Dhare snarled as he read over the latest message from the leader of the Desert Clan. The words weren't many but they were enough to make him pound his fist into the table, the metal groaning beneath the force of the hit.

The Desert Clan continued to make negotiations difficult. They were dead set on trying to piss off his sire and the council of his clan it seemed. His sire Rhage was already close to ending the peace agreement and going to war but Dhare had talked him out of it. The usual calmness his sire conveyed had lessened considerably, especially since bringing home a human life mate — his temper from youth had returned.

With the ongoing talks with the Desert Clan, tensions between them was at an all time high. War was certainly inevitable if the two alpha male Clan Leaders continued to have their cock measuring contest from afar.

Being peacemaker was Dhare's specialty, but these days he felt useless. There wasn't much that could be done other than trying to come up with something both sides could agree on, a compromise of some sort. The Desert Clan demanded hunting rights to a game preserve planet called Orumack, but his sire's clan, the Blue Spear Clan, seeded and tended to it since it was terraformed some hundreds of thousands of cycles ago. The Blue Spear Clan had ownership of the planet itself, something Rhage wasn't giving up. Orumack was part of the hunting grounds for the clan's youth training. It couldn't be handed over.

He contemplated what to do as Khaj entered the room, holding a drinking vessel in each hand with what smelled like c'ntlip. It was ironic, seeing how at that moment Dhare craved a hearty drink to calm himself.

"Have a drink with me, Dhare. You look like you need one, my friend." Khaj set the metal container on the table beside Dhare as he came to stand adjacent to him, his eyes focusing on the offending message.

"I appreciate your kindness." He took a long draft from the vessel, licking away the remnants in his mouth. "The Desert Clan is a bunch of savage idiots! It is like they wish war upon them!"

Khaj grunted as he drank from his own vessel, "Perhaps we can allow them to hunt on Orumack for a few months out of the year? That could be the solution." His dreads framed his face as he leaned over the table to inspect the satellite images of the aforementioned planet, the lit up display making his yellow and grey scales shine.

The planet was a game preserve that had been terraformed many generations ago to be the perfect environment for the species they had brought there. It was a tropical but mild jungle environment, perfect for the reptilian species that now called it home. Since the planet had been seeded with the species that dominated it now, the Blue Spear Clan trained their pups for several weeks out of a cycle there. They were trained in various techniques important to the Hunt such as evasion, stealth, and etcetera.

Scratching his neck in contemplation Dhare only grunted.

Pleasing his sire was his only desire, besides preventing a pauking war. The second part was the most frustrating.

He hated war.

It was unnecessary. A waste of resources in some primitive pissing contest that was usually over something stupid. The idea of a peaceful existence with only the Hunt to think about was nonexistent; a fantasy at best. Times such as this made him seriously reconsider taking up the opportunity to have a seat on the council. He was about the age when other males had litters of pups with various females, ensuring their bloodline and genes would pass down.

Dhare wanted more.

He couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy towards his sire Rhage. Having a life mate usually changed nothing but it had in his sire's case. There was a gentleness that he used with Artemis, the little human more than willing to be by his side.

"You could be onto something, Khaj. We could give them a permit to utilize the planet for hunting but with stipulations in order to make them uphold their part of the bargain. We allow them to share the planet for a few months' time in exchange for access to the trade routes and benefits of being officially allied with us." Dhare finished the drink in one gulp and folded his arms across his chest, his eyes focused on the maps as Khaj moved to stand beside him.

Khaj finished his own and slapped Dhare on the shoulder, a thick arm wrapping around the neck of his friend to pull him closer. "Dhare, you are the brains of this council. We are lucky to have you, friend."

Dhare scoffed, pulling himself free from the Yautja that couldn't take his alcohol as well as he. "We both know the ones with all the brains are Kato and Rhage, split about evenly both ways."

The tipsy Yautja grumbled an agreement as Dhare made his way out of the room, telling Khaj to not puke on his plans.

