Rutemia had returned to her room without Cruma. the shock of the events still weighing on her mind. The blood that human had leaked was far redder than she was used to; like the blood was more potent. and more devastating if it was spilled. She had become acutely aware of the feeling of her talon piercing different kinds of flesh, and she hoped she didn't hit something important with how small and easy to damage it was.
"That was a great strike Rutemia. That human was far more tricky than he let on but you played him at his own game!" Cruma stated as she walked into the private room for Adam's recruits. completely devoid of its other inhabitants for one reason or another.
Rutemia tried to laugh but there was a scowl easily seen. "He should have been easy, pathetic. but he played around with me like I was being instructed. if he wasn't such a weak race? would I have lost?" Cruma almost let out a groan. Rutemia's pride was hurt along with her fear of punishment.
"He was a weakling! You saw his scores for the fitness test, he was only good at running away. All his skills were about avoiding your attacks, not finishing you off."
"Yeah, he did try everything to escape my attacks and slow down the time between my attacks. he never once tried to deal a serious blow to me." Rutemia brightened up, despite the massive cultural differences of what a serious blow was. "Did you see our disciplinary officer scuttling around while you were out?"
"Rutemia if she was out and about and I saw her? she'd be dragging you off to her cell to hang for a few days. you're fine! The Vanid will come soon and you'll be rewarded for your work." Cruma moved to sit on the bed opposite to Rutemia, which was a bit awkward considering she was far smaller than the average Hron.
"I'll believe you." Rutemia let out with a sigh. "After I was so angry and what I hit, I was shocked, couldn't get it out of my head that the human would die and I wouldn't be able to escape the consequences. how did your task with the Vanid go?"
"Oh her? I got her name. after I threatened that ape's recruit into failing the test she appointed me as a proper underling." Cruma said excitedly, getting an object to sharpen her talons with. "I was so good at it, the lumbering brute didn't even find out his recruit was threatened."
"Nice," Rutemia exclaimed excitedly. "I heard other soldiers complaining about the tasks they needed to do to become a true underling. yet you managed to get the Vanid's symbol of leadership in your first task."
"Yeah. maybe you put on a show. no one would believe that human actually gave you trouble. So if you stay hushed when the Vanid is talking to you, We could be soldiers under the same mistress." Cruma stated with glee.
To Rutemia, that was the best-case scenario. Gaining the direct subordination of a Vanid would set her up for life. it was hard to get on a first-name basis with a Vanid as it displayed trust in one's abilities. The only way a nobody like her could get into the close proximity of a Vanid was to be lucky enough to be joined by a young one entering the industry you were part of.
Rutemia was thrown out of her musings when the doors opened up to reveal the Vanid and her underlings entering the room, just looking at her face, Rutemia could tell that she was disgusted with what she saw.
"As pathetic as one could expect for a place helmed by that pest." The Vanid almost spat out as she turned back to Rutemia, her expression going from disgust to entertained curiosity. "But you my dear; you put on a wonderful show for us. Not only did you give that human the pain of nearly dying. but you even made his ego swell beforehand with your playing weak."
Rutemia found it hard to think of a way to answer without explaining things, so she just stiffly stated. "Thank you Ma'am." she was staring at the Vanid head-on as was her people's way. don't show weakness by looking away, even if you are afraid.
"That's no good." The Vanid scuttled towards Rutemia with her expression of happiness becoming even more pronounced. "I'm here to reward you. no need to still be so afraid of me." She would lean into Rutemia's face, trying to get the girl to look away in fear to assert her dominance, though she was pleasantly surprised at the time it took before Rutemia did look away.
"Well seems we have a feisty one here. you'll be good to stomach the threatening tasks. and you will be rewarded appropriately." The Vanid pulled back with the epitome of smugness all over her face, that even the worst translators could understand. "My name is Huigu. Now don't disappoint me now that you're my underling Rutemia. I hope to give that human delicious pain and get him ready for when he's mine."
Rutemia shuddered when she thought of someone she fought so well becoming some torture dish. She had to make the food connoisseur her mistress didn't she? Her new mistress left the room at that. the usual traits for a Vanid, take what you want, leave the remains when you're done.
"You got it." Cruma almost whispered to Rutemia as the door closed. she was still wary of the Vanid not wishing for her to speak unless spoken to, but as they were alone they could go back to their conversation. "You got her name! I'm wondering if becoming that human's underling was a blessing or a curse."
"Yeah. Though I wish I didn't have to serve a connoisseur. I can't stand all that torture the experience into your food's meat so that you can have a greater food experience." Rutemia almost set Cruma off with that. This girl was an impulsive bundle of rage and skill but let her get into her head and she was all over the place.
"Oh lay off it will you? I actually want to eat dinner." Cruma jokingly complained while throwing the pillow of the Hron bed she was sitting on at her friend. "Forget about it. we'll be her muscle, threatening and taking down those Huigu wants to be punished or dead. Her tastes will be between her and her slaves." Cruma finished. walking up to the door so she could leave. "Come on, let's do some exercise to work off the stress of recent events."
"Yeah. Thanks for pushing me along Cruma. Without you, I'd have been too afraid to complete that task." Rutemia admitted, following Cruma out the door with a fast gait. she wanted to head over to the exercise room as soon as possible and forget about the fight she had. if she forgot about it and got on with her life then
"So what are you going to do with your first paycheck Rutemia?" Cruma cut through her thoughts again, which did pose a good question. "I'm not sure. some music from home would be nice. something to get me in the mood for a hunt."
"Yeah, that would be nice. but I would love to get a custom bed fitting. the general humanoid beds are so soft that it's almost impossible to get a good night's sleep." Cruma admitted while rubbing her shoulders. for a species that dedicated themselves to hunting they were used to sleeping on the ground and preferred firm bedding as a result.
"You think we would get enough from our first paycheck for that? oh, I'd love to get a new bed. My bed has the worst texture. irritates my scales to no end!" Rutemia groaned out as well, she hated the feeling of her scales rubbing along the bed, but she had nowhere else to sleep as of yet.
Cruma sniggered at that statement. "Damn you must have got unlucky with who you replaced then. At least I can say my bedding is comfortable enough that it's only how soft it is that annoys me."
"Oh shut up. you're the one going on about being with a human being a blessing and a curse, stop teasing me whenever I speak about something bad."
"Well, you're always the one worrying about things going wrong. if you would just go back to the fierce huntress that I knew before coming to this fleet I would have no reason to bully you."
"Maybe I should fight with you. show you who's on top before you get all this thinking go to your head."
"Do you think you can do that, miss 5 hours a day studying? Are you sure you haven't gone soft as that human wants." Cruma knew she was pushing it, and she wanted to have a rematch with Rutemia. She had been working hard to surpass her friend for so long and this was the best time to do it.
Before Rutemia could reply though she saw Adam's slave charging at her. She knew about the thing because her master was taking him everywhere as his bodyguard. What she didn't expect though was to see the disciplinary officer rushing after the slave. catching up to the Bunta near the two and puncturing the weak spot in the saddle to paralyze the creature.
"You were told to stay where you were and let me handle the discretion. Do not disgrace your master with insubordination!" the woman chittered at Charles before rushing over and biting Rutemia, Cruma looking on in horror as her best friend fell limp in the thing's many limbs.
"W-what's going on?" Was all she could ask as the disciplinary officer began to load the two paralyzed victims onto her back so she could carry them away. She elicited a response that made her regret her actions.
"The decision on your coworker's punishment is still being decided. Though I hope this traitor becomes a slave."