Artemis glared up at the ceiling of the medical bay as Tare read over the results of the scanner. The morning light bathed the dark ceiling in a warm golden glow. It also put the Elder Yautja to her side in partial shadow. Her mood wasn't helped by the sun nor the shadows.

She was still slightly sore in her privates thanks to Rhage's "apology" sex session that went on for hours until she was nothing but a mess of moans. The jerk had tried to make peace with her, to get her to "understand", but she wasn't having it. She felt a need to protect this unknown woman Dhare wanted to find.

Her out of control libido had set that back. Rhage had gotten a little angry when she didn't bow to his will that this was how it had to be. He roared at her, which for some insane reason turned her on and he fucked her into submission when she tried to storm out of the room.

Of course, she didn't make it far since he was faster than her slow waddle.

Out of the corner of her eye, as she lied on the examination table, she caught his eye. He smirked, a wicked gleam in his eyes.

Bastard, she scoffed mentally.

She had to look away from how nice the golden sunlight made his skin shimmer. He was too attractive for his own good. Thanks to being pregnant, and better late than never, her libido had skyrocketed over the past week. Every waking minute she was turned on.

Just meeting eyes with Rhage had her wanting to pounce him. He seemed to enjoy her bottomless sex drive. It was a wonder she hadn't killed him yet, but as per usual, nothing seemed to phase the love of her life.

One of her hands stroked her rounded swell, Orion having grown quickly over the past few weeks. It had been nearly a week since she discovered that Rhage had personally hunted T-Rexes.

Over that time, especially since returning from Saqqar, Orion had doubled his growth in her womb. Her skin was stretched and sensitive, the stretch marks marred her once clear skin, her feet hurt, her hips ached almost constantly, and she was constantly hungry. Being pregnant sucked.

His quick growth worried her. She worried if she'd even be able to give birth vaginally, much less to term. The baby had to be healthy and she didn't know what would happen if he wasn't.

Just lying there waiting forever for Tare to finish his calculations was driving her nerves up the wall. Her fight with Rhage was a low simmer compared to her worry about Orion. The medic was taking too long to come to a conclusion and her patience was running thin. It had already run thin.

"What is taking so long? It'll be Christmas by the time you're done." Artemis hissed, squirming on the table to get comfortable.

Tare continued to tap away at the screen while he answered, "Results unexpected."

The Elder Clan Leader straightened and moved to stand beside Tare so he, too, could read the symbols across the screen. His lime-green eyes squinting as he read over the words. The two Yautja were silent until Artemis groaned in frustration.

She struggled to sit up, the effort making her hips ache.

Rhage rushed to her when he noticed her pained expression. "Mi'esui, it is not what you think. The results show that you will have to be induced—"

"Induced? Why?"

Tare said something to Rhage and he translated for her, "You are small and the pup is growing too fast for there to be a safe delivery naturally. He also suggests a Cesarean section, a C-Section as your kind call it." He wrapped an arm around her and she immediately leaned into his chest while his free hand caressed her swell. Inside he could feel the pup move around, the little one eager for more room.

Artemis laid her hand on his, "Is he okay?"

Deep rumbling purrs from his chest helped to calm her a little. He nuzzled her head gently with the side of his face.

"Sei'i." Tare confirmed with a nod, once again pouring over the data.

She sighed in relief, "Good."

"Yautja young are not as small as human young at birth. They are...bigger. Your body may not be able to handle a natural birth like a Yautja female." Rhage continued for Tare. "The pup is fine, but it will be safer to induce and perform a Cesarean, love."

Her lips twisted at the thought of needing surgery. The baby's health was important, but the thought of surgery was daunting. She'd be left with a scar for sure, further adding to her growing self-consciousness.

Being naked around Rhage had become something that made her anxiety spike.

Of course, he was somehow the perfect gentleman. He liked to stroke her stretch marks with his claws and tell her how attractive they were.

"These are the mark of a bearer. To me they are a'ket'anu." He'd whisper, his breath hot against her skin as he held her while she cried.

"A'ket'anu?" Her tongue would test the words.

"Beautiful."

She'd cry even harder, but he would purr more and stroke her skin.

"Do not cry, my r'daya. This is but a short battle and you will emerge a'bhijit. Victorious."

Despite all his words, she felt the fear of a permanent scar marring her body. "It'll leave a nasty scar."