It was the night cycle so the halls were mostly empty save for a few of the crew still on duty. The halls were dimly lit and quiet, just how he liked it.

Silence was a welcome friend. Much more so than the violence that often plagued the lifestyle of his species. Just being by himself was preferable; he was always the loner pup in training.

Even long strides of his legs soon brought him to his favorite spot. When looking out the viewing deck one could see the stars almost three-hundred and sixty degrees around outside the floor to ceiling windows. Benches circled the perimeter close to the windows where one could sit and observe.

It was too bad the source of his jealousy sat on a bench already watching the passing nebulae, her long dark hair cascading down her back. She wore a loose fitting top and bottoms that showed her fleshy thighs.

Dhare pondered whether he should just return to his quarters for the night. His hands fisted at his sides as he debated on what he should do. The smell of his sire filled the room. He didn't want his scent mixing with hers and give the wrong idea as to their closeness without him present. A few death threats would come his way. He was an honorable male and would never touch what wasn't his, he—

"Dhare! Come sit with me."

C'jit.

The human decided for him. She patted the bench space next to her with a soft smile as she looked up at him.

Inwardly he snarled as he came to sit next to her, making sure their skin didn't touch. He felt like a pouting pup all over again. Sitting so close to her was making his nerves stand on edge. Everything that could go wrong came across his mind as he sat there staring out into space.

"Are you feeling okay, Dhare?"

Her soft query pulled him from his worrisome thoughts. He turned to look down at her as she looked up at him with...worry? Why was she worried about him?

"I am fine. Tired. That is all." He folded his arms across his chest and sat straighter.

Artemis cocked her head before nodding, "Sleep does wonders, you know."

He grunted, "I am aware, human."

She frowned, poking him gently in the arm with her pointer finger. "Hey mister, on my world I am considered your step-mom. My name is Artemis, Dhare."

Pissing her off certainly wasn't on the agenda. Letting it get back to his father wasn't either. Sighing to himself he decided to play nice after all.

"Artemis, I am far older than you in age. How could you possibly be considered my step-mom? We are not related, either." Her silly human culture was strange and confusing, but he couldn't help his curiosity. He hardly had the chance to actually sit down and learn about her. Rhage was a constant walking reminder that no one should touch his mate or get close to her lest they lose a limb.

She giggled, the sound making him click in intrigue. "We don't have to be related. It's used when a woman marries a partner who already has children. She's considered the step-mother, an additional mother to help raise them. It's tradition. This tradition makes you my step-son, meaning you are technically now my son since I am with your father." A small smile spread across her face as she gazed up at him.

Dhare understood the term now that she had so kindly explained it, but it was still strange.

"Now, for you being much older...I don't mind. It just means that I could learn things from you as well."

"Learn things from me?"

She smiled wider, bobbing her head up and down. "There is always more to learn from those who have lived longer."

He mulled it over, glancing from the stars to her as he leaned his forearms on his knees. She looked genuine in her expression and eagerness. He was seeing firsthand why his sire chose her and became his weakness. There was a gentle nature about Artemis that he hadn't seen in many humans.

"I would like to learn something from you, Artemis." He cocked his head in question, clicking his tusks together rapidly. That had him thinking of a question he had that had long burned on his tongue and he was certain it had on others.

"Sure. Ask away."

"Why have you and my sire not rutted? Do you not find my sire a worthy male?"

Her cheeks turned that bright pink he had seen so often when she was embarrassed, shy, or even worried. The color change was fascinating and such a human oddity. He wondered why this occurred and how. Of course this was a thought for another day as she looked away in thought.

"Dhare...I find Rhage a more than worthy male. He is very good to me, more than I deserve." Those dark blue orbs were distant, not here.

"Then why not rut?"

The color intensified, "I...uhh...we're getting there. It's embarrassing to talk about it..."

