Thurfrit stepped onto the small wooden board just seconds after Quendra. He closed the rickety latch to the gate and stepped aside in order to allow Quendra to operate the pulley. Once she released the stopper, the elevator swung into action, taking them swiftly from the leaf- and twig-covered forest floor to the canopy of branches and pine needles above.

The fir-like trees made for a most inconspicuous home, as they didn’t lose their leaves in the cold winter months. Of course the canopy was only half of the elaborate home the small tribe had forged for themselves over the generations. It was a tense and silent ride, Thurfrit kept his eyes downcast, and was overwrought as he awaited Quendra’s sound verbal thrashing. He waited, and waited…but it never came.

Cautiously, he peeked over to her, his timid gaze turned to concern the moment his eyes met with hers. She looked worried, and Quendra the Huntress did not spook easily. “I saw something disheartening, Thurfrit,” Quendra said without returning his look.

“She’s back, I know, I saw it too,” Thurfrit sighed.

“No, well yes…but that isn’t what I mean. I saw something else, something terrible.” Quendra turned to look at the chronicler now, her eyes were downcast and she was frowning.

The elevator came to a rough halt, nearly knocking them both off their feet. The gears were rusting and the brakes needed work. Quendra made a note to give Jhan the Tinkerer hell for it.

Quendra took off along the thick shrouded branch, Thurfrit close on her heels. The blue-green needles, most longer than the humans were high, concealed their path to the

“What did you see?” The chronicler spoke eager.

“A prisoner, in a cage of glass. With deep, sorrow-filled eyes, looking longingly toward the window. The one with Eyes Like Ice has a captive, Thurfrit,” Quendra said, with tranquil fury.

Thurfrit flashed a look of concern as they disappeared into a small hollow in the thick trunk of the tree. There, a stairway began, hidden under a small roof. The winding stairway looped lazily some distance into the interior of the tree.

As they descended, the light from above disappeared, and the glow from the concentrated pulp of the Royal Berry lit their way. When mixed with water and sealed in glass, they created a significant source of light, one that need only to be left in the sun for a few hours once in a while to charge.

They descended the equivalent of six stories. As they grew closer to the door, they began to pass portraits of past leaders, working backward from Mera the Kind to the legendary Harat the Great – though of course, his portrait was based on guesswork and legend more than anything.

“It has been some time since they have captured a traveller.” Thurfrit pondered aloud. “Not since my maternal grandmother was rescued from she who is Tall Like a Tree.”

Quendra gave a nod of acknowledgment as they approached a closed door. The wooden door was carved out of the tree itself and blended almost perfectly in with the wood around it. One would almost have to know it was there to see it. “Will you attempt a rescue?” Thurfrit asked, carefully.

“With the two of them together, it would be nearly impossible. Though with Tall Like Tree still absent….” Quendra sighed as she knocked three times fast, twice slow, and three more times fast. She chuckled, and straightened the twin strands of her necklace; she wondered if a shaar would bother knocking should it reach the main entryway; still, this had been the signal for generations.

“Eyes Like Ice is a tricky one…she is as perceptive as the Victus….” Thurfrit sighed as the door opened. An old bearded man greeted them.

“Huntress! Bless the spirits, you have returned!” The Old Man crowed.

“Yea, I’m back alright….”Quendra sighed, motioning back to Thurfrit with her thumb.” Also, I found this fool along the way…so there’s that.” The huntress trudged past the aged man off down a long dimly lit hallway, her sour expression and her hard steps were more than enough to announce her foul mood.

Thurfrit eyed the gate-keeper softly. “Gate-keeper Saul.” He greeted politely.

“Chronicler, any kind words for an old man?” Saul asked with a worried expression. “Quendra’s mood is not encouraging.”

Thurfrit watched Quendra storm off, he followed her with his eyes nervously before sending the aged gate keeper an impatient but polite smile. “Plenty, but perhaps another time?” Thurfrit half smiled and patted the elder on the shoulder before taking off after Quendra.

Quendra stormed through the hallway to yet another staircase, this one leading down twelve more stories into the tree, passing apartments, the healer’s ward, the library, and the high armory. She had hoped Thurfrit would stop to write of his adventures, but he continued to follow at a distance. Finally, Quendra passed the kitchens, where Ithun the Butcher was chatting merrily with Yothan the Cook and Tendra the Wise. “No luck, Huntress?” Ithun called.

