away. And you can offer me respite from my sorrow. We each have a need which must be addressed. You will not become heavy. There are ways to prevent such a thing from occuring."

  Teresa swallows hard as Scar bends and covers her mouth with his. She allows her eyes to shut and breathes in deeply. The settlement elder wraps both arms around Teresa's middle, pressing her body against him.

  After a moment, he separates enough to grip the left shoulder of Teresa's white dress. When she doesn't resist, he reaches for the right shoulder of her dress as well. Drawing them both downward, he keeps his eyes locked on Teresa's face. Her expression tells him nothing. Her scent tells him everything. She is frightened and confused. She is also willing to mate.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Scar leans forward and kisses the flesh of Teresa's throat. She utters a soft sigh and reclines her head backward. Sliding his closed mouth down Teresa's throat, Scar internally goes over his next moves. He cannot risk making Teresa heavy. Her body has been taxed enough--bearing three childlings in less than as many cycles of a season. He will have need of L'so Elixir. Yau-tala will have plenty to avail him. After all, did she not also have need of it, after her mating with the young elder's eril'k?

  When Scar sets his sights lower, Teresa moans deep in her throat. Such is her pleasure. He presses one large hand against the small of her back, bringing her still closer.

  Teresa's soft noises further excite Scar and he rubs his free hand across the flesh of her back. Teresa arches slightly, her breathing becoming rapid and filled with tiny gasps. This is the moment he has sought since first laying eyes on her. The moment of her n'fiis.

  Disengaging from his current activity, Scar returns his attention to Teresa's lips. Kissing her intensely, Scar uses one hand to unfasten his robe. He allows the mostly symbolic garment to fall to the floor. Once this is done, he holds Teresa tightly and pivots, guiding her down onto the robe. A tear slides from Teresa's right eye as she stares up at him. Scar wipes it away with a solitary clawed finger.

  "Am I making a mistake?" Teresa utters, her gaze fearful. "I'm so mixed up. I just don't want to be alone. I always end up losing everyone I care about. Usually...Very horribly. I've gotten used to losing."

  Scar scrutinizes Teresa's face for what seems like an eternity. When he speaks, his voice is calm and reassuring.

  "I can wait. We do not need to rush our mating. If you are unsure...We should not proceed."

  "But that's just it. I want to mate. I want you. But not in the same way I wanted N-Vorl. My love for N-Vorl was a wonderful accident born out of scientific curiosity. What I feel for you is different. Similar to what I felt while Mau-Nis and I made love. I want to make love for the sake of making love."

  Scar's heart drops at Teresa's blunt admission. However, in his experience, mating for the sake of mating usually turns into something much more down the line. Before heading to the frozen continent, there had been a female hunter he truly desired. Twice they had mated in the sloso grove.

  The second time, she'd been much more comfortable, offering him more and more pleasure. And he had reciprocated. By the end of their coupling, they'd arrived at the conclusion that their connection was greater than simple mating. Just what it was, they had never fully fleshed out. There had been no chance. His mind wonders where Yazamiyr is now? Not that it matters. Yazamiyr was a lifetime ago. The yautja he once was, the yautja who made love to her under the blossoming sloso trees, has long been dead. Scar solemnly returns his attention to Teresa.

  "Only...If you are absolutely sure," Scar repeats.

  Teresa's answer is to wrap an arm around his broad shoulders and draw him downward. Scar presses one hand against the floor and leans to meet her demand. She allows her lips to part a spilt second before their mouths touch. Scar slowly draws his teeth apart, parting her full lips even further. He carefully inserts his tongue into her mouth, tasting the sweetness of her saliva. Like before, her taste excites him, and he draws his free hand across the flesh of her chest and stomach.

  The mostly healed scars on Teresa's chest mounds add texture to her flesh. It almost feels as if he is caressing the flesh of one of his own kind. Scar gazes down at her chest, seemingly counting every thin slash. And oomans dare to call the yautja barbaric?

  At least, the yautja do not leave their prey to suffer. They do not torture their own kind. Even rogues are treated better, often being given their own worlds to live on and populate.

  A thought suddenly occurs to Scar. That is what V'Daha is to the Council of Elders. Those who know of its new purpose. It is a planet of rogues. Left with barely any technology, and no chance of escape.

  Scar's feeling of loneliness lends itself to his renewed desire. He reaches to grab the hem of Teresa's dress, in order to draw it upward. Teresa's breath catches in her throat and her eyes shoot open. Scar immediately releases the material of her dress, sensing something is wrong.

  Teresa says nothing as she struggles to sit up. Scar gives her space, resting a hand on her left shoulder. The frightened expression on Teresa's face causes his heartbeat to accelerate.

  "What is wrong, Teresa?" Scar asks, concern in his voice.

  "Vor'taalnis. I thought I heard Vor'taalnis cry out! Did you not hear that?"

  Scar shakes his head in a negative fashion. He has heard nothing of the kind. Teresa studies the settlement elder's face. Does he believe she heard what she heard? Or does he think her crazy?

  "I have to be sure," Teresa insists. "I know what I heard. I have to go."

  Scar helps Teresa slip back into the top portion of her dress. She refuses to meet his gaze. Using a large hand to grip her chin, Scar tilts her head upward. He kisses her tenderly.

  "Do not worry. I do not fault you for wanting to wait a bit longer."

  "But that's not it. I heard Vor'taalnis cry out. I have to be sure he is okay."

  "Then, I will accompany you home," Scar says, a thin smile on his yautja face. "Just to be sure."