by SJ Sanders
An alarm overhead began to wail, making the VaDorok snarled collectively from its high whine. From the edge of his visual field Vidok saw Sara shoot out of the room, up a long hallway. Cursing, Vidok snapped the arm that was threatening him with some sort of flattened, hand held weapon. Growling viciously, he faced the Agraak in his hold before ripping out the male’s throat with his claws.
A’Jular pulled up to a startled stop beside him and laughed, a sound laced with an edge of blood-lust. “Well that is one way to handle it. Go after your female, but be careful of those weapons. You don’t want them to shoot you.” With a wink, he pivoted. A long spine slid out from his forearm, the sharp edge of it beheading a male that attempted to run by him.
Vidok did not waste any time rushing after Sara. Distantly, he was aware of other warriors following behind him. Just as he rounded a corner into another corridor, Borax caught up and tossed him the lance that only moments before had pinned a guard to the wall. Snatching it from the air, Vidok resumed his fast paced run down the hall after his mate.
He had lost sight of his female, but his body was in tune with her scent and followed unerringly through doors that led into a large holding room full of cells. Women of various hues pressed silently against the heavy glass of their cells, their gaze focused entirely on Sara, who was threatening a small box on the wall as she jabbed at it with her finger.
“Come on damn you,” she growled. “What is the freakin’ code!”
“Sara,” a tiny yellow-haired female whimpered, “ hurry, please. A starship transporting guys from their home world is due to arrive any minute.”
Sara’s head snapped around, “What, already?! I thought they weren’t due for weeks.”
A red-haired female the next cell over, pressed closer and shook her head. “Girl, the guards went nuts after you escaped. They commed the ship. Your assigned asshole is some higher up shmuck who lost his damn mind. They pushed up their arrival, bypassing some of their scheduled stops. They were going to breed us first thing, and then stage a massive hunt for you.”
Vidok didn’t understand a number of the words she used, but it was abundantly clear that there was another male who felt he had a prior claim on his female. He growled menacingly, drawing several frightened looks, as Sara turned, panicked, back to the box jabbing at it ineffectively.
When it appeared that Sara was about to violently attack the box, A’Jular slid up beside her, picked her up by the shoulders and handed her off to Vidok. “Allow me,” he said with a savage grin. “You don’t get around without learning a few tricks. Technology--it is a wonderful thing.”
He placed a thin box alongside the panel, blue lights flashed along the top of it repeatedly before it beeped loudly and turned green. Instantly, the thick panels slid open and females fled out--only to stop and stare wide-eyed at the sight of their rescuers piling in massive numbers through the tiny doorway.
A’Jular took a deep breath, and then regretfully shook his head before he turned and exited from the room, making space for several VaDorok males as they paced forward into the room. As Sara had predicted, all the females as a group immediately back-pedaled. Now Vidok fully understood what Sara had meant when she insisted on coming along.
Sara pushed her way through the crowd of eager males, and gave the females a huge smile. “Ladies, the rescue party has arrived.”
Several females rushed forward, calling her name excitedly. Others drew forward reluctantly, unable to pry their eyes off their rescuers. Vidok wrinkled his nose at the pungent scent of fear roiling off those females. He took some comfort in the fact that the smell gradually dissipated as the females became used to their presence.
The small yellow-haired female wrapped her tiny arms around Sara, hugging her tightly to her as she squealed. She seemed to be a friend of Sara, as his mate returned the embrace happily. All the females in fact seemed very familiar towards each other, and took comfort in Sara’s presence.
Sara gestured to the males standing around the room.“These are the VaDorok. Their tribe has offered us aid and sanctuary. Don’t be alarmed. They are basically big growly pussy-cats. That said, we are on a time crunch so we are going to have to move fast. These guys are going to carry you out. It will be faster for them to run with us than wait for us to try and keep up,” she announced.
The red-haired female smiled broadly as Ladox, a younger lean male just a couple sun cycles into his primary adulthood, eagerly approached her, “Well hell’s bells that sounds good enough for me. Lets blow this joint!”
The yellow-haired female just let out another squeak as Torok, inhaling deeply, yanked her up from where she clung to Sara. “Come little female,” he purred deeply. She giggled nervously and relaxed into him, taking his savage appearance in impressive stride.
Vidok picked Sara up as the males, one at a time, grabbed up a female and loped from the holding room back toward the common room.
“A’Jular could have stuck around and helped,” she grumbled irritably.
Vidok laughed at his spunky mate. “My love, A’Jular needed to get back to his ship. After verifying his mate wasn’t present and needing him, he headed back to prepare for our return.”
She frowned thoughtfully, “Wait, how would he know whether or not his mate was there?”
Vidok adjusted his grip on her and shrugged. “I am not entirely sure, you would have to ask him. Something about the Edoka knowing their mate by smell.”
She shook her head, “Aliens are weird.”
Vidok snorted and nipped playfully at her ear, “As you say ulukska.”