“Bigger shaars to skin, Ithun,” Quendra called back. “Later, hopefully.”

 “No worry, Quendra. Our stores are plentiful.”

 Quendra passed by, and came at last to the two massive doors that today stood open, in signal that all was well, and all were welcome – the gateway to the Great Hall.

 The Great Hall was their gathering place, a grand room carved into the center of the tree trunk village, at the widest point of the immense pine. It seemed amazing that such a grand space could exist inside a tree, and yet here they were, in the cavernous, 95,000 square foot room, full of tables and people and conviviality. It was the communal room, the place where the Tribe spent most of its idle time. It was a place for social gatherings, drinking, meetings and merry making.

The Great Hall was adorned with strong sturdy tables, thick hide mats and a warm stone hearth for heat. It seemed that there were never fewer than a dozen people in the room at any one time, and often far more.

Drugar the Leader was often found in the great hall, on his thick well-crafted chair. The animal hides and fur, bone and wood made for a grand throne for the leader to perch upon. His seat sat beneath the skull of a slain Shaar. Although nobody really remembered the whole story, it was said Dorian the Slayer had bested the beast, armed with nothing but his wits and a spear.

Drugar was a dark skinned man with a white snowy beard and a thick, furry brow. His eyes were intimidating, his features solid and strong. He didn’t appear at first glance to be a man who smiled very often; even sitting down, he appeared large and intimidating.

Drugar’s mother was descended from the People of the Rock; her great-grandfather had led that desperate band to safety after it was all but destroyed. Drugar closely resembled Ogana Strongbow, both in appearance and in wisdom; his people trusted him completely.

 As Quendra approached, the older man sprung to life. He sat up and rested his hands on the bone crafted arm rests.

“Quendra, to what do I owe the honor of this incoming verbal thrashing?”Drugar spoke with a deep thundering voice, his tone mildly amused by the disgruntled look on the young huntress’ face. Not many would correctly guess that the giant of a man was amused – he sounded frightening even when he was pleased. Which he normally was when Quendra was around.

Thurfrit caught up to the Huntress as she began to recount her story to the leader. The Chronicler adjusted his eye lenses and attempted to make his presence known as subtly as he could. “You’re sure this is what you saw?” Drugar stroked his beard as he listened, leaning heavily on the arm of his chair.

“Drugar, I know what I saw!” Quendra snapped. Drugar suppressed a smirk; not many could get away with speaking to Drugar in such a manner.

“It is a shame.” The Leader sighed heavily as he rose, stepping down off the raised platform his seat sat upon. He was well over a head taller than Quendra, and a fair bit taller than Thurfrit. And despite his age, and unlike Thurfrit, he was stalwart and strong. He passed by Quendra.

“Give me a hunting party! I will bring this prisoner to you!” Quendra spoke, approaching Drugar quickly from behind.

Thurfrit kept silent and trailed after.

“It’s not that simple Quendra.” The shaar of a man grumbled.

“The hells it isn’t!” Quendra replied with disdain as she stood in front of the pacing elder.

“Quendra, you’ve earned my respect, as your father had, but for such a skilled huntress you really can be a fool sometimes!” Drugar said while looking down. He didn’t yell, he rarely had to.

“Sir….”

“You assume it will as simple as that? That you can just mosey on in, snatch this captive and bring him back?” Drugar held back an amused grin.

“I never said that…in fact it will likely be a lot harder…but do we not have to try!” Quendra said with a more reserved tone.

“Sir,” Thurfrit spoke up, “we also have seen the one with Eyes like Ice….” Thurfrit looked down. Drugar was silent.

Quendra had left out that minor detail, and not by mistake. She sent Thurfrit a cold solid glare.

 “You want to take a hunting party into the guardians’ den…knowing she has returned?” Drugar spoke plainly.

“We can’t abandon one of our own…even a traveller. It is not our way,” Quendra said quietly.

“This will not be like some hunting expedition Huntress…the giants guard their prisoners vigilantly. They mock and jeer at them, force them to perform like trained tupps,” The elder said, any hint of sarcasm gone from his voice. “If I were to send your party in, and they were to be captured – well, there would be more prisoners, held by more giants, performing like more tupps. And that would be the best we could hope for.”

“I know….”

“This would be a trial – even for you, Quendra.” Drugar set his thick paw on the smaller woman’s shoulder.

