Hey everyone! This is my other fan fic I've been talking about. It just couldn't stay on paper anymore! I finally found the time to get this on the computer! I really hope you enjoy this story!

Finding the True Gift

Against an infinite blackness that no intelligent creature could measure, tiny stars twinkled like sparks from a flickering fire and moved slowly by a large window, making the unfriendly darkness more enjoyable to look at. Behind the air tight window, a humanoid creature with light yellow skin, black and brown birth marks decorating it's huge oval forehead, thick muscled arms, thighs, and cheeks. Four, crab–like mandibles clicked together as a quiet purr came out from the it's small sharp toothed mouth. The veil the creature wore over its' large chest and the ankle length loin cloth that hung around the finely defined curves of its' waist, suggested that the humanoid was a female. She was sitting comfortably in a heavily cushioned chair, gazing intently stars while she played with her extremely long black braids, each adorned with strings of coloured beads and silver rings. The female sighed as she shifted in her chair, continually watching the twinkling lights that passed by, occasionally seeing the dusty remains of a star or the faint glow of a nebula.

A small cry at the other end of the dimly lit room snapped her out of her daydream. She rolled her golden eyes and curled her mandibles to a grin. The female stood to her nine foot height and walked across the metal floor to a moving bundle of blankets in a makeshift crib. A tiny, chubby hand popped out from the blankets and shook wildly; a croaking growl reached the female's sensitive ears. Her grin became wider a she knelt down and ever so gently, picked up the bundle with her muscular arms and sharp taloned hands. She pulled part of the blanket off her son's face and rubbed the little baby's forehead with a tender finger. Upon feeling his mother's touch and smelling her familiar musk, did he quiet down, and look up at her with big red eyes. The tiny tusks of his mandibles move clumsily as he turned his head, showing tiny strands of hair that was just beginning to grow. The little babe opened and closed his little toothless mouth like a fish. The mother smiled again, knowing exactly what he wanted. Shifting her son to one arm she used her free one to unclip the strap of her top and expose her swollen breast. She pressed her baby to it and he immediately began to suck the sweet milk. The female purred and thumped her son's back as she stepped out of the room.

As she walked down the long corridor of the ship, she could hear the low hum of the ships engines and felt their vibration through her sandalled feet. The female came to a silver door on her left, tapped a combination on a pad and the door opened with a hiss. Fog pooled out of the room, swirling around the mother's feet and she could feel a slight drop in temperature. Inside the room nine were sleeping pods placed vertically beside each other along the left wall. Through the mother's heat vision she could see the warm bodies of eight large Yautja, sleeping peacefully. On each end of the pod a little screen beeped and flashed an alien text, carefully monitoring the bodies. The mother travelled to the pod at the far end and looked down lovingly at the strong, handsome male sleeping inside it. Once in a while his eyes twitched and his mandibles fluttered. She caressed a clawed finger over the glass and peered down at her still suckling son. 'Yes, he does look exactly like his father,' she thought. He had the same facial features, the same red tint in his dark yellow skin and the same single diamond pattern in the middle of his forehead. The freckles on his cheeks, arms and thighs were inherited from his mother. Although she could not figure out where he got his red eyes from; it was a rarity to have red eyes in her family line. Of course, they could have easily come from his father's line. She peered over the clan she was leading, then at the empty pod beside her mate and sighed. How she wished to join in their slumber and not have to wait another week until they arrived on their home planet. But putting a newborn in a sleeping pod is extremely dangerous.

Her clan of blooded warriors had been hunting and living in space for countless months. During that time she became pregnant with her son and was forbidden to hunt in her state. Disappointed as she was, she knew it was necessary for her child to survive, and to continue her and her mate's strong blood lines. The clan had planned to land on their home world before the birthing, but the baby was born a week early. Thankfully there were no complications and from the full throaty wail her son at uttered when he took his first breath, she knew he was destined for greatness.

Sighing, the female leader stepped out of the room and shut the door. The infant had fallen asleep and the mother was able to cover herself again. She brought the little one close to her and she clicked and purred soothingly as she gently rubbed her mandibles across her son's face. He snuggled closer to his mother and slept even deeper. The female swelled with pride and joy, she wished sh could stay like this forever.

