Prey

Chapter 27 - A Friend

"That was a good effort but not good enough, mate. Seeva is fast. You must use your small size against her. Yes?"

I began to circle Leoni looking for a window of opportunity. It was when she allowed me out of her sight that I struck.

With as much force as I could muster I swept the combi stick right for her legs but she was quicker than I had anticipated; she jumped out of the way and brought her own right at me in a wide arc. Our weapons clashed violently as she blocked each successive strike of my own. A few times she almost missed the block but again and again she corrected her mistake until eventually she met me blow for blow.

The hybrid was a quick learner. Her quick adaption filled me with pride. With more practice and time she could likely rival the smallest of female Yautja.

Faster and faster I swung until we reached a point where she didn't counter in time. I had tired her out. Leoni yelped in pain as my weapon collided with her side with a sickening thwack. Down she went onto the padded floor, her small body curled in a ball as she clutched her side. The little hybrid whimpered when she tried to sit up.

I felt a pang of frustration with her that she had missed the block. Her stamina was nowhere near mine but it needed to be closer.

She couldn't miss. She had to be precise when it time came for the real fight. Her life depended on it. Seeva wouldn't succeed, I would kill that female before she placed her dirty hands upon my skin. Seeva meant nothing to me. Dirt mattered more than she.

"That...hurt..." Leoni whimpered as she gingerly touched her side, her fingers pulling up the fabric of her shirt to inspect the damage I had done.

A large purple and black bruise had formed and covered a large portion of her side. The strike had been so hard that the little indents of the etchings from the combi stick had formed in the bruise. Wide teary yellow eyes gazed up at me, the sunny orbs swirling with pain and shock. She hadn't expected for me to actually hit her.

"You must not let yourself tire, Leoni." I growled as I knelt before her.

To my surprise she pushed herself back a few feet away from me. One of her small hands wiped at the tears that continued to flow down her rosy cheeks and making the scales on her neck glisten as some fell before she could catch them. "I'm doing my best! We've been at this for hours."

"Your best must be better, mate." I clicked the button on the combi stick making it contract before setting it on the floor beside me. She watched my every move with bleary eyes, pain still on her face.

"You didn't have to strike so hard, you asshole. That shit hurt!" Another attempt at sitting up was a failure and she chose to lie there and wipe her eyes as more tears fell. "I know I'm not super strong or particularly fast, but I'm trying, Drogaxe. Can you at least go easy on me?"

Unlike me, Seeva wouldn't so I had to prepare her. "I cannot. Seeva will try to kill you."

"You can at least apologize for hurting me."

Sunny orbs pleaded silently for empathy and compassion. She was not born Yautja nor raised one. I couldn't be so rough on her like I normally would when training.

With a heavy sigh I relented. She still sat there quietly observing me like the wounded animal she was; a hybrid that is. I noticed during our training sessions that she would put on a brave face and try to be tough for my sake. This I appreciated but I could see how my own selfish desires were getting the better of me again.

Seeing her hurt made me angry with myself. A visit with Kar'tuk and Mira was in order.

"Mate, I am sorry. I have failed in my discipline to suppress my selfishness. I will take you to Kar'tuk." Before she could protest I swept her into my arms and brought her back to the city where Kar'tuk and his mate resided in the palace.