“It has been done before….” Quendra looked to Thurfrit.

“It can be done again!” The chronicler spoke up with pride. “My grandmother….”

“Fraya the Wise was a true asset to our people, Thurfrit. And worthy of the effort,” Drugar said. He stroked his beard again. “Tall Like Tree – she is still absent, yes? You haven’t forgotten to mention her, have you?”

“No, Leader,” Quendra said.

“Hm. You may plan to save him,” Druggar said, walking back to his chair.

“Thank you, leader, we won’t….”

“I said plan, Quendra. And you will present this plan to me. Make it a good one,” he said. “I will not send you, or any other member of this Tribe, into their certain demise. And if I am not convinced of your plan, Quendra that is what I would be doing.”

Quendra nodded to Drugar. “Thank you for allowing me the chance to plan,” she said, with a smile. She knew Drugar, and she knew herself; Drugar wanted to let her rescue this prisoner. More than that, she knew that she was good enough to come up with a plan that would convince him.

***

“…and then we turn to leave, because old Farmer Whilks is pissed as a Saber-oar in heat…and this one turns back, furrows her little brow, arches her back and says…” Bedra was cut off abruptly as Aisell leaned forward and latched her arm around the taller woman’s mouth.

“Do we really have to finish this story!?” Aisell asked desperately as she pulled her friend into a bear hug, wrapping her other arm around the woman’s flailing limbs.

Bedra Tae had been Aisell Maris’ friend since she had first moved to Orion Provence from the Melpomene Reef. The two could hardly remember a time without the other, and had more embarrassing stories to share about one another than one had any right to have and still remain friends.

Bedra struggled against her friend’s relentless monkey grip for a while, before surrendering in a huff and letting out a sigh.

Bedra was taller than Aisell, with dark chocolate skin, thick luxurious cherry hair, and thick full lips that could curl into a breath taking smile. She had round soft cheeks and striking hazel eyes that were nearly as enchanting as Aisell’s own…nearly. She had long elegant painted nails to match her hair, and was adorned with dangling earrings and a few rings on her long dainty fingers.

Aisell was a country girl, Bedra a city girl. While Bedra boasted a curvier, supple figure, Aisell always seemed to get the best of her when they locked horns. It was mildly maddening.

After wiggling her head free of the smaller woman’s grip Bedra grumbled. “You’re relentless! Let me go!”  While Bedra sounded annoyed, Aisell knew better. Bedra had lived in Orion Provence most of her life, but she still carried with her a small hint of her native accent. It was hardly enough to take notice of unless she was excited, or very angry.

Lezah gently stroked the tuft of hair atop Degu’s head as he nestled into her hand, he had always liked Lezah, she was friendly and fed him to breaking point with pastries and cookies and pies and all sorts of delicious things Bedra didn’t know how to make. Of course Bedra had a hard time boiling water!

“Somethings never change Degu.” Lezah peered down to the indulgent little human, who unlike Luke over on the table, could care less about the conversation at hand. Degu’s eyes were closed and he was near the point of falling asleep. Luke on the other hand, was vigilant like an ‘Aye-Aye’. He didn’t seem comfortable at all watching the two titanic ladies wrestling well within flailing limb reach of him. While they were on the spacious sofa and he on the coffee table…he still looked visibly shaken.

“Oh stop gawking like someone’s gonna take your last cookie and come over here and relax will you?” Lezah reached out to snatch Luke, but snickered remembering his quirky little habit of panicking when she did that, so she set her hand down on the table and motioned for him to climb aboard. “Come…I’ll keep you safe from the Gladiators!” Lezah spoke amused.

Luke normally would not give her such a chance, but as Aisell and Bedra’s roughhousing stepped up in intensity, he instinctually nearly army rolled aboard the soft protective hand of the elder Maris sister.

“I…I don’t need protecting!” Luke asserted.

“Of course you don’t.” Lezah spoke, attempting to not sound incredibly amused.

“I just don’t wanna get kicked you see…they’re not being safe and…”

“Yes, of course.” Lezah nodded, faking a serious face.

Luke was about to lay into Lezah about how he didn’t appreciate her condescending tone, when he was startled by the loudest of crashes! He turned to see the aftermath of what had happened. Bedra had lashed out in a vain attempt to escape Aisell’s grip, and her leg made contact with the coffee table. What to the Titans was a simple bump of the table, causing it to move a little, to Luke, was an unearthly crash!