Suddenly the ship jerked widely and threw the female off her feet. She twisted in the air and landed on her side, holding her child protectively. An alarm blared loudly in the corridor and a red light flashed with urgency. The baby in her arms wailed from being awoken by the loud sound and sudden movement. The female's eyes widened with shock as he got to her feet. A bang echoed and shuddered the walls, causing the ship to thrash again, but the female's firm grip on the wall kept her from falling over. She ran to the control room with her screaming child and slammed on a large button on a circular panel. A holographic image of the ship hovered over the panel and red writing blinked around two areas on the image. The leader gasped when she saw the two main engines torn to pieces, spilling fuel. She tapped another button and the shield covering the control room window snapped open. Thick chunks of asteroids zipped over and under the ship. The newborn in her arms wailed louder and the mother held him close as she moved along the panel; there was no way she was putting him down for a second! The ship teetered again as the female punched a combination of buttons and switches to try and gain control of the torn ship; nothing responded! She roared in frustration and slammed a huge fist on the panel, sparks flying from the impact. The female yelped when she saw an asteroid head straight for the ship! The space rock hit the cruiser on the left side and sent the ship spinning, throwing the warrior into the air. She slammed head first into the jagged ceiling and dropped hard on her back, still clutching the babe protectively in her huge arms. Florescent blood poured from a deep wound on her skull and dripped onto the floor.

The week old child cried out when he couldn't feel his mother move. He struggled in her tight grip, clawing desperately at her chest. The red lights flashed more urgently, almost becoming a blur and the blaring alarm became louder. The female warrior's eyes snapped open and a throbbing pain radiated through her head; the flashing lights and alarm made the pain even worse. She ignored her agony and forced herself to stand, using the panel for support. Trying to focus her blurry vision and wiping blood from her eyes, she saw the ship head for a massive back water planet. There would be no time to head for the escape pods; besides that, it would be cowardly to abandon her mate and clan. She ducked under the control panel and curled into a ball, wrapping her arms and legs over her wailing son. She clicked and purred in the baby's ear and braced herself as she felt the ship shudder upon entering the atmosphere of the planet. The female made herself smaller and prayed to the gods that the ship wouldn't fall apart.

The ship fell like an enormous spark against the clear night, flames licking the hull and stern. The torn cruiser flew over tall, frosted fir trees, narrowly missing their dry tops until it finally crashed into a partially frozen lake with a loud splash. The ship skidded on the surface until friction caused it to slow down and stop. The space ship hissed and bubbled as it rocked on the water. Freezing water poured into the interior, drenching the mother and child. The females dull senses were momentarily woken up by the cold water and she crawled out from under the protection of the panel. She forced her weak body to head for the escape hatch. Another desperate cry came from the infant and the mother looked at her son before tightening the blanket and covering his tiny head. She did not care about her own life or anyone else, she only cared for her child. Her son was going to live at any cost! The clan leader made it to the escape hatch, already the cold water was at her knees. Wiping away more blood from her head wound, she punched a button, took a deep breath and held her child close as the hatch opened and freezing water poured in...

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

"Alison! Mommy and daddy are home!" the five year old boy cried out as he jumped down from the chesterfield in front of a tall window. The sixteen year old Cree girl looked up from a Teen People magazine and saw nose and hand prints left on the glass by the small boy. The roar of a quad and the flashing of head lights could be heard and seen in the dark forest. The brown haired boy ran to the front door in his Star Wars pyjamas and fumbled in the closet for his winter boots. Alison put down her magazine and went after the boy, her long black hair flowing.

"Nicki you little brat, get back here!"

But Nicki, with his boots on and coat half done up, opened the door and was gone in a flash. He ran down the white painted veranda, jumped over the two steps and onto the frost bitten gravel, his boot laces and woolen idiot mittens trailing behind him.

Two red Honda quads emerged from the trail in the forest and rolled to a stop on the gravel driveway. One quad had two passengers while the other carried one. The single passenger turned off the motor and took off his thick mitts, slipped off his large toque, untied the scarf around his mouth and ruffled his curly hair. He was in his late thirties, but his thick beard grew on his round face made him look older. His cheeks were red and rosy from the cold and he adjusted the large skidoo jacket around his big frame. On the second quad was a smaller built man, who seemed to be in his mid twenties and was wearing a huge winter jacket, skidoo mitts and boots. A black moustache grew under his nose, the ends and corners frosted from condensation. He got off the machine to help his companion, who by comparison, was shorter and more elegantly curved. Long red hair poked out from under the collar of her coat and scarf. She was also in her mid twenties and the bulge on her abdomen showing through her coat, suggested she was seven months pregnant. As they settled on the ground and conversed quietly to each other, their breath could be seen in white puffs of vapour.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Nicki cried happily.

