•

Unlike Earth, Saqqar had two planets in the night sky. One resembled Jupiter with its rings around the circumference and then there was the moon, sending rays of silvery light down upon the sandy surface. There was no light pollution to cloud the night sky full of stars, unlike Earth. Many things were different than Earth, but that was the fun of it all.

With Rhage, Artemis would see so many worlds that were vastly different from her own. The universe was vast. It was overwhelming but exciting!

Artemis sat on the balcony of her and Rhage's quarters watching the night sky. It was hours after the...eventful...meal with Zen'tukte. Just hours ago she had threatened a Yautja without a second thought; as if he wasn't someone that could easily rip her in half. Doing such a thing was very unlike her. Threatening others had never been in her thoughts — something she didn't even attemp, if ever.

The slight chill in the air helped to pull her away from those negative thoughts and focus on the view. She didn't want to go back inside yet so she rubbed her arms up and down while curling into as small a ball as she could given her rounded tummy.

It didn't help much.

Her teeth were about to start chattering when a wall of heat surrounded her from behind. Familiar arms wrapped around her body to pull her further into the warmth, his heated flesh a welcome reprieve from the biting chill of the air. Rumbling purring filled the silence as he held her close, his legs coming into view as he stretched them out in front of them. A few of his clouded blue and red tipped locs fell over her shoulders as she leaned back into his wide chest. Feeling his rough heated flesh against hers was comforting.

"Mate, why do you sit outside in the cold?" He inquired, nuzzling the top of her head with his mandibles.

Artemis sighed contentedly, "I've never seen such a night sky before. It's...awesome." She couldn't help but smile. Her life had come to this and she only felt happiness.

He grunted an acknowledgement, "I worry you will freeze."

"Pfft. Babe, I'm fine. I have my living heater."

Rhage clicked in confusion.

"It means you're keeping me warm, like a heater."

"Ah."

He was quiet as she admired the splendor in the night sky. Viewing it was a bittersweet moment, but the feeling of being snuggled by Rhage helped to keep her grounded in the present.

"When I was little my dad and I would drive to a place where light didn't obstruct the view of the sky. The cities on Earth are so bright that you can't see the night sky so...clearly." Warmth blossomed in her chest as she remembered the ghost of yesteryear. "He would lay down a few blankets in the bed of his pickup truck and we would watch the night sky. I learned where the Big Dipper was and learned of Virgo, Pisces, and many others. For just a few hours we would lie and stare in wonder. I like to think that somehow he was able to join the constellations where he would watch over me. That he would always be there. Reminding me at every step to be strong, to rise above the darkness just like the heroes in the Greek myths had — like my namesake even."

Artemis had almost forgotten what he looked like. His smile was nothing but a blur of flesh and greying facial hair. Even her mom's face was nothing but a blur...a ghost that flickered in and out of focus entirely. Seeing the night sky was a treasure that she would hold with her to remember the past.

Behind her Rhage was silent, his purring very soft now; almost gently soothing her pain.

"You were very brave today. I let my displeasure with Zen'tukte cloud my mind with...anger. For that, I am sorry." His hands caressed her swell as he leaned over her.

"I understand, love. He's an asshole. What I don't understand is...where did all that come from?"

He clicked in thought, the sound rumbling behind her. "In my youth I was plagued with a need to prove myself. Being the eldest pup of my sire meant that I would have to ascend as the leader in his place once he was too old. With time I learned how to control the thirst for blood and violence, but ever since I met you it has resurfaced. With you I feel more than I have felt in centuries. I am left to bare my neck as I come to accept feeling anything but a desire for the Hunt."

She nodded in understanding, "I'm sorry, love."

Rhage nuzzled her with the side of his face and trailed his claws gently down her arm, the blunt sides rough against her flesh. He loved to pet her it seemed.

"Do not apologize. You have taught me much in the art of feeling. I am grateful." A huff of breath fanned across the top of her head, "When I watched you stand up to a room full of Yautja with no fear, I was reminded of how much I have changed for the better."