Luke panicked and found himself retreating into Lezah’s hand, Degu woke from his slumber with a jump and scurried up Lezah’s shirt, hiding himself away in the soft cotton fabric for safety.

“Oh goodness boys aren’t you two bold….” Lezah rolled her eyes as she began to fish the small dark skinned human our from between her breasts.

“Degu! Get yer horny little mangly self out of there!” Bedra called out from the sofa, her and Aisell has broken apart and were both attempting to regain their composure.

“He’s just frightened Bedra.” Aisell tittered as she adjusted her cleavage and straightened her shirt.

“Like hells he is. He wanted an excuse to climb in your sister’s bra is all!” Bedra laughed as she fixed her hair, and reattached an earring.

Aisell laughed once more as she watched Lezah fish the small human out, holding him between her thumb and forefinger. Unlike most pets, Degu wore a simple groin covering, what would be casually called a loincloth. His well sculpted toned body was exposed otherwise. Humans from the Melpomene Reef reserved their genitals for their master’s pleasure only. Sexually pleasing one’s master was considered to be the highest form of respect, to sexually submit to your master was not something that was forced, but something that was given as a sign of unlimited trust and respect. They covered their midsection as a way of saving that for the one they trusted the most, their owner. Whom they rarely ever considered an owner, but a master.

 Bedra always repeated the proverb, ‘you can never really own a human. Only spoil him enough that he chooses to remain with you.’

Of course, this didn’t mean Degu couldn’t have a little fun every once in a while, he was after all young and impressionable, and from an even younger age had taken a fondness of the space between a Titan woman’s breasts. It was rather amusing, most of the time.

Lezah beamed down to Luke, who took a few moments before he caught himself cowering in her warm soft palm. Once he came to his proper senses he cleared his throat and sat up. “Can…I get back on the table please Lezah?” Luke asked with a low shameful voice.

“Awww? Tired of me already Luke?” Lezah frowned as she stroked Luke atop the head. Luke knew better than to boss Lezah around and take a snappy tone with her. Lezah was taking a little longer than Aisell had to accept that he was not a pet and wanted nothing to do with that label. While she was nowhere near as liberal about it as Aisell had been, she was trying, and he did respect her for that.

“I…please?” Luke coughed and wrung his hands together.

“Hmmmm, ok, but you have to keep me company while I do the -boring – paper work later then ok?” Lezah winked and leaned forward to set Luke back on the table, she didn’t give him a chance to answer her back before she set Degu beside him and stood up. “I’m gonna go check on the pies, I’ll be back.” With a spring in her step she slid out of the room.

Aisell watched her sister leave and pressed her lips together firmly, she narrowed her eyes just a little, and sneaked a look to Luke, who was attempting to compose himself after his little panic attack. Luke was a lot more jumpy than he had been on Titan station. It was reminiscent of the early days when she would struggle to gain his trust. The way he warmed up to Lezah bothered her. Lezah didn’t save his life, twice. Lezah didn’t put her job on the line to get him emergency medical care. Lezah hadn’t spent days trying to gain his trust. All –Lezah- did was feed him pies and cookies! It was infuriating. (I changed as maddening has been used several times – OHH)

Bedra, picking up on the tension in the air casually leaned forward and set her hand beside Luke. She spoke gently, but with such an air to her it left very little room to argue. “Luke, step on. I want to get a better look at you sweetie.”

Aisell’s eyes went wide as she picked up on the tone of Bedra’s voice. She had expected Luke to lash out at her, but the stunned and obedient look on his face took her breath away. Bedra did have a way with humans that often rendered them prone.

Luke stepped on to the soft dark palm before him and sat cross legged. Bedra curled her fingers up protectively and lifted him, setting comfortably back against the sofa. She brought him close to her face and began to look him over, stroking his back with the side of her long nail.

Luke didn’t appreciate being scrutinized, but he’d be a liar if he said this back scratching didn’t feel blissful!

“Kinda chubby…but cute. You don’t do very much do you Luke?” Bedra kept her focus on Luke, which despite his annoyance with her questions, he was pleased with. As she didn’t ask Aisell everything, she focused on him.

“Not really. Not much to do.” Luke responded, he avoided eye contact.

“Look at me when I speak to you Luke.” Bedra’s voice was not angry, or intimidating. But it was commanding.