He scoffed, shaking his head, "How come? Rutting is natural. There is nothing embarrassing about it, you—"

"Yautja pack a lot more than human males...if you get my meaning."

Scratching his neck, he cast his eyes to the side before turning back to her with a smirk. "Oh yes, ki'sei. A human male will never please you like a Yautja male. That was something I had not thought of."

"Heh...yeah..."

Seeing that he was embarrassing her he decided to change the subject back to the step-mother topic. He still wanted to learn as much as he could about it and what she meant.

"Dhare...can I ask for a big favor from you?" The change on her voice made him turn towards her, angling his body to face her.

He wondered what was wrong and why the sudden change. "Of course. What is the matter, Artemis?"

Her small hands caressed her pregnant swell gently, love in her eyes as she watched her hands before meeting his golden gaze. Worry filled her eyes. "I would like you to be the godfather. In my culture...when a baby is born someone is asked to be the god-

mother or the godfather."

"Why? What is the purpose of such a title?"

"It means that if something were to happen to Rhage and I, then you would protect and raise the child in our stead. Since you're family and Rhage's favorite then I would be honored if you were the baby's godfather. It would mean the world to me, Dhare." She smiled so sadly that Dhare wondered if her eyes would start to leak as he had seen before.

He glanced down to where his new sibling, half sibling, was growing inside. There was no doubt that he wouldn't protect the pup since it was family. It was related to his father, therefore he was obligated to look out for the pup into adulthood.

Dhare purred as he observed Artemis. It was a few moments before he decided to answer her.

"Yes. I will protect the pup. My half sibling is related by blood which means he or she will automatically be protected by not only me but also my many other siblings." He stated matter of factly. That pup would have many protectors and would always be looked out for, even in the event of both his sire's and Artemis's sudden passing.

He stiffened when the female suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist. The action was unexpected and brought back that worry he had of their scents mixing. Luckily it was over quickly, much to his relief.

"Thank you, Dhare." She sighed contentedly, "It's nice to have family again. People to rely on."

Family.

He hadn't thought of her like that until now. Getting to sit down and talk to her, despite the dangers, had been worth it. Artemis was family since she was mated with his sire and would give birth to his pup in a few months' time, bringing a new sibling to the world.

A hybrid. A hybrid that would be a first for the clan.

"Yes. Family."

"Am I making you uncomfortable? You seem...tense." She put some space between them with a nervous smile that had his chest burning in guilt.

He couldn't lie to her. He didn't want to. She was family. Just as she said.

Dhare shook his head no, his locs swaying about his shoulders and making his dreadloc jewelry tinkle together. "A little." He exhaled a puff of air, "Yautja males are territorial with their life mates. My scent mixing with yours may give him the wrong idea."

Her eyebrows knitted together as her face furrowed. "He knows I'm committed to him. That's insane!" She folded her arms across her chest. "If he gives you trouble then I'll just make him leave you alone."

He actually chuckled at that. As if a little human could make his sire do anything!

"You may try. My sire delivered beatings well into my adulthood, but when it comes to you? Ha! I may likely never be able to move again!"

Artemis joined him in laughter, a smile on her pale face, warmth burning in her blue eyes. "I will personally kick his ass if he does beat you."

Dhare laughed at the thought of the tiny human taking on his sire in combat. He guessed that her form of combat would take place in the nest, judging by the smirk on her face.

"That would be most amusing."

"Since he and I have very different opinions on parenting he will have to accept defeat when it comes to that argument. I will win." She huffed triumphantly, her little fists on her hips as she stuck her nose in the air.

"Win what, mate?"

Dhare stopped laughing and froze, slowly turning to see Rhage standing a few feet away. Ice filled his veins as he noted the way his sire's eyes narrowed when they fell upon him as he looked between Artemis and him.

Artemis rose to her feet and pointed a little finger towards Dhare, "He said you would beat him for being near me. How could you hit your own son?"