"Changed for the better?"

"Sei'i, I am like a pup learning to handle my emotions once again. You help me just by being here, in my arms."

Artemis rubbed her hand up and down his thick arm, the rough scales of his hide warm beneath her fingers. He purred as she worked to soothe him as he did her. "You help me, too, you know."

"How?"

"I've never been a confrontational person or one I consider 'strong', but by being with you...I feel like I can be. Me, a human, threatened a room full of beings who can snap me in half like a toothpick if they wanted to. I didn't even think about the dangerous implications of it. I had enough of the bickering and just did it. No second thoughts." She shrugged, a short laugh leaving her mouth.

A rumbly grunt vibrated her back as he moved to pet her other arm. His scent filled her nose, that smoky and spicy musk clouding her senses. He smelled so good that it was hard to think.

"We make each other stronger. Stronger together."

She chuckled, "Yeah, stronger together."

Rhage made to pull his hand away from her arm but she grabbed it and stroked his knuckles. Each one was rigid and felt like stone beneath her light tough. It was as if he'd injured them so much that his bones had thickened and hardened there somehow. They were also heavily scarred.

Bringing his large hand up to her mouth she trailed little kisses along his knuckles. Soft trills of pleasure filled her ears at her touch. She hadn't touched him there before like that and wanted to eventually explore more of him, his body showing a clear road map of his life.

"My dad's favorite constellation was Orion. Do you know about Orion, Rhage?" Artemis asked as he offered his other hand, her immediately obliging him and giving his other knuckles attention, too.

"H'ko."

She smiled. His English slipped up when he was distracted, usually by her petting or exploring his body. She found it adorable.

"Orion was a hunter. The son of the Greek sea god Poseidon and Euryale, the daughter of King Menos of Crete. He went to Crete to hunt with the goddess Artemis and her mother Leto. Orion was so excited that he boasted he would kill every animal in the world, which angered the goddess of the Earth, Gaia. In her anger she sent a giant scorpion to kill him, and succeed it did." Her fingers examined his claws closely as she told the tale, enjoying the purrs and trills he emitted. "Artemis and Leto were upset and asked Zeus to place Orion, their fellow hunter, in the sky, thus turning him into a constellation."

"This kv'var-de was...not disciplined." Rhage commented.

"He let his ego get the better of him."

Rhage pulled up the loose top she wore to caress her swell, his heated skin chasing away the goosebumps. Their child kicked and moved around inside as he left heated trails in the wake of his fingers across her bared flesh. He quite liked the stretch marks that had become more prominent, thanks to the growth of the unborn fetus. Reminding their child that he was there seemed to be another favorite pastime.

"Orion. The pup will be Orion and he will best this human hunter."

She contemplated his garbled words and placed her hand over his. She quite liked the name for the baby. It reminded her of her dad in a way.

Rhage continued, "The pup's name will honor your sire's legacy and his stories passed down."

"I like that name for him." Warmth flooded her body as she felt happiness like she had never experienced before. The name was perfect, even if the mythical figure had failed in his battle, it was still a good name to remember her dad by. "I love you, Rhage."

"I love you, my little flower."

They sat together for a while longer until Artemis felt her eyes begin to grow heavy. At some point she was sure she fell asleep but awoke to find herself in his arms and once again she fell under. The third time she found herself in bed surrounded by warmth from all sides and the large hand of her mate resting on the bed before her, his chest rising and falling rhythmically against her back. He gently purred as she stretched her legs to get comfortable beside him.

"Slumber. We have a big day tomorrow, mate." His whisper was soft in her ear as he let out a long exhale. She shivered at the warmth of his breath across the top of her head.

"Mmkay..."

She welcomed the sweet embrace of sleep as he purred more from behind her.