Rhage sighed, "Ki'cte, scars tell a life story and this one will be a reminder of this moment in your life." His locs fell across her shoulders as he leaned over her.

It felt nice to be surrounded by the comfort of his body. The sun shimmered against his scales, the sight pulling her from the negative thoughts that plagued her.

He was right. Besides, it was worth it. That scar would tell the story of Orion and years into the future she could tell him about it. It would be just as he said. Something that would tell her story.

"When will you need to do it?" She eyed Tare when she pulled away from Rhage enough to look at him, her loose hair falling down her back.

Tare eyed his screen, his mandibles tightening over his mouth as he thought. She noticed how the sunlight hit his dark scales and it looked nice, but not quite like her mate's.

"Three rotations."

Rhage cocked his head to the side, "She is accompanying me on the clan ship for the Queen hunt. You mean to tell me that she will also have the pup with us?"

He nodded, "Sei'i."

Her mate clicked to himself quietly, his hands moving to rub up and down Artemis's back gently. He looked between her and Tare seeming to come to an internal conclusion. His clouded blue and red tipped locs swayed about as he read the data Tare brought up on a hologram before the couple.

"Artemis," he turned to her, "do you consent?"

"Of course. Whatever is the best option."

Both nodded, relieved she easily agreed to it.

"Good. By the time we board for the Queen hunt we shall be holding our pup, mi'esui." Rhage nuzzled her head and palmed her swell.

Artemis felt better about the situation, already feeling some excitement about getting to meet Orion sooner that she had expected. Everything would be okay and in a few days she would be meeting the product of her and Rhage's genes.

He was conceived because of a lab, but he would be born of love.

"I also...recommend...bed rest until the operation. No rutting, either."

Both Rhage and Artemis groaned in frustration. The expecting mother was the first to complain, "Dammit, Tare!"

• • •

The screen on his desk flared to life as he put together the details of the Queen hunt. It had been a couple of hours since the visit with Tare about Orion and he couldn't put off work any longer.

A Queen hunt always came with extra work, especially this particular one. An allied clan was joining to test their Unblooded and afterwards they would throw a feast while the hunting grounds was prepped. There was much to get ready. He also had to meet with Rakar, the leader of the allied clan.

There had been some developments recently that had changed the Black Blade clan, the allied clan of Rakar's.

They had formally been actively hunting down hybrids. It didn't matter whether they were born of Yautja seed naturally or if mutated in a lab, they would be hunted and eliminated by special Arbitrators. This had been their way for as long as they had been a clan.

Some Yautja practiced something akin to Eugenics. There were clans that would cull Yautja that they deemed too weak and would geld them. This was their culling of the deformed, ill, mentally unhealthy, and so on.

Rhage had never agreed with such practices, nor did he condone the hunting of hybrids. Hybrids could offer something unique and new to the clan. To him they weren't abominations. He was glad to have discovered that one of the Black Blade clan members, Rakar's eldest pup Drogaxe, had taken one of these hybrids as his mate. A human who had been mutated in a lab, the very same that Artemis had been held in.

It was the same group of humans, just a different location apparently. He had done a little research into their data banks days prior upon returning to Yautja Prime.

Drogaxe's mate would be another person Artemis could rely on since she lived on the planet herself. The female had given him two pups so far; one male and one female. Both had turned out looking like Yautja.

A ping on his computing unit alerted him to someone requesting permission to come in. He didn't like being dragged from his wayward thoughts but reluctantly granted access.

The door slid open to reveal Kato. He walked in and fisted his chest while giving a respectful nod of his head, his locs falling about. To see Kato in his office so soon was a pleasant surprise.

"Kato, what brings you here?"

"I bring the information you requested. I made contact with Kar'tuk, the Chief Medic of the Black Blade clan and he gave some very insightful information on human-Yautja hybrids. A mid-wife female helped Drogaxe's mate during the birthing, her finds being that indeed hybrids are healthy offspring." Kato sat on one of the two chairs that faced Rhage's desk and passed the file from his tablet computer to his leader's with the push of a key.

Rhage sat straighter and read the information presented on the screen, his lime-green eyes missing nothing. "Good, good. This is what I hoped for."

Kato grunted an acknowledgement. "Rhage, if I may be so bold..."