The three heads whipped to the boys direction. The large bearded man shook his head and laughed.

"Look out, it's the terror of the night!"

"Nicolas!" gasped the woman, "What are you doing up?"

Nicki slammed into his mother, causing a grunt to come out. He patted her belly.

"I wanned to say goo' night to the baby!" he said with a smile.

"The baby's asleep, like you should be munchkin."

The young woman looked up to see Alison huffing up to them, her open coat jumping with her movement. She shrugged.

"He woke up about a half and hour ago and wouldn't go back to sleep until you came home."

Every one chucked.

"That little 'un is a night owl, like you Jack!" said the bearded man.

Jack shook his head, "Uh-uh Daniel, my son has your night owl attitude. He's got my brains!"

Daniel gave his younger brother a friendly cuff on the shoulder, "Well, an evolved form maybe."

Everyone laughed as the woman bent down and fumbled with Nicki's jacket, "Zip up honey, you're going to catch cold," she looked up at Alison while she slipped Nick's mitts over his small hands, "how much do I owe you Alison."

The aboriginal teen looked up in thought, her deep brown eyes sparkling like the stars, "Um, you left at eight and were gone for four hours, so tha'd be fourteen dollars."

The red haired woman nodded as she took her sons hand, "Come on everyone, it's freezing out and I need to get this one to bed."

The crowd began to walk to the house and Alison pulled her coat closer to her body.

"So how was the dinner Annie?" she asked.

Annie shrugged and smiled, resting a hand on her stomach, "It would have been more enjoyable if the baby didn't kick so much–"

She was interrupted by her son's excited cry.

"Mommy, look it! Look it!"

His hand was pointed to the sky and everyone raised their heads to see a bright ball moving against the dark sky.

"Everyone make a wish!" exclaimed the boy as he scrunched his eyes and clenched his fists in hard thought.

Daniel whistled in amazement," I've never seen one so big an' bright."

Jack eyed it suspiciously," I don't know. I don't think that's a meteorite."

"What do you mean?" asked his brother.

"Well it's not moving like a meteorite. We should be seeing an explosion and bright colours."

"A comet?" suggested Alison.

Jack shook his head, "No, comets don't move that fast," his eyes widened and he gasped, "and they certainly don't get bigger!"

The flaming object in the sky was indeed getting larger as it came closer to the earth. A deafening rumble filled the air as the bright object sped over the house and startled family and landed with what sounded like a loud splash and bang. Night and day birds cried out and took to the sky as a rough wind blew through the forest. The family stood dumbstruck, their breath coming out in rapid puffs. Nicki took his hands off his ears and clung to his mother.

"Mommy, what wuz that!" he cried.

"I don't know munchkin," she said, keeping her voice calm.

"It sounded like it landed in the lake," said Alison.

Jack fingered his moustache thoughtfully, "We should probably check it out."

"Do you think that's a good idea?" asked Daniel.

The short man sighed, "If we don't others will, I'm sure that thing could be seen clear into town."

Annie nodded, "Alright, we'll have a look. Are the flashlights still in the quad's took box? Good. Alison could you please take Nicki inside?"

"Yeah sure, " Alison picked up the small boy and set him on her hip, "C'mon munchkin."

The sixteen year old and five year old headed back to the safety of the house while the adults searched for the flashlights.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

The female Yautja burst through the freezing water of the lake. Never in her life had she experienced this kind of cold. She kept her baby's head above the water as she drove herself to swim to shore. She clambered onto dry land and flopped on the ground heavily, weak, exhausted and cold. Shivering violently she turned her head and watch as the lights of her ship slowly disappear into the depths of the black lake. There would be no hope her mate or clan, but this was no a time to mourn. Fighting to stay conscious the mother warrior pulled back the wet blanket covering her son's head. He squirmed and whimpered when he felt the icy bite of the air, but he was unharmed. The female held him close to her body, trying to shield him from the cold as she put a hand down to get up. But her whole body was too numb with cold to respond and she was quickly losing strength as her head wound continued to bleed. She growled in anger as she forced her weak body to move away from the waters edge. She collapsed on the rooted ground panting, her breath coming out in thick clouds of vapour. She then stopped shivering as more of her precious heat dissipated. The baby clawed at her chest and she wrapped her muscular arms around him. The mother again fought to stay awake, falling asleep meant dying and she was not willing to relinquish her spirit until her child was safe. Suddenly she heard voices.