“Sorry.” Luke looked up.

“It’s rude otherwise.” Bedra smiled sweetly. “I look at you when I speak to you, do I not?” Bedra offered up, coyly.

“I suppose you do.” Luke admitted hesitantly.

“Then you can do me the same respect? No?” Bedra spoke simply, prudently.

Aisell was just as stunned as Luke, and almost stepped in a few times, but she knew Bedra well, and had never had reason to question Bedra’s handling of humans. Degu was one of the best treated humans she knew.

Aisell peeked down to Degu, who was watching his mistress curiously. Aisell could remember when Bedra first introduced her to Degu, he was just a child then. Curious and brash, most would have considered him an undesirable. He rarely ever listened, and he injured himself getting into trouble so often it was almost comical. But he had grown into a confident, healthy strong man. He was sculpted, chiselled and looked to not have an ounce of body fat on his whole body. He was alert and clever, where most pets were dull and cheerful. Degu never listened to a word anybody but Bedra said, and when he did listen to her, he did so with a grumbly manner. Most found it annoying, Bedra found it endearing.

“Degu, can you come here please?” Aisell asked in a friendly tone.

Degu quickly scurried over. He had known Aisell most of his life, and was particularly fond of her. “Sure.” Degu responded, he didn’t often speak, it wasn’t that he didn’t feel confident enough to, he just never seemed to have much to say. But when he did, it was with purpose, he never fumbled over his words, and he spoke far more tangibly than most pets she’d ever met, almost as fluently as Luke in fact.

Aisell carefully brought Degu to her and sat back against the couch. She brushed her hair aside, and smiled sweetly down to Degu, stroking him aside the head like she knew he loved. She had known him so long, he almost felt like hers.

“I can’t believe you’re getting so big, it’s been too long Degu.” Aisell’s tone was conversational and nostalgic. She wanted so badly to coddle him like she used to, but she couldn’t, not after what Luke had helped her realize. Still, how he watched her, almost offended she was being so standoffish, it broke her heart. “You didn’t come up and say hello, what were you waiting for? An invitation?” Aisell grinned.

“Are you leaving again?” Degu asked calmly, he was standing up, leaning against her thumb, his arms crossed.

Aisell was taken aback, but regained her composure. “I come, I go…I think I’m going to be around for a while this time though. Lez’ needs help on the farm.” Aisell shrugged.

“I can help, I’m strong.” Degu flexed, showing Aisell his biceps and triceps.

“You are, maybe you could help with inventory!” Aisell giggled, it was so hard to hold back, it was Degu, she remembered holding him as a child! How could she not lavish him with affection!?

“Leave that work for the ladies…I can do better things, strong things, man things.” Degu affirmed and nodded.

“Degu, I’m a woman you know, should I do woman things?” Aisell grinned, her lips pressing together tightly in a mock look of annoyance.

“Yes, yes you should.” Degu spoke with confidence.

Aisell narrowed her eyes and bit her tongue. “Oh, I’ll show you woman jobs alright!” Aisell cackled and began to tickle Degu relentlessly. She couldn’t hold back anymore! She didn’t care how angry Luke would be, this was Degu, her little Degu! She was not about to stiff him because Luke would have a tantrum.

Degu laughed and chuckled wildly, and thrashed about in Aisell’s palm. The reserved ‘tuff guy’ act broke and he tittered like a school girl as Aisell’s assault continued. “Woman should do woman things…I autta lash you ya little brat!” Aisell giggled.

Luke could still hear Bedra talking, and he nodded, making eye contact every now and then, but her words were distant, all he could do was watch Aisell and Degu. It made his blood boil, for reasons he wasn’t even quite sure of himself. Aisell was never like that with him, she was always so reserved and stoic. Luke began to tremble as he watched Degu break free of Aisell’s tickle attack and scurry up her arm. She pretended to try to stop him, oh Luke knew she COULD stop him if she wanted to! She wasn’t even trying!

Degu ran up the short sleeve of Aisell’s shirt and vanished down her shirt. Aisell began to wail and laugh as the tiny human tickled her back. “Hey! Get out of there! Degu you turd!” Aisell grabbed and swatted at her shirt to force Degu down, eventually after a bit of a struggle, Aisell pinned the little human and fished him out, holding him by his leg.

“I missed you! Why do you leave for so long!? Stop leaving!” Degu was still laughing, and worked at freeing his leg with his other foot, and his hands.