• • •

The two god-like figures clashed in flesh and bone in the sand. Both warriors clawed and pounded each other, a quick flurry of rapid attacks that made the opponent grunt when a hit landed. Neon green blood bathed the ground and more was added to it with every swipe of claws through thick scaled flesh. It was savage and brutal. Each opponent was tiring and pretty soon it was just one still standing; the other lying in the sand unable to get up on his own.

Artemis watched with Rhage and the others as throughout the past few hours Yautja had sparred in a circular arena down below. She sat in a large chair to Rhage's right with Dhare on her own right and the council members standing around her in a wall of muscled scaly flesh. The canopy above them helped to block out the blinding rays of the sun despite their perch in a closed off portion of the stands.

She had never seen the Yautja fight each other before. The sight was a good reminder of just how capable the species was in combat, the aliens using their bodies to the limit. It kind of reminded her of ancient gladiator fights in Rome.

In these fights they didn't aim to kill, unlike Rome, however. They fought as some sort of training amongst each other in a friendly sport similar to mixed martial arts fights back home. When one became the clear winner, he helped his opponent to his feet to clap him on his shoulder, just as the two who just fought were currently doing.

The stands, full of Yautja, roared and beat their chests in a primitive version of clapping. She observed and watched — such a savage display was exciting.

Rhage spoke with Zen'tukte as another Yautja entered the ring, one of the Desert Clan Yautja clad in only a red loincloth that contrasted against his mottled dark brown and sandy yellow hide. He was relaxed as they spoke with one another. The two were getting along.

Thank goodness! She thought.

Zen'tukte had given a tour of the village after breakfast and had been surprisingly kind. He had made it a point to be civil before her, the giant orange, red, and white Yautja quiet even.

It seemed odd how nice this supposed savage was. Everything she had been told now circulated in her mind with doubts about it all. Had he changed his ways since Rhage's last visit?

She hoped so. For Rhage's sake.

Her man had pouted like a literal child that morning when she reminded him to behave. The sight was adorable and she had giggled, the sound causing him to snap and drag her back to bed where he wrung multiple orgasms out of her. This big brute of a male was putty to any sound she made. It didn't help that she found she liked it when he smacked her ass, the act making her moan involuntarily each time.

Poor Rhage was a tightly wound ball just waiting to fall apart.

At the moment he was in business mode, though, his eyes everywhere while he conversed with Zen'tukte. Seeing that he was busy, she decided to ask Dhare her questions, not wanting to interrupt Rhage. She didn't know what they were saying. It could've been something important for all she knew.

"Dhare..." Artemis turned to the younger Yautja beside her, his dark green, yellow, and cream patterned scales glistening like jewels in the sunlight. He had forgone his mask to let the sun bathe his face and body in the heated rays of the sun that poked through the canopy.

His golden gaze slid her way upon addressing him. "Yes, Artemis?"

"Is this kind of...sparring...normal? People just fight each other for entertainment?" She cocked her head to the side, nodding towards the fighting pair down below pummeling each other into the sand.

He grunted, "Sei'i. This is an opportunity to attract a female to mate with, as well."

Artemis hadn't missed the many female Yautja dispersed throughout the crowd, their bigger and slender forms standing out among the smaller males. The women of Rhage and Dhare's species were huge! She was sure she had seen a few that would easily tower over her own mate. Every male kept their distance or made a wide berth when a female made her way in or out of the crowd. Seeing them made her question how they let the males take them without consent.

She wasn't one to victim blame. She felt like something was missing.

"If the women are bigger than the men, then how does it happen that they take them without consent?" She kept her voice low and leaned toward Dhare, hoping the Desert Clan leader wouldn't hear her over the cacophony of roars shouting in shared glee at the obvious victor of the current spar.

Dhare turned his full attention to her and chittered in contemplation, his locs falling forward as he leaned closer to her.

"Drugs."

Her blood went cold and she couldn't help the sick feeling in her gut. It was like a knot twisting. She felt nothing but a quiet hurt for the females who had suffered.