"Annie you're in no condition to go out like this," said a low, bass voice.

"Jack, please stop worrying. I know this forest like the back of my hand," answered a higher voice.

'Oomans,' thought the female. From the sound of their footsteps, they were close. The female grunted as she dug her claws into a tree and strained to sit up. Through the freezing night she saw the heat signatures of three humans. The two bigger ones were undoubtedly male, but the third she realised was female. The clan leader looked at her baby, then back to the oomans. She had to get their attention. Wiping away more blood and putting her weight against the tree, she agonisingly pushed herself up, but only got half way when her knees buckled and her vision started to spin. The mother thumped to the ground and the baby uttered a muffled cry.

"What was that?" asked Annie, pointing her flashlight to the sound.

Daniel shrugged, "It was probably a fox."

The red head shook her head, "No, foxes don't sound like that."

She suddenly saw movement under the light and gasped, "I saw something."

Annie stepped around the thick firs and carefully picked her way over the rooted ground.

"Annie wait!" called Jack.

"Oh my God!" she cried.

"What? What is it?" shouted Daniel as he and his brother broke into a run. They both stopped on either side of her and saw Annie opened mouthed and wide eyed. She was pointing her flashlight at something. When the men followed her light, they too gasped at the strange yellow skinned figure lying on the ground with its back facing them.

"What the hell is that thing!" cried Daniel.

Annie shook her head, "Is it alive?"

She got her answer when the figure moved and growled. Jack stepped in front of his wife protectively.

"C'mon Annie, back away slowly."

"No wait," she shone her flashlight over the dread locked head of the creature, noticing the florescent blood, "I think it's hurt."

"That gives us more of a reason to leave," said Daniel, "there's nothing more dangerous that a wounded animal."

But Annie's maternal instinct and conscience told her to ignore the warning and help what ever was in front of them; she had a strong feeling this creature was more than just an animal. She broke from her husband's protection and cautiously stepped towards the huge wounded creature.

"Annie no!" hissed Jack.

She waved her hand, "Shhh."

Annie took another step on the uneven ground, her large boots digging into the earth as she expertly balanced herself with her load. She switched the flashlight to a lower setting and faced it down, feeling uneasy and intimidated when she saw just how large the creature was. Despite her feelings she continued to inch towards the creature. The Yautja moved and growl again.

"It's alright," the woman said soothingly, stretching one hand out as if to touch it, "it's okay, I'm not going to hurt you. I just wanna help."

"Annie," Jack whined.

She waved for silence. She picked herself around the head of the creature and noticed the injury inflicted on it's oval skull. Annie's heart sank when she realised the wound was fatal. The female Yautja heard the ooman's footsteps and snapped her head up to look at her. Annie made a small cry and jumped back in fear and shock when she saw the alien's face for the first time. The warrior groaned, pushed herself up to a sitting position and leaned her back against the bark of a tree. It was then the expected woman noticed the bundle held tightly in the alien's arms. Daniel and Jack gasped when their flashlights showed what the creature looked like. The Yautja rumbled and squinted at the bright lights.

"Turn your flashlights down you two," Annie whispered.

She looked back at the wrapped bundle in the alien's arms and took a curious step toward it.

"Annie don't!" Jack clambered over the rocks and stood between the creature and his wife. She struggled to get around him.

"Jack no, please! It needs our help," she pointed at the Yautja, "look it's holding something."

The female strained to keep her eyes open and she stared at the female ooman's signature. Even though most of the ooman's body was covered with thick clothing, the warrior could still see the familiar swell in her belly. The dying mother raised a shaky right hand, pointed a single claw at the female and made a fluttering click. Annie's eyes widened, she pointed to herself.

"Me? You want me?"

The alien lowered her hand and purred. She glanced down at the bundle and rubbed her clawed hand over it. Annie saw the bundle move and she stepped around her husband when he grabbed her arm.

"No Annie," he hissed.