“Look at you! Trying to get out! If you do where are you gonna go? Straight down?” Aisell snickered.

 “I’m not afraid to fall!” Degu boasted and pulled his captured foot free, but rather than fall, he held onto Aisell’s finger with his hands, and began to put one hand before the other to make way to her wrist.

“I’m not helping you!” Aisell mocked.

“I don’t need it!” Degu asserted.

“Degu, use yer arms boy! Don’t let her intimidate you!” Bedra commented, she was in stitches herself now, and had set Luke back down on the table.  He was so focused on Aisell, she had lost interest.

“I won’t!” Degu chuffed as he brought his legs up, wrapping them around one of Aisell’s thin digits.

“Well now what are you gonna do? All worked up and nowhere to run?” Aisell blew on Degu gently.

“I’ll show you!” Degu released his legs and allowed himself to hang once more, then began to rock himself back and forth methodically.

“Watch this Luke….” Bedra commented, with a grin.

Luke grumbled bitterly and crossed his arms across his chest tighter.

 Degu built up momentum then suddenly let go of his hold on Aisell’s finger. Aisell gasped but didn’t move a muscle! No matter how many times she saw him do stuff like this, she never got used to it.

Like an acrobat, Degu spun as if he had just let go of the bar on the swinging trapeze act, after a few showie spins, Degu landed on the top of Aisell’s hand, in a crouching position.

“Very impressive!” Aisell tittered and broke into a giggle fit.

“I think yer getting old Degu, starting to take you longer on the dismount!” Bedra teased as she sat back, the smug look on her face was proof enough she was pleased with her human.

Luke, however, was not amused. Nor was he impressed.

Aisell quickly cupped her hand over the gloating human, and shifted her bottom hand so he was cupped in both her palms. Biting her lip, she gently gave her hand a bit of a shake, and then set Degu down on the table.

Degu stumbled a bit, dizzy, but didn’t fall. “No fair!” Degu argued, but he didn’t seem too bothered.

“I should go help Lez, Bedra you gonna come?” Aisell stood, winking at Degu in the process.

“Naw I’ll stay here with them. Bring me back something hot and delicious?” Bedra asked, with a guilty tone.

“Done!” Aisell, who was in a much better mood than she had been since arriving home peeked down to Luke. “You want anything?”

“No.” Luke grumbled, his voice seething.

Aisell frowned, the fancy and fun drained from her in one swift, foul swoop. Hesitantly now, Aisell departed into the kitchen, sending one more look to Luke, who had his back turned to her.

Bedra leaned back resting her head in her hands and crossed her legs, setting her feet on the small table in the center of the room. She watched the two humans with interest, as Luke stormed over to Degu with purpose. The curious smile on her face grew as Luke set a hand on Degu’s shoulder and spun him around quickly. What happened next shocked even her.

Luke, without saying a word, reached back, balled his fist and punched Degu square in the nose.

Degu stumbled back a great distance and turned his head into the force of the blow. The taller man kept mostly motionless as he brought his hand up to his nose, and felt the trickle of blood that had begun to cascade down his face. He smiled as he stood, and puffed out his chest, cracking his knuckles, and with a spring in his step he bull rushed at Luke.

Luke had only seconds to react, he braced himself as Degu barreled into him, and wrapped his hands around Luke’s midsection. Luke stumbled back and hit Degu a few times on his back, and kneed him in the stomach, but the rock hard, chiselled abdominal muscles absorbed the blow like a rock wall.

Without saying a word, Degu knocked Luke to his back and pinned the smaller man under his weight, then relentlessly Degu began to punch Luke in the face with both his fists, a flurry of punches that caused Luke’s head to flail one way and then the other form the force of the impact.

Luke, using all his strength bucked Degu off and righted himself, but was assaulted before he could get to his feet. Degu, who was much quicker on his feet than Luke had already stood, and delivered a hard kick to Luke’s ribs.

“Gah!” Luke reeled in pain and dropped down to his stomach from the impact. All thoughts of retaliation retreated from him as he gripped his side in pain.

Degu danced about on the balls of his feet, his fists balled and set in front of him.

“You can’t be done already!” Degu mocked, running his hand under his bleeding nose to stave off some of the blood that was still trickling down his face and dripping on the table below.

