Scar squats beside a large boulder, amber eyes taking in all of his surroundings. The stealthy warrior's mesh cloak is activated, camouflaging his massive bulk. Vor'taalnis is hunched at his fearsome teacher's side, small left hand tightly clenched in Scar's invisible right hand.

  "Can you smell it?" Scar inquires, sniffing the air. "How many hunt beasts do you think there are in the clearing?"

  "I smell...Three d`oij! Maybe...Four," Vor-ti says in a soft voice.

  "Very good, Vor'taalnis. There are three adults, but one is heavy with offspring. So there are at least four hunt beasts. Teresa was right. You do have a marvelous sense of smell for one so young."

  Vor'taalnis is positively beaming as he absorbs Elder Scar's newest compliment. Scar reaches up with his free hand and tousles Vor'taalnis' thick dreadlocks. Vor'taalnis grins, but remembers not to chitter. The beasts in the clearing may hear him.

  "We will move further into the forest. The others have chosen their place to hunt. We must do the same."

  "D`oij, why do you teach us to hunt? We are not like you. We cannot go unseen. It is not the same hunt."

  "Every warrior should know their heritage, Vor'taalnis. And be proud of it. No one left alive on V'Daha chose their fate. It was chosen for them. They deserve to know the ways of their ancestors. Even if those ancestors have forgotten those ways. By taking on the title of Settlement Elder, I also accepted the responsibility of making sure that every hybrid on V'Daha knows who they are. And where they come from."

  "I think I understand. But what of Mother? Why do you love her? She is not yautja. My u'hsk...He will be angry."

  "I do not wish to talk of your u'hsk right now. That is a conversation for another time. When we have finished our hunt."

  "Okay, D`oij!"

  Silence. And then.

  "All that matters is that I do love your mother. I also love you. I will care for you because of my love. Nothing else matters...At the moment."

  More silence.

  "Come. Let us go further into the forest."

  -

  -

  A large male vildif beast wanders underneath the tree where Vor'ti and Scar are perched. Scar has dropped his cloak and glowers down at the enormous specimen of a vildif beast. The dense canopy hides their bodies from view.

  The oddly majestic creature raises its head and sniffs the air. Chuffing loudly, the green and red ram stomps the split hoof attached to its fifth leg--the extra appendage protruding from its muscular chest. When no predator makes itself known, the creature stomps a second time, but starts forward again. The vildif tosses its head from side to side, large horns cutting the air with a loud whooshing sound.

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  Vor'ti stands by, Scar's combistick gripped tightly in a tiny fist. Scar uses his own hands to help Vor'ti align his aim. He chitters softly in Vor'taalnis' ear.

  "Remember, the weapon will fly true if you let it. Do not hurry. Make sure your aim is good."

  Vor'ti releases a soft exhale as Scar releases his hand. Scar whispers reassuringly, soft enough for only Vor'ti to hear.

  "When you are ready!"

  Vor'taalnis releases the combistick with surprising speed and accuracy. However, he lacks the power needed to do more than prick the sturdy beast's hide. Scar's combistick slices the haunches of the vildif beast and it bellows with fury. Turning to ascertain the location of its attacker, the beast prepares to charge, stomping loudly.

  Scar retrieves a throwing disc from the implement belt around his waist and expertly slices off the creature's head. The body of the beast is caught mid motion. Lacking a head, the body slams to the ground. The vildif beast's head lands a few feet behind the corpse and rolls toward a cluster of small shrubs. Vor'ti turns to Scar with a broad smile.

  "I did it d`oij! I hit it with your combistick. I am a true yautja now."

  "You were always a true yautja, Vor'taalnis. Any yautja can be a true yautja. You must remember who you are. And what you stand for. Those who would willfully break the code...Can never be true yautja."

  "I understand, D'oij! I want to try again."

  Scar tousles the hair on Vor'taalnis' head and prepares to climb down from the tree. He will need to retrieve his combistick--and his trophies.

  "First things first, Vor'taalnis. I must first deal with this hunt beast."

  -

  -

  Eleven hours later

  Teresa is asleep on a makeshift bed in the main living space. After a night of worried vigil, going to sleep in her usual bed was out of the question. Until her son is safely home, Dr. Boyd's rest will be sparse.

  Just as her eyelids flutter shut for the thousandth time, there is a thud on the front steps. Teresa bolts upright, her ear turned to catch any nearby sound. A second thud.

  Teresa climbs to her feet and rushes to the door. When she wrenches it open, she is greeted by a pair of vildif horns. The deceased creature's horns are descending from a long rope. The night breeze causes them to swing back and forth, thumping softly against the door. That was what she had heard.

  Turning the gigantic horns in the moonlight, Teresa examines them questioningly. She glances around, hoping to catch sight of Vor'taalnis or Elder Scar. Someone certainly left those horns for her to find. She places a hand on her hip and sighs with frustration. Where is Vor'taalnis?

  "We are here," Scar's voice says at Teresa's right ear.

  Teresa jumps with surprise, pressing a hand to her mouth. Scar materializes beside Teresa and wraps an arm around her waist. Vor'taalnis chitter-giggles and hustles from behind an overgrown shrub. He races to Teresa and wraps his tiny arms around her knees.

  "Hello, Mother. I killed a hunt beast. And d`oij helped."

  Scar and Teresa share a knowing look. She exhales sharply and bends to kiss the top of Vor'taalnis' head.

  "That's wonderful, Vor'ti! But I don't want its horns on my roof. Would you mind removing them, Elder Scar?"

  Scar narrows his eyes and pretends not to know what Teresa is talking about.

  "I don't see any vildif horns. Do you, Vor'taalnis?"

  "No, d`oij!" Vor'ti chitter-giggles, squeezing Teresa's legs tightly.

  "Wow! You've even managed to turn my son against me. I'm surprised at you, Elder Scar. No more hunts for you, Vor'taalnis. Not until D`oij...Gets those horns off of my roof."

  There is another deeply veiled threat in Teresa's words, her eyelids slipping halfway over her eyes. Scar catches onto the hidden message and grins devilishly.

  "I will do as you ask. This time."

  "Hmmm. And when you're done, I want to hear all about your adventures. Don't leave anything out. If you're going to keep my son out until all hours of the morning, the least you can do is entertain me. I'll prepare something for us to eat."