And we're back!

Max trailed his thumb over the dip in the head of the kiande amedha skull. That had been the point where the tip of his combitstick had perforated the beast's head and killed it.

That had been his first kill, his first hunt. It had allowed him to become a true hunter, to pass on into the reach of adulthood by Yautjan standards.

And that had happened some six years ago, though it felt like yesterday.

So much time had passed, yet it was still fresh on his mind. Max remembered his father's many and continuous warnings, he had told him several times that he would have needed to be careful in order to survive the hive.

Max had completed his first hunt in good health, minus the couple of gashes that he had received when slaying the serpent. He had never seen his father look so relieved as when he returned to Yaut victoriously with the other unbloods.

After that, he had sought to try and understand why his father had been so worried... and it was his honored mate that had confided his past to him. Max smiled a little, for he did miss Mhei's company as well.

She had never been a mother to him... not in a traditional sense at least, but the Primal Huntress has always cared for him, helped him grow, study and train, as well as offer advice whenever he asked for it. She had held him close at times, personally looked after him when he was sick and preoccupied herself with his upbringing.

Yes, she had never filled out the role as a mother to him formally, but she practically had done it in all other ways, and the bond that had grown out of it was proof of it. The female considered him to be a part of her family even if he had not come from her womb. Truly, Max could have not asked for a better huntress and mentor to guide him alongside his father.

Naturally, Zeri was more openly affectionate and she often referred to him as her young mei'hswei, or brother... even Mhei's own bearer and the High Matriarch had come to accept him and he was given the confirmation of this when the matron came to personally give him her blessing on his First Hunt and that was truly a great honor.

And then he had left... after a heartfelt goodbye, he had purchased a ship, moved the few personal possessions that he had into it and left Yaut to hunt on his own, to carve out his own path, just like his father had before him.

And what a life it was: the hunter who had once been a boy was traveling the stars, participating in large hunts and acquiring more trophies. Max liked the thrill that came out of the hunt, he enjoyed it... and that was something that his father enjoyed as well.

He knew that his life was special and as such he was extremely grateful for having it. Max had gone through the same process that his father had done once he had returned to Yaut, as in he had warped his physical body to evolve and improve like that of a Yautja.

He was taller now, standing at a little over seven feet. Since his father was not his biological relative, he had not inherited his towering height or his staggeringly impressive strength, but what Max had gained of his own was swiftness and speed.

That said, it still bothered him a little bit that his father was still faster than him by a large margin and he could simply not keep up with either him or his honored mate. The Primal Hunter has simply chuckled and told him that it was to be expected, because he was still very young by the average lifespan of a Yautja.

He would grow stronger and faster with age and the experience that he would gain would help him greatly.

And this was exactly what he was doing now: traveling the galaxies and making a name for himself, therefore following in his father's footsteps.

Max was proud of the small collection of trophies that he had gathered in these six, long years, though they still weren't anything of really noteworthy, they didn't distinguish him amongst his other peers and hunters of his age:

But there was a desire within him, a desire to be better and to prove that he was worthy of being his father's flesh and blood. In these six years, Max had hunted constantly, though the majority of those hunts had not been reserved for gathering skulls so much as earning credits to buy food, new weapons and fuel and armaments for his small hunting ship which functioned as a home.

The young man had sworn not to be dependent on his father's ludicrous wealth and status, and as such he would try to procure the credits himself. There was the small downside that he was often refused or dismissed simply for being a human, though by his father's words, this apparent racism had diminished greatly ever since an actual alliance was formed between humanity and the Yautja.

"Better go buy some meat then." With that, he placed the skull back into its protective casing and went to exit his ship.

Max was dressed with simple clothing, made not for fighting but for comfortable wear.

Due to his transformation, his lungs had grown accustomed to the lower amount to oxygen in the air and as such, he had no issues with walking to the marketplace of the small colony that he was briefly stopping by to resupply.

He received all kinds of looks, ranging from curious to outright hateful, but he wasn't bothered by them, for he had all but grown used to them. It was a common occurrence after all.

It was only after he had collected his things that he would have an unexpected meeting occur.

Max prided himself with being a hunter that possessed fast reflexes, but he didn't react quickly enough when he turned around one of the last corners that led to the port dock and slammed into another hunter, sending his bags crashing to the floor.

"Dammit, fuck." He reached down to grab them, not bothering to apologize to the other hunter as he was already preparing himself for a challenge at a perceived insult.

What Max had not been expecting was for a clawed hand to offer him the last bag that remained on the floor and it was only then that he took a proper look at the individual: the Yautja in front of him was slightly taller than him, and what was peculiar about his complexion was the color of his scales, for they were pure white.

He was an albino.

And such was confirmed by the blue eyes that he possessed. There were numerous scars adorning his lean and muscular body, proof of the success of many hard won hunts, but what surprised him the most was the fact that the hunter looked at him without an ounce of hatred or rage, rather he was curious, just as him if not more.

A moment of silence passed before the albino spoke, "I believe this is yours honored hunter." And it was English, the words were spoken with such fluency that Max would have mistaken the Yautja for a human if not for the deeper pitch of voice that was common to all the members of the intergalactic race.

"Yes... thank you." He took the bag from his hand and shifted on his feet for a moment, "Oh, right, I apologize for slamming into you, I wasn't really looking where I was going."

The other let out a trill and replied quietly, "It is no problem hunter, I should have been careful of my surroundings as well, the blame stands with us both." Max was pleasantly shocked to see just how polite and respectful this hunter was.

It wasn't like he hadn't met Yautja who were more open minded and good hearted towards the human race, but none of them seemed to exude the tranquility that this particular male had.

"Fuck, where are my manners? I am the blooded hunter Max Johnson, of the Fire Skull Clan." He introduced himself and the other nodded, "I am Augar, blooded hunter of the Wounded Clan, it is a pleasure to meet you Max." His English was on point, as he had just used a common phrase that was typical of greetings.

"It's mine as well... so really, sorry for bothering you right now." "Please, you are clearly in a hurry and I should not impede your journey any longer." Augar stepped aside and gave him a respectful nod, "No actually, I really am not in a hurry... I'll tell you what, my ship is right over there, do you want to come over and eat something? The day is growing late..." Max offered the albino Yautja.

The hunter looked shocked at this and he saw his mandibles move uneasily; was he embarrassed?

"Sorry if I'm annoying you, I realized that it's a very direct question." "N-No hunter Max, I was merely not expecting you to offer a meal." The human waved his hand, "Don't worry about it, still, do you want to come?"

Augar looked back from the path that he has come from, "I would not want to bother you honored hunter." "Really, you aren't a bother, and I'd actually like to get to know you some more Augar, you're different from all of these other hunters, you're respectful and polite and Lilka knows that I haven't seen any of that in a good while."

"Then you are sure that you want my presence?" "I insist, and please, you don't need to be so formal with me, I'm not an Elder or something like that." Finally, that seemed to render the hunter a little less tense. "Very well, I shall join you then."

"Good, please, come and make yourself at home in the ship.

The character of Augar is an oc created by the amazing aa always, props to him!