"Jack please it–" she glanced at the creature, "–she needs me."

He shook his head.

"Please Jack," she said with determination, "let me go to her."

He husband stared at her, then to the female creature who was still tending to what ever was in her arms. He shook his flashlight.

"If that thing lays a claw on you, I'll make it's passing easier."

Annie nodded her understanding and faced the female. She sat down on her knees in arms reach in front of the Yautja and waited. The dying mother's eyes were close to dimming when she took her hand away form the bundle. Annie could see that the creature was holding a small baby wrapped in a soaked blanket. The young woman felt a lump in her throat as a wave of sadness swept through her. The warrior used the rest of her strength the hold out her child towards the ooman. Annie looked startled.

"You...you want me to take your child?"

As if understanding, the mother clicked and nodded in response. Annie's eyes blurred with tears. Noticing ice on the blanket, Annie ripped of her coat and gently scooped the child from the mother's outstretched arms. The dying warrior's arms fell as Annie wrapped the half awake baby tighter in her warm jacket. She sniffed, a single tear escaped and rolled down her cheek as she looked at the mother one last time. She smiled and bowed, as the feelings of awe and respect for the mother rose inside her.

"I promise to take care of your child. Rest in peace."

Annie swore she thought the female alien smiled back. The Yautja's eyes dimmed and with a sigh, her head lulled forward and her spirit was released to the Black Warrior. Another tear turned cold from the air as it fell down Annie's face. She rocked the baby back and forth, watching the new born lazily move his mandibles and open his eyes to look up at her. For a moment everything was still and peaceful, save for the chilled breeze that made the trees sway and pick at Annie's long hair. Jack's winter boots crunched on the forest floor as he stepped beside her and rubbed her shoulders, sighing.

"That was very brave of you Annie. I'm proud of you."

Annie sniffed, her voice was caught in her throat, "She was brave too."

The young woman bounced the whimpering babe then looked over her shoulder to the lake.

"Jack, can you and Danny put her in the water?"

"What?" asked the shocked Daniel.

Annie stared as her husband with pleading eyes, "Please Jack, she can't be seen or found by anyone. She probably would have wanted it this way."

Jack stared at those watery eyes.

"Alright," he said, rubbing her arms. She was right, this alien had remain a secret. Which got him thinking about what to tell the locals when they came their way; but he can think about that later. He turned to his older sibling and he nodded, his eyes full of empathy.

"Alright we'll do it. But stay close okay."

She nodded as the two brothers went to the frozen body. The child in her arms let out a cry and she rocked him as she cooed at the small face.

"No, no little one, don't cry. You're safe now. You're going to be alright."

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

It was well past midnight when the adults came back to the house. Annie had gotten a new blanket to wrap the infant in and he was now sleeping peacefully in her arms. She moved back and forth in her rocking chair in the living while the two brothers sat on the chesterfield across from her. Not a word was spoken amongst the trio. All heads turned when they heard Alison's footsteps come down the stairs and into the living room.

"Nicki's in bed asleep," she informed.

Annie smiled, "Thank–you Alison, you're a wonder."

The Cree teen shrugged modestly, "Hey, glad I can help."

She looked over the young woman's shoulder and down to the snoozing alien.

"So, what are you going to name it?"

Annie stopped rocking, "He, not it."

"Okay, what'ya gonna call him?"

"Not Bambi I hope," chuckled Daniel.

Annie smiled and brushed back a lock of her red hair, "I'll name him...Morgan."

Jack stood up, "Why Morgan?"

His wife smiled, "It's a Gaelic name meaning 'man from the water's edge', or in this case alien."

Alison smiled and tenderly rubbed a finger over the baby's single diamond birth mark.

"Morgan, I like it. It suits him."

Jack walked to Annie and held out his arms, "May I?"

Annie grinned and gave the child to Jack. He held the infant like he did when Nicolas was born. The little one stirred, then went back to his dreams.

"Hello Morgan," Jack whispered, "welcome to the family."

Whew! That was a long prologue, but I've do it! I don't know for sure if female Yautja breast feed their newborns or if they just have them for decoration. Either way I still wanted to create a strong bond between mother and child. So please readers tell me what you think of it so far!

I'll hopefully be able to get chapter 13 of 'Slave of a Hunter' up as soon as I can. But in the mean time I hope you enjoyed the beginning of this story!