Artemis dreamed of a sandy beach where she lay under the sun feeling the hot rays upon her skin. The sun was sweltering but she didn't care. It felt good against her skin.

For too long she had been kept from the blazing ball of heat. She even missed feeling rain kiss her skin as the sky wept, thunderous rolling dark clouds smothering the sun in its darkness. This time she just enjoyed the intense heat that surrounded her.

Damn she wanted to stay here forever, here where the sun warmed her skin unlike the cold clinical artificial lights.

There was none of it here. Only intense warmth. The heat enveloped her, made her body curl closer to it. Every part of her wanted to stay by the warm rays of sunlight. Never before had she loved the warmth of the sun nor appreciated it.

It was much better than the stark coldness of her current world. A world where it was always cold and white. A world she had come to hate.

She awoke with a start. A tickling at the back of her brain told her that she was not alone. There was another presence.

Instead of being back in her cell like she thought she would, she was lying in Rhage's bed in his cell still. It was with that that she acknowledged the intense heat that surrounded her from behind. The source of that blazing heat that felt so damn good. A warmth that radiated from the giant that big-spooned her like an oversized cat. An alien cat with scales and long claws.

Rhage had somehow moved to curl around her. His body was the rays of sun that chased away the frigid cold.

Damn did it feel amazing.

A heavy leg weighed down her legs under the immense weight while a thick arm, one that was scratchy and rough against her skin, held her close with the limb protectively covering her rounded swell. She could feel the baby stirring within at his closeness — the little traitor, she thought. Stretching her legs she exercised her muscles as best as she could under the heavy weight of Rhage's leg.

The damn alien was heavier than she had thought he would be. Yeah, the male, the father of her child was fucking massive and jacked to hell but she underestimated how heavy such a body would be. Surprisingly, she didn't mind it. Being held like that she felt safe and comforted for the first time in a long time.

His presence was much appreciated. She was fast growing attached to this strange alien.

Rhage's deep growly voice drew her attention from the wayward thoughts, his leg releasing her own. "I forgot how small you are. I hope this is acceptable."

Huh? Why was he apologizing? He hadn't done anything.

"No, it's fine."

He started to pull away, the heat leaving her in the sterile coldness of the cell. She didn't like it. She wanted his heat back.

"Wait, stay there! It's cold." Grunting a little, she turned over to snuggle closer into him and bring back the warmth she liked so much. "I'm sorry if this is awkward but...umm...I find your warmth comforting. It's always so damn cold in my cell. The little one likes it, too."

Her body was shaken gently as he chuckled, the deep sound filling the void. That long thick arm resumed its position around her.

She could feel his claws curl away from her delicate exposed skin as he balled his large hand. In her sleep the thin white shirt she wore had slid upwards exposing her maternal swell and back. Once again she wished she could see him without the shadows hiding him. That urge to see him was strong but she respected his decision.

Maybe he was hiding a face that would be scary, she thought. When he spoke he sounded like he was a wise old sage. He spoke with careful and gentle words.

It was with that thought that she decided to quell her curiosity and just ask. Asking never hurt. "Rhage, how old are you?" He was quiet for a few moments, the only sound a gentle clicking from above her echoing from his chest.

Maybe he didn't want to answer. The Yautja seemed to like upholding the mystery of himself so far, perhaps he would just ignore —

"Eight-hundred and ninety seven of your Earth cycles."

"Cycles?" Did he mean years? That was such a high number if he did!

"A cycle is a year to you."

Compared to him, she was a mere infant! A speck in a timeline that greatly exceeded her own. She never imagined any one being could live so long, especially maintain the physique he had. If his species was so long-lived then surely he must've seen so many things in his long life. Such an existence must've been amazing!

"Wow. I'm only twenty-seven. I must be a freakin' child to you." She added a small short laugh.

"Your kind has different life spans than mine. I do not consider you a child. You are clearly sexually mature."

His straight forward words made her face heat up — no doubt her cheeks bright red as a result. "You do not mince words."

He shifted slightly and a funny feeling tickled the top of her head as he dragged her body higher up against him. It felt like fingers were playing with her hair as he chuckled. "Yautja are direct. We say what we mean." Again that weird feeling in her hair happened as she went to rub her rumbling belly; her body and baby were ready for food. "Do I embarrass you?"

"Yes. We humans are not so direct."

"I have noticed in my many years that your kind is unique. Long ago I believed your kind weak. In my youth I was unable to appreciate humans. At my current time in life, I have come to admire your kind." A hot puff of air warmed the crown of her head as his chest contracted against her, his hot skin keeping the chill away. Something that felt like tubes fell over her shoulder and exposed ear as he moved his head.