***
They encountered little further resistance as they headed back outdoors from the common room. Vidok suspected it had something to do with the massacre of Agraak that his people plowed down to reach the females in the strange holding room. Sara had mentioned that there wasn’t a great number stationed at the laboratory to begin with, so that probably factored into it as well. They did, however, encounter a doctor running from a room, but he was quickly torn apart by other warriors who caught up to them. The surplus VaDorok, those not carrying a female, formed an outer guard as they fled back to starship.
A’Jular greeted them outside of the ship with a broad grin. “I see everyone made it out one piece. Welcome to Nightmare Wing females.”
“Wow, what a comforting name. I feel real good getting on that thing now,” muttered one of the humans. Several females laughed warily.
A’Jular didn’t take it personally. He shrugged and winked playfully at the female who in turn huddled back into the chest of the male holding her. The male growled threateningly at the Edoka, his fur bristling. A’Jular, not a novice among the VaDorok held up both hands in harmless deference.
“All I am saying is that we need to be on our way. While I was waiting for you to catch up, I managed to listen in on some transmissions that were coming through. Seems that the Agraak vessel is entering the hemisphere. The whole lab went on high alert. I guess we managed to leave a few alive to tell their tale. So unless we want to fight our way out of that...” he trailed off expectantly.
The males quickly exchanged a look. The skirmish inside the laboratory had been a fun and rousing exercise, but none wanted to attempt an open fight with delicate females within harms way. It was better to err on the side of caution and depart.
In silent truce, the offended male merely bared his teeth as he brushed by, swiftly carrying his human into the ship. He was followed by a slightly ordered chaos of males running in. Some males set the female they carried down, but most jealously held them tight, much to Vidok’s amusement. It made for an interesting experience for Vidok to be wedged with his mate among males posturing, snarling and snapping at each other for the smallest offense. Not the least of which was Torok with his tiny human, a female smaller than even the other human females. He growled low at any male who so much as jostled them.
A’Jular shoved his way through, hissing at a couple of grumbling males, who caught in the prote
ctive drive of ulukskinon were engaging in shows of dominance, before his blue figure slipped away towards the control room.
“Prepare for take off,” the male snapped over his shoulder. Vidok could hear his disgusted muttering about ridiculous VaDorok mating heat as the door slid shut behind him.
Males braced themselves, gripping onto the humans so none would go flying when, within minutes, the ship jerked rapidly into the air, eliciting a few feminine screams from the rough departure--followed by male croons, purrs and a few snarls. Vidok tuned out the other males, preferring instead to crouch down away from the masses where he could comfortably wrap himself around his mate and hold her securely against him.
***
The ship took a blessedly short amount of time to reach the agreed upon drop spot. Borax had determined that it would be unwise to take the females directly to the tribal gathering area, and instead the males were to scatter with the females, giving them sanctuary in their dens until the full moon gathering in two weeks. So it was that as soon as the ship touched down and the cargo hold opened, males loped rapidly away.
Watching the males depart, A’Jular nodded at Borax, “I will be back in two weeks, in time for the gathering so just keep my stuff safe. I am going to disappear behind one of the orbiting moons and hunker down a bit and wait for the Agraak to disappear.” He twitched a few arm spines, unconcerned.
“While I am hiding out I will send communications about out situation to the Intergalactic Council. I know my brother on the High Council of Clans will be waiting to hear back from me since I commed him about joining your rescue mission.” he flashed a unrepentant grin. “He wasn’t thrilled at first, but learning about how unique humans are he gave me leave to use our vessel and stick around a bit on behalf of Edoka.”
Borax nodded, “Very well, your vigilance will be most appreciated. Naturally your goods will be kept safe for you until your return. I hope the Intergalactic Council can ultimately be of assistance for the human females. What the Agraak have done, while it brings good news for other species, is disgusting. I hope to see them punished. I also certainly expect that the Council and Edoka would be interested in this situation. We look forward to you return, and whatever news you bring back with you.”
The males each touched the shoulder of the other in the Edoka custom. Vidok had always presumed that it was a gesture of trust and familiarity to have one’s hand willingly so near the dangerous spines of another. Farewells concluded, A’Jular clamored back into Nightmare Wing, leaving the VaDorok behind him.
Hefting his biriate lance, Vidok saluted Borax with it with one hand as he held Sara firmly against him with the other. He was relieved to finally see the difficult part of his mating firmly behind him. It was difficult to start a mating with so much going on. But no more. Now he could focus only on his mate. He anticipated only a pleasant life together from here out. Turning on heel, he loped away with his mate.
Chapter 5
It took half a day, at Vidok’s ground eating pace, for them to arrive at his den. Like the chief’s den, it was what Sara considered a big rough hobbit hole. Unlike the chief’s den, it was tucked in against a larger den structure. The entrances were sealed against the elements by thick rounded doors.
Vidok smiled as he drew Sara to the smaller entrance. The snow had receded with the exception of just a few lingering patches. Scattered here and there tiny orange flowers were blooming, and there were shoots of young plants in what appeared to be a raised garden bed to the side of the den. Vidok grinned broadly at her at he threw open the door.
“This is our den ulukska. It pleases me to finally bring you here. There is no time more blessed for a male to bring his mate to his den than the Season of Flowers.”
Distractedly Sara says, “Season of Flowers? Is that like your spring, the season when new growth comes?”