She huffed as she cocked an eyebrow at Rhage who stood there with surprise in his eyes. He straightened his back and approached, his steps heavy across the metal floor. His sire came to tower over the little female and the still seated Dhare.

"That is how we teach the pups right from wrong. There is nothing wrong with a good whipping, love." Despite his voice softening slightly, she still glared daggers at him, something that Dhare would never try.

He'd be skinned if he had ever done such a thing. Artemis wasn't his pup, though, she was his life mate.

His hands clenched as he rose to his feet to put distance between Artemis and Rhage, but he didn't make it far when his sire snarled for him to stop. "Where do you think you are going? Why are you with Artemis?" This time he spoke in their native tongue.

Dhare cursed inwardly as he turned back to face his sire. He hated how he was made to feel like a pup under the neon-green gaze of the Elder Yautja.

"I was only getting to know Artemis. She asked me to join her to watch the stars. Nothing else."

"Hey! You two! English!" Artemis tugged on Rhage's arms while she tried to get their attention.

Rhage turned to Artemis and sighed audibly, "I will not beat Dhare. I will remind you, mate, that that is the norm in our culture."

She only seemed to get angry, actually angry. The sight reminded Dhare of an angry hound pup learning aggression. Her tiny stature made it downright comical. He watched curiously as she tore his sire a new one. It was mildly satisfying to see someone stand up to his sire the way she did.

"I don't believe in corporal punishment. This one," she continued, pointing at her swell, "will not be getting spanked. Not while I still breathe air."

Dhare wondered if Rhage would say he could "correct that". He had been told the same thing more times than he could count when he was a pup himself. Admittedly he wasn't the most well behaved back then.

"Artemis, beatings help to straighten pups. They learn the hard way to do as they are told. This pup will learn the same way, as all the ones before have." He shrugged as if it was no big deal but it was obviously a big deal to Artemis. Dhare could see that in her reaction. The hurt and anger on her face was one he hadn't seen on the human before.

It seemed to affect his sire when he put his hands up as he attempted to soften the blow of his words.

"Parenting is about compromise, Rhage, and I say no corporal punishment."

Dhare couldn't help but flinch at the venom laced in her words. He had never heard her speak in such a way. It was shocking. Unexpected. Unexpected for both he and his sire.

"That is no compromise, but an absolute, mate." Rhage countered.

With a growl, Artemis stormed from the room mumbling curses under her breath. Her mood had changed so fast neither Yautja reacted right away, both confused. It was Rhage who broke from the trance first to glare daggers at Dhare.

C'jit. Cetanu, take me now!

He sighed wishing he had stayed to get drunk with Khaj. That was more preferable than the shitstorm he was about to deal with.

"I believe you have triggered a mood swing brought on by pregnancy hormones, sire." Dhare thought that was the only reasonable explanation. He hadn't meant to set Artemis off and start a fight between his sire and her. That was now his problem. One that was making Rhage growl at him for.

"You will receive no reprimand. Why are you not working on negotiations?"

"That is the thing..." He scratched his neck nervously before telling his sire what the Desert Clan had demanded and what he and Khaj had thought of as a solution.

Rhage calmed down considerably as he listened. "Hmm. We can discuss this with the rest of the council come dayrise. Now, thanks to you, I have to calm down Artemis. You are lucky, pup, that she pleaded for you." With a final growl he too left the room in a huff.

Dhare sat heavily onto the bench rubbing his eyes, wondering how the night had come to this mess.

Oh right. It was those pauking Desert Clan savages pauking everything up! He thought.

He groaned as the day's fatigue finally started to set in. Instead of sleeping he wanted another drink with Khaj. Or maybe to go home to a life mate of his own that he could argue with and have some make up rutting when all was calm.

Nah, pauk that. Females are too hormonal.

With that thought he went to find Khaj to see about getting a few more vessels of c'ntlip.

😄