Luke, on the other hand was in much worse shape. His eye was swollen and closed, and his lip was split and bleeding immensely. He looked much worse for the wear than Degu. “Fuck you!” Luke spat and forced himself to stand, rushing at Degu, and trying not to stumble as he did so.

Aisell, hearing the commotion ran back into the room and gasped at the sight before her.  Her icy blue eyes widened and her mouth hung open agape.

“Luke!? Degu!? Guys stop!” Aisell’s gaze shot up to Bedra, who was leaning forward watching the brawl intently, she almost looked to be enjoying it, but more was keeping a keen eye on to see if she had to break it apart or not.

“Bedra!? Why aren’t you stopping this!?”

Degu punched Luke in the face and sent him stumbling back, when Luke made another run at Degu, he was decked again, with lightning speed and precision. Degu leaned back just a bit and brought his right foot up, leaning his weight on his left leg, and kicked Luke across the chin, which sent Luke spinning.

“I’ll break it up if it gets bad.” Bedra spoke in a plain voice.

“Bedra! It is bad! Degu! Luke! STOP!” Aisell fell to her knees and shimmied close to the table.

 “If you break it up, he won’t learn a thing.” Bedra replied as she sat back on the sofa and relaxed. “Luke hit Degu, if he wasn’t prepared for a fight, he shouldn’t have started one.” Bedra shrugged.

“I…Bedra this is insane! Luke! Cut it out!” Aisell focused once more on the fighting humans, she was afraid to just reach in and stop them, as she didn’t want to hurt one of them in the process. “This isn’t some back alley brawl Bedra! Call him off!” Aisell demanded.

Luke coughed and groaned as he forced himself to stand, his eyes were both black and swollen, and his face looked like it had been through hell. His shirt was torn and his hair was knotted and a mess.

Degu was about to make a charge, when Aisell slammed her hand down on the table far form the two humans and spoke in a commanding voice, that was very near a scream. “Enough!”

The shout jolted both humans into submission, and was loud enough to draw Lezah’s attention all the way from the kitchen.

Luke, as the adrenaline wore off, fell to his knees and began to cough and sputter, his breathing was fast and labored and he was red all over, blood dripping from his nose, mouth and the breaks in his skin from the assault.

Degu bounced on the balls of his feet and made a few jabs at the air, he had a smile that ran from ear to ear, he grinned up to Aisell, Bedra, and Lezah who was drying her hands on a towel as she entered the room, a confused look on her face.

“No! No Degu that was not ok! That was very bad!” Aisell spoke in a scolding and frustrated tone as she shot Degu a disapproving look.

 “He was just defending himself.” Bedra spoke up, as she leaned forward and scooped Degu off the table. The pleased human nestled into his guardian’s touch and sat back in her palm, gloating.

“I don’t care!” Aisell shouted, as she sent Luke a look of concern and sympathy.

“What happened?” Lezah asked, with mild concern, but mostly curiosity.

“Luke attacked Degu, hit him in the face. Not sure why.” Bedra pushed Degu down on his back and began to look him over casually, cleaning the blood off his face by licking her thumb and rubbing it away.

“Luke, why on Archavia would you do a thing like that?” Lezah asked, disapprovingly.

Aisell ignored both Lezah and Bedra and reached out to Luke, who quickly swatted at her and stumbled back.

“Damnit! What is wrong with you!?” Luke cursed, attempting to stop the bleeding form his nose.

Aisell, Lezah and Bedra all looked quite stunned.

“I didn’t ask you to stick your nose in Aisell! I didn’t ask for your HELP! I didn’t ask you to stop him!” Luke spat viciously.

“Luke, he was gonna kill you…I just….”

“You just didn’t think! You never think! You never care what anyone else thinks either! You just stick your nose in everyone else’s business! I never asked for this! I never asked to be here, I never asked for YOU to help me! I don’t WANT your help Aisell! I never did! I didn’t ask to be kidnapped, to be taken to an alien world! I don’t want to be here! I don’t want to be your pet! Fuck you Aisell! I never asked for this!” Luke was breathing like a bull, without another word he scurried down to the edge of the table, and leapt down, lowered gravity made it an easy fall, and he was off running towards the hallway.

Aisell looked as if she had been slapped across the face. Bedra and Lezah kept silent, looking to one another in shock.

“I…excuse me…I need some fresh air.” Aisell whispered and stood, walking quickly to the door.