“Yes mate,” he grinned in affirmative as he ran his hands up and down her sides, making Sara lean into him. Vidok leaned down to press his nose into the side of her neck, brushing a swift kiss there before herding her forward with a happy, fangy smile.
She relaxed and returned his smile as she looked around curiously. “So will I get to meet your parents soon?”
He paused and then shook his head with regret. “No ulukska. My father passed to the spirit world with Borax’s father during a hunt about twelve winters ago. My mother grew despondent and passed a few years later. Among my kind, mates do not last long without each other once they have bonded. My family would have loved you though. My mother had always hoped to see the day I would find a mate.”
Sara stroked her palm against the soft fur on his jaw, “I am so sorry Vidok. I would have been so happy to meet them.”
With a gentle smile he urged her indoors. It was clear to Sara that he did not wish to speak of sad things on the day he brought his mate to his den. Once inside, he settled her on a thick padded seat while he moved to the hearth to build up a fire. Within minutes the den was flooded with warmth and she watched her mate move around the room, lighting lamps in high nooks on the walls. With critical inspection of his work and a satisfied nod, he gestured for Sara to follow him.
“This way mate, there is something I have been wanting to show you.”
He lead her through a side door. The smutty part of Sara’s brain assumed she was being escorted to their bedroom. What else could a guy be more interested in showing to his new mate?
When they entered the room and Vidok lit the lamps, Sarah felt like she needed to pick her jaw up of the floor as she looked around.
Uh, this isn’t a bedroom, she observed wide-eyed.
They clearly walked through a door that connected the smaller and larger structures. Now that she was standing within it, she wondered if the larger was a temple of some type. She watched as Vidok walked over to a large stone slap, what had to be an altar, and lit the neat pile of wood on it. Just beyond the altar were a pair of large statues, a male armed with a spear beside an enthroned female wearing a crown of stars. These were surrounded by numerous small statues in alcoves all along the walls.
“What--?” she whispered.
Her mate beamed over at he as he finished throwing a handful of sweet smelling herbs onto the fire.
“This,” he said with great pride, “ is the temple for our tribe.”
Sara scooted closer to him, her eyes widening as she took in everything.
“Whoa. You live connected to the temple?”
He nodded. “Yes ulukska, I am my tribe’s warrior-priest. Although I join the hunters and warriors when we are summoned, my first and foremost responsibility is as mediator, not only between the members of our tribe, but also between our people and our gods.”
“You do all that yourself?” Sara was quite impressed.
“Well,” he hedged, “usually the temple is family run. The last warrior-priest never found his mate and so ceremonially adopted me when I entered first phase adulthood. He passed to dwell among the spirits once my training was complete with the hope that my family line would continue the duties here. I was still a Scout then with no thoughts ofa family yet,” he chuckled.
Sara looked up from the ornate work on one of the nearby statues she was examining.
“Why’s that?”
“Remember that I told you about mating?”
Sara nodded as she began to wander around the temple, looking her fill.
“Usually this occurs in second stage, or primary stage, adulthood. It is rare, but has happened, that mates will find each other when they are younger, but typically first stage adulthood is one of youth and pleasure. This is the time our males, who are the fastest among us and possess the highest endurance, are utilized as scouts, and when we most often form temporary pleasure partner bonds. This period lasts about ten sun cycles until we grow into true adulthood in our primary stage adulthood.”
“Pleasure partner?” Full stop. Now he had her full attention.
Vidok shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny. Sara
repressed a grin.
Poor guy. Trapped into talking about his past sexual escapades with his mate. Heh.
“Yes,” he drew out, wincing slightly. Sara imagine it wasn’t fun explaining to someone with very different mating customs.
“Because our offspring are in majority male, most females enjoy having a great number of young males to choose from as their pleasure partner. Pleasure partnering is to enjoy companionship and often for testing mating compatibility to see if it sparks the ulukskinon.”
Sara widened her eyes in mock earnestly.
“So you are saying they just randomly choose from the young pool?”
“Well in a fashion.” He hesitated slightly. “Naturally, males who are at peak condition or who are being trained for a coveted place in our tribe while in their Scouting Period attract the most pleasure mates. For instance, a chief or a priest will have dozens of females competing to be a pleasure mate.”
Uh huh.
Sara lifted both her eyebrows at her mate.
“So you are saying that once the last warrior-priest adopted you that you have had a lot of pleasure mates over the years.”
He seemed surprised by the questions, but after a moment he reluctantly nodded. Sara narrowed her eyes thoughtfully at him.
“Like how many would you say?”
Got to be safe in case there are any psycho ex girlfriends waiting in the wings.
He shrugged. “Not many over the last fifteen years.”
Sara shot him a blatant look of disbelief which made him smile.
“Really ulukska. Regardless of the fact that I have tested mating compatibility with the majority of the females in our tribe, I am in my second decade of my primary adulthood. I rarely attract the attention of females anymore for that reason alone.”
Of course, Sara’s brain being one of single minded focus , she latched onto just one point.
“Wait--hang on. Are you telling me you have fucked pretty much every female in your tribe at one point or another.”