The Elder Yautja clicked in question before nodding for the other Yautja to proceed.

"Are you worried that Orion will not be healthy or as strong as a full blooded Yautja?" Kato leaned forward to rest his elbows on his thighs as he met Rhage's gaze.

Rhage had indeed worried. It would be of no fault of Artemis if he was, but it was something that had concerned him. With the news of an allied clan having hybrids of their own, he would have others to speak to about it. He could have more information to better understand his youngest pup and how he would have to tweak his training when he was of age. Despite him not being fully Yautja, he would also have to undergo training just like every pup.

It was the way. Tradition.

"I am," he shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, "I fear the pup may struggle to beat his pupils in training. His very existence will present a challenge for him in our society."

"A challenge?"

He nodded, "He will be half-Yautja. He may not have our strength and durability. He may be more like my mate."

Kato huffed, "From what I have learned, Drogaxe's hybrid mate is something fierce. A huntress herself. She was trained for combat and brings strength to her mate's clan. Orion will do the same. His uniqueness will better us all."

"You have kind words, Kato. There is a reason why I like to keep you around so much." Chuckled Rhage, his claws tapping on the desk.

"I keep a tight ship, my leader."

"That you do." He agreed, "I did, however, hear of your own mating with Tare. I pray to Kayana that your match is pleasant?"

The grey and blue Yautja chittered, his hollow cheeks turning a shade of dark green as he averted his eyes briefly. "Sei'i. I could not have asked for a better life mate. We both have many pups in our bloodline so we are quite content with each other."

Rhage liked the sound of that. A happy mated couple was always good news. Mated pairs being happy with one another helped to strengthen the clan.

"How are things with Artemis? I pray she is not still angry with you?" He cocked his head to the side with a playful gleam in his eyes.

The Elder Yautja chuffed, "She is a kind human with a strong sense of right and wrong. In a few days she will simply get over it, per usual. My weakness enjoys challenging me. This tiny human is strong willed."

Kato chuckled as he rose to his feet. "You will do well to make her happy once more."

"I have my ways. In the nest she falls to her own body's desires." Rhage smirked, "A compromise will arise once she has the pup."

Once again Kato chuckled in amusement, "I bet." He started to back towards the door as he spoke. "I must attend to some things, but I hope you find all that I obtained useful."

"Of course. I will alert you if I need any more information. Good night cycle, Kato."

"And to you." The door slid closed after the wide Yautja as he left the office.

Rhage looked back towards his screen and truly studied all the information. He was content knowing that Orion would be a promising pupil when he was of age. The pup would have his own unique skill set that would be found and honed upon.

Unlike other clans, Rhage saw potential in every pup. If one was weak in one skill, then another could be used to compensate and they would learn to find their own style of hunting.

Even though Artemis and he had spoken about it, he knew she still had fears about the pup's future safety. With him personally training his pup outside of his learning group, Orion would achieve greatness. He would have been made by a lab experiment, but he would be born of love and make the clan better. Their pup would have difficulty fitting in but was just another test for him to pass.

Rhage continued to pour through the information until it was late in the evening. He retired for the night and made his way towards his dwelling.

The lights were off as usual for this time of night and the dwelling quiet. The only sounds there was were the two heartbeats coming from the nesting room. Just hearing those familiar sounds was relieving. All was good and well, just as he liked it.

He decided to put away his armor and cape in the nesting room so he could watch his mate sleep. Inside he found her where she liked to sleep, curled up on her side in the middle. Very carefully he removed his armor piece by piece and placed it in the compartments that popped out of the wall. Once they were all secure, he removed his cape, folding it neatly and placing it in its own compartment.

The silvery rays of the room cast streaks of light across the room and his mate. Shadows played, hiding some of her features. He always liked how the moon seemed to make her skin even lighter, even despite the slight tan she had from their brief stay on Saqqar.

She was radiant as always.

She didn't stir as he climbed into the nest beside her and held her against his chest. Her soft puffs of air through her nose warmed his thick hide while she unconsciously nuzzled him. Seeing her crave his nearness was endearing and he swore he would never tire of it. His mate favored cuddling like a pup but he didn't mind, he had come to crave it as well.

Her skin was so soft compared to his scaly hide. He quite liked the contrast.

With that thought in mind, he let slumber bring him into the gentle darkness.

😁