Bone Collectors part 2

Posted on Saturday November 21st, 2020 @ 10:22pm by Captain C'Rell

Mission: The Forgotten Outpost
Location: Shuttle

C'Rell's ears dropped at the news. "He earned his second name, life giver." He raised a hand and the claw on his index extended. He pressed it against the palm of his hand until it started bleeding. He withdrew and retracted the claw before he dipped a finger in it. He reached across and made a symbol on Kai's forehead with his blood. He whispered in a hissing and purring language as he drew.

Kai let him do it. His words brought her comfort. But a question itched at her mind. "I thought it had to come from his clan?"

"Traditionally, yes but there are certain circumstances that it can be given outside the clan." C'Rell stated as he drew another symbol on either cheek. "He died away from his clan so he may be given it outside his clan."

"Oh okay." She smiled then and tried to hold still so he could finish.

It didn't take much longer for C'Rell to finish the ceremony. When he finished. He licked the palm of his hand to clean the excess blood off. The fur around the small puncture was stained slightly from the blood, giving it an orangish red color to it.

The fresh scent of his blood was tantalizing. worst was watching him almost predatory as he licked it off his hand. Kai shifted uneasy at the ideas that filled her head in that moment. and she made herself look away.

"Is there anything else you would like to know?" C'Rell asked as he sat back. It was a bit confining, his seat, but it held under him.

"Did... did it taste good?" She asked with out thinking her eyes still watched his hand. She wanted to lick the blood off her face even if it was cold now. her eyes had a shine to them like a kitten that is stalking a toy. Even her shoulders had tensed.

C'Rell raised his eyebrows a bit. "Did what taste good and why are you giving me that hungry look?" He asked suddenly nervous.

it took more effort then was pretty but lazed look subsided back into the beastial part of her brain. her eyes glanced up at him again with intelligence. "huh? what was that?" she asked with confusion.

"You asked me if something tasted good and looked at my hand like a starved beast. Do they not supply you with an adequate diet for your species?" He asked. The small puncture on his hand stung slightly but it was easily ignored.

"Unusually. our last mission was pretty rough though. got really iffy with the rations. its also well... the smell of blood calls to my people. Its like a drug even. well er... more like instinct tries to kick in. sorry. I guess you just smell good to me. whether it is the yummy i want to eat you or well something else I don't really know." Kai explained a little embarrassed.

"What other yummy is there other than food?" C'Rell asked, his ears perked up and his tail flick with his curiosity. He normally didn't speak much to females but this one was a bit different. She intrigued him.

Kai gave him a very curious look as if to asses if he was picking on her. She then said with a smile. "If you dont know already then you are far to young to understand." It was its own hint and as far as this particular topic would go.

C'Rell laughed at her answer. "Good one Private." He smiled. "I'm my species the females are not intelligent. They have the minds of animals. Eat, sleep and breed." He explained. "I have been among humans and other species long enough to know that it's just ours that are that way."

"Back on Zelark, thats the home world of my speices I heard rumors before the war that there had been attempts and experiments done to try and produce the same results in our men." Kai said her eyes curious now she asked. "You got a girl back home?"

C'Rell shook his head, his ears flapping a bit with the movement. "No, I was raised away from most of the other Kzinti and joined star fleet as soon as I had a sponsor." He said as he shifted on his seat.

"Thats really too bad. I dont really have any family, They all died in the great war except my parents and I. I came back from the last mission and found out they had died in a shuttle crash." Kai said her her tone lost only a touch of its chittering tone. the melody slipped for a moment into something somber. A look of pain as her eyeys tightend a bit. "Its just not been my year I tell you. Not at all."

"Do you have a life mate?" C'Rell asked. He reached a hand out to lay it on her shoulder gently. "I'm your superior officer. If there is something you need to talk about. I'll listen."

"I actually did once,,, sorta. His name was Jaral'gee. He was taken away in the middle of our union ceremony.. the humans call it mar age? I think. The Imperialist came and took him for the draft to go fight in the war when I was sixteen. It wasn't officail really, we never did anything more then hold hands." She smiled though her voice was sad it held the wisp of nastalgicness. "He had a fighting spirit he wanted to be the one to lead the movment against the injustices of the imperialist. He wanted to see equality of the sexes and true unity for our people. I have not thought of him in such a long time. But when I do it is with such. Pride." She sniffled back her tears again. "Sorry. I have been rather emotional as of late."

"Loss does that. I only grew up with my mother until the Orion slavers came. They took the children and killed the adults in my village. There were a few Kzinti but in the end, I was the only Kzin to survive. The Federation saved us after we had escaped out cells. We, the other Kzinti included, had just finished taking the Orion out when the Federation arrived. A few of the other Kzinti attacked the Federation people and were shot. I was the only Kzinti to survive that encounter. I had remained peaceful though I was covered in the Orion blood." C'Rell says, he laid a large hand on her small one. "We all lose people and all we can do is be strong for them."

"True. but are we really being strong for them or ourselves?" She countered. But she had a smile on her face. "I better go get cleaned up. Cant show up to the station with blood on my face. Goodness knows I have done worse in my time. But its probably not the best first impression to the poor guys checking us in." She chuckled then at the idea of what they might think of seeing her arrive with bloody symbols on her face and was tempted to leave it. it connected her with Zymbus. Her sweet and beloved Zymbus.

C'Rell nodded his head and smiled. "We have to be strong for both. We give strength to each other when we're strong for both ourselves and for those we care for."

Kai smiled as she moved to go get cleaned up. "Yeah." she said with a nod. "The major is gonna like you." Then she was gone behind the door to the small Jeffries station to get ready for the landing.