Did he have tentacles for hair? They didn't feel like tentacles but they were slightly cooler than his intense body heat. She heard a faint tinkling noise, similar to jewelry hitting each other like when they were dropped into a pile together. Did he wear jewelry in his hair they hadn't taken? The mystery of Rhage deepened with every new clue.

"I hope they bring food. The assholes need to realize I'm feeding two." Her stomach chose to snarl in protest.

"Do they not feed you?"

The assholes did, but sparingly. The health of her baby was potentially suffering because of them. "Yes and no. They've barely fed me lately. It makes me want to get out of here even more."

A sob rose from her chest at the utter helpless she felt about not being able to properly care for her child. She had no control over it. She didn't want the baby to suffer and its health be hindered because of it. "I feel like a terrible mom. I can't even properly feed him."

Artemis's chest rose and fell rapidly as she cried into Rhage's wide warm scaled chest. "Mate, it is not your fault. I will break us out of here and kill them all. You provide comfort and love to our pup and that is enough for now."

"I don't want to raise him in this place."

"They will try to take the pup, Artemis. I will prevent them." He assured, so full of confidence.

"I wish I wasn't so weak. That I could fight back and be strong for the baby." She wiped the fresh tears out of her eyes while a giant warm hand rubbed her back in gentle circles.

How could such a creature be so gentle?

• • •

Artemis believed herself weak.

Such a thing was preposterous. She was strong in his eyes. Other Yautja would see it. He had trained many youths in his years and he saw the warrior that she was.

One didn't have to kill to be a fierce warrior. They simply had to survive and face what was sent their way.

The female was not physically strong, yet she didn't have to be. Mentally she was strong. She carried the hybridization of an unknown alien species, decided to love the pup instead of resent it, and now willingly chose to lie with the very alien that fathered her pup — their pup.

Artemis was curious despite facing the unknown. The unknown literally being himself. He gathered that she was Earth-borne and had never left the soil of the planet. He was the first being not of this world that she had met and she met him head on. She embraced what was thrown her way. This human lived up to her mighty namesake. Their pup would be strong, a new being that would be a bridge of her strengths and his own.

"Artemis, you are strong. I am lucky to call you mate."

She sniffed, wiping her nose as she tried to find his face in the darkness. The top of her head rubbed against his lower mandibles, completely unaware that the sensation was pleasant to him. Giving up her search she asked the question that was clearly on her mind. "What do you mean by that? Mate?"

"You are mine and I am yours."

"Like...a couple?"

He thought through the intricacies of her culture to find the comparison. "Yes, exactly. I claim you as a mate and that gives you protection in my society."

Her head bobbed up and down in understanding. "I see..."

Rhage understood that in her culture relationships and couplings built over time. In his, however, it was different. Especially given his age, he rapidly came to the conclusion that once he escaped this place he was taking her with him and was going to publicly claim she was his. His status of Elder granted him power that the average Hunter and even the Elites didn't possess. Many respected him and they would have to accept and respect her.

He wouldn't be the first of his kind that took a human mate and he wouldn't be the last.

"I won't be able to go back to my old life, huh?" She was sad, melancholic about the life she once lived and never would again. In her womb she carried a being that her kind wouldn't rest until they took it with their greedy little hands.

"No. You will be safe. I will make you happy as best as I can provide for you and our pup."

"We barely know each other; not that I'm opposed to that."

Rhage nuzzled her head with his mandibles and purred. He could smell her anxiety. It was instinctual to purr when a female was in distress. So far it worked very well on the human. "I am aware. As you know, I have lived a long time and in that time I have learned to see what is a good thing; you being someone who I enjoy being near. Your presence is welcomed."

"I'm just me. I'm no one special, Rhage."

"Ah, but you are. To me you are. Trust my judgement." He made sure to enunciate his words carefully as those unwanted emotions swirled within.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to offend you, I just...I guess I don't think very highly of myself."

"We will work together to correct that. A battle of the mind is still a battle, a battle that can be won." Being careful to not accidentally scratch her, he moved his hand up and down her back in a calming manner he had seen females do with their young.

This seemed to help her calm down. She sighed softly.

He was happy she didn't oppose his touch. The one worry he had was when she saw his face. Anatomically their faces were very different. It was nice, however, that she had softened to his presence, seemingly no longer terrified. She would have to get used to it since they would share a nest together once they left this place.

Artemis would be his.