Dhare looked on in quiet contemplation as he watched her sort through the reaction. His predatory golden gaze noticed Rhage glancing her way, the acrid scent of her emotions catching the attention of the Yautja around them. Her hands were fisted in her lap as she stared into nothing.

Only when she had tampered down the flurry of her emotions did she respond, her voice low. "I'm glad that stipulation was included...the one where they can no longer do such a thing or forfeit their sharing of that planet." Her voice was cold and icy, a smile that didn't reach her eyes stretching her lips. She shot that same cold smile towards Zen'tukte when he glanced her way during the continued conversation with Rhage.

She was glad to have worn a red dress today, because at the moment she felt alive with fire in her chest. Red was the perfect color to compliment her mood. Perhaps even black would've been nice.

Rubbing her rounded tummy helped to calm down her nerves. Feeling the baby kick from within helped.

Orion.

The name Rhage had decided upon was perfect. It was a hunter's name, even if she was worried about his future life and the dangers that would be present. That motherly bond tightened and strengthened, the love for him already strong. She was counting the days she could meet him.

Thinking about it helped to distract her from the horrible news of how females were treated on Saqqar. At least, already anyways, it wouldn't happen anymore or they would not be able to utilize the trade routes of the planet used for training.

"Mate, is everything alright?" Rhage stroked her arm gently with a finger.

Turning to him she allowed warmth to fill her gaze upon looking at him. Her fingers gripped his affectionately, enjoying the texture of his scales. She liked the contrast between their skin textures.

She nodded, "Yeah."

His eyes narrowed slightly. He wasn't stupid and clearly saw her lie, but he let it go, thankfully. "I will coax it out of you...in private."

The lime-green eyes of his darkened considerably with dark...intimate...promises. A coil tightened in her loins, no doubt her scent wrecking the sensitive olfactory senses of the aliens around her.

A few of her bodyguards twitched, their stoic stances wavering slightly. Dhare even moved his seat a whole step away. Khaj chuffed and discreetly left, his hands fisted at his sides. Her scent even affected Zen'tukte who drank in the smell like a thirsting animal that had gone too long without a drink.

Artemis was unaware of what was going on with the aliens near her since her attention had gone back to the sparring Yautja pair in the arena.

• • •

Rhage watched his mate swirl the colors around the stone surface. A vibrant gathering of colors spanned the wide portrait, the picture slowing coming into focus as he watched her show the aseigan a technique. The heavily scarred and disfigured male watched her movements with absolute focus. If he had known she was talented in such an art he would've showered her in gifts to partake in it.

They had been walking through the village exploring, per her request, when her attention had been drawn to the disfigured aseigan struggling with a piece being painted on a stone wall. Artemis's eyes had lit up and she immediately enlisted herself to help the small male. Upon seeing her and Rhage, he had tried to leave out of respect but she had stopped him with a gentle smile. It was clear the male knew no English so Rhage translated for her.

He kept close despite knowing the wretch wouldn't try anything. Aseigan were Yautja who were servants, right above eta in the hierarchy, which were slaves. The Yautja knew Rhage was very high in the hierarchy, his clouded dreads and fading colors paired with his blue cape screamed Elder. Capes were worn by Clan Leaders to differentiate themselves from others. His blue one was also further indication that fucking with him specifically could bring consequences to the Desert Clan, which most likely, would be a death sentence to an aseigan.

Their lives mattered very little. Their lives were but another cog in the wheel of society. Crushing them beneath the heel was all they deserved.

This one, that so carefully observed the love of his life was a young one; most likely one who failed to pass his chiva and had lived. A life of servitude was merciful to those like him. Despite their life meaning nothing to other Yautja, at least they could prove themselves useful somehow, despite the shame they brought upon the clan and their sire or bearer.

Rhage had intentionally avoided bringing up the aseigan and eta. Her reaction was not going to be pleasant when the time came for her questions. Slavery was accepted and normal among his kind...but it was long done away with in hers.

For now, he was content to let her enjoy the moment.