Chapter 152: If Your Behavior Changes Suddenly, You Might Be Fucked
"But seriously, that isn’t what happened at all," I groaned, leaning back in the huge pile of fur. Even they weren’t able to get me in a better mood.
"What do you mean?" asked Ye’tab, and I could hear his tusks clattering behind his helmet. I wondered just how similar he would look to the female.
"I mean, I touched something, and the armor appeared on me. However, I didn’t understand any of the language, and I wasn’t able to really control any part of it. It wasn’t until I bled all over the stupid thing that I could finally understand it, and it synced up to me," I explained, trying to make sense of the situation. I wasn’t even going to get into the can of worms that Sha Shou turned out to be.
"Not possible," said the new guy, shaking his head. I took a moment to study him, realizing that his armor was almost completely different than that of the two Saalistaja that had been chosen. While his helmet was pretty much the same, his locks didn’t seem to be encased in anything, allowing me to see a hint of silver in his black hair. He also wore a red cloak, which I could only assume made a visible statement of his place or position within his society, kind of like generals wearing red cloaks attached to their armor.
All in all, he made me... intrigued... to learn more.
"Unfortunately, if you stick around, you will probably be saying that a lot," I groaned, remembering the main points in all this. Number one: I have done things that Saalistaja females have never done; number two: I have killed a Saalistaja female and now need to prove that the death was justified; and number three: I shouldn’t have any armor whatsoever.
I was a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, and I hated it.
"I am starting to get upset, guys," I groaned. Midnight chuckled and climbed into the nest with me.
"Everything will be fine," he assured me. "After all, you have the three of us."
"Thanks," I said. I appreciated what he was trying to do, but it didn’t work when it came to me. Maybe I was too pessimistic to think that three males were going to be able to combat what was going to come.
"If you want, you can tell me what is going on; maybe I can offer some suggestions or help that these young cubs can’t think of. I have been around for a few hundred years more than them and have seen many things that they have not," suggested the new male, and it took everything inside of me not to laugh.
"Have you been around when the Ethawainians were around?" I wondered, cocking my head to the side, curious. Maybe if he had been, he really would be useful.
"I am afraid that I am not that old," he chuckled.
"Have you ever toppled a government?" I continued, wondering if he could help with that.
"I can’t say that I have," he answered, no longer laughing. I could feel the intensity of his gaze, judging if I could possibly be a threat or not. The best part was that I was a threat to everything he held dear; he just didn’t know it yet.
"But I am an Elder of my tribe and a sitting member on the Elder’s council," he said, the intensity of his gaze never wavering for a second.
"Is that a threat or an offer of representation?" I asked, no longer enjoying this version of 20 questions. There was silence throughout the ship as the male in front of me took the time to think about my question before answering it. My respect for him rose as a result. It would be a shame to have to kill him for learning too much about me.
"You are one descended from our blood. The Nanos had proclaimed that by accepting you, no matter how unusual that acceptance is. As a male, you would be welcomed with open arms, and I would be one of many representing your best interests," he said with slow, measured words.
"And if I am not a male?" I laughed.
"If you are not a male, then you are a creature that we have never encountered before and would need the protection of the tribes. Especially if the Alliance is involved."
"So you are offering representation," I mused with a nod. I tried to think of how being part of a Saalistaja tribe would benefit me, but I really couldn’t think of a single situation. "Thank you, but I will have to decline. I don’t think I want the Elder’s finding out about me that fast," I continued, raising my hand with the laser blaster on it, fully engaged.
I saw my three males stiffen, but the one standing in front of me didn’t even flinch.
Interesting.
"Are you not scared because you don’t think I will pull the trigger, or are you not scared of me because your armor will protect you?" I asked, my head tilted to the side as I studied the male more. There was something to be said for the way he composed himself.
"Neither," he shrugged. "You are female; whatever decision you make is the right one. I cannot and will not argue."
"Your society is really fucked up if that is the way you think. And not two seconds ago, you thought I was a male, and now you think I am a female? Don’t you think you should make up your mind?"
"I am willing to die at your hand," he answered, standing still as a statue.
"You shouldn’t be," I replied with a shake of my head. "Dying is the easy way out."
"Then what do you suggest?" he asked.
Honestly, I didn’t understand his position. Less than an hour ago, I killed his daughter, and now he was willing to live or die based on how I was feeling at the moment. No, that didn’t make a lick of sense.
"Guys, can you smell me?" I asked, wondering if my scent was causing some sort of confusion in the male’s brain.
"No," grunted Au’dtair from where he stood just behind the other male. "But if it helps, I think anyone that is chosen will feel an initial... bond... even if they don’t understand what it means."
"What are you talking about?" asked the newcomer, looking between me and Au’dtair.
"It means that you might be fucked," I answered with a sigh. But there was only one way to find out for sure.
