"Oy... Son... Wake up..."

Xa'Gun felt his face lightly slapped a few times, as his eyes slowly opened. As they opened the fuzzy image of his adopted father Jukzuk came into view.

"You were imbedded like a tick in those dreamlands, weren't ya son?" Jukzuk commented and laughed.

Xa'Gun rolled up to sit up from his sleeping position on the couch. He rubbed his head.

"How do you feel?" Jukzuk asked in a serious tone.

Xa'Gun put his arm down, closed his burning eyes, and probed his body. After a few moments, he looked up to Jukzuk and spoke, "I feel... Fine."

"No aches? No joint pain? How about your leg there?" Jukzuk pointed to the nice-looking bandage on Xa'Gun's leg where he had been slashed previously.

Xa'Gun grunted as he reached his hand down to rub the bandages that were wrapped by Demze, after dinner last night. Feeling the area, Xa'Gun raised a brow. He undid the bandages and revealed a long scab. He flaked it away to reveal a long thin line of new skin that was lighter in color than the skin around it.

"Good, very very good. I was hopeful." Jukzuk commented as he smiled.

"Ummm... I've always healed faster while eating meat... But never this fast." Xa'Gun rubbed the, now, smooth skin.

"You can thank the ghostberries for that." Jukzuk nodded, before continuing, "Are you sore from training yesterday?"

Xa'Gun grunted in thought, as he moved his body slightly, "No, just slightly tired."

"...Hmmmm..." Jukzuk raised a brow, "It could be delayed or it might be prevented... Let's hope that this tiredness doesn't earn you being gutted today... And if you couldn't tell, I'm not pleased that you exerted yourself so much just before the day of your next bout!" Jukzuk hardened his voice ever so slightly.

Xa'Gun felt slightly odd at his scolding. He wasn't being scolded in malice, jealousy, or any other dark emotion, but rather one of concern for his well being. It would be a lie to say it didn't make him feel happy, as he smiled wretchedly.

Jukzuk noticed his smile and didn't say more on the subject.

"Let's get going. Here put on your hood..." Jukzuk handed Xa'Gun his leather hood to hide his face until he arrived at the slave pits, after which he turned to start toward the burrow's front door.

"W-wait!" A soft voice came from the side hall leading to the bedrooms and bathroom.

The adopted father and son pair peered into the darkened hall to see Demze sway into the Foyer. Jukzuk closed one eye, as he observed Demze's gate, as she attempted to sashay to Xa'Gun.

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"Oy..." Jukzuk shook his head, as he spoke, "I'll be right outside the front," as he turned and left the burrow.

Demze smiled at Jukzuk's departure, knowing that he could pick up on her not-so-subtle wish to see off Xa'Gun before he entered the slave pit's arena.

Xa'Gun didn't bother to turn around to look at Demze, as he cast his gaze over his shoulder. This disregard was not without notice, but it seemed to not phase her

She grew close to Xa'Gun and slithered around from his back to his front, as she raised herself on the tips of her feet against his chest. Xa'Gun glanced at Demze's face from under his hood.

"You'll be careful, and win... Right?" Demze cooed.

Xa'Gun grunted in response.

"Be smart about your attack and defense... Don't get chopped like last time." Demze continued.

Xa'Gun let loose an annoyed snort, as his patience began to wane.

Demze looked at the two marks that she and Hellie left on Xa'Gun's chest that began to fade.

"I hate you so much, Gun-Gun... I really do," Slightly angered Demze bite into the same place she had previously and quickly sucked.

Xa'Gun hissed, startled by the sharp unexpected pain, Xa'Gun grabbed Demze by the shoulders and lifted her to eye level, as he squeezed her roughly in the air.

"BITCH! WHY DID YOU DO THAT SO HARD!" Xa'Gun bellowed into the face of Demze, whose feet dangled in the air.

Demze licked the bit of blood at the corner of her lips, as she responded, "So... I can continue, as long as you know it's coming? Hmmm???"

Seeing Demze lick the corner of her mouth brought upon a hot stirring within Xa'Gun's loins... Displeased by the arousal he felt, he threw Demze to the floor, as he did not answer her question.

Demze rolled to her knees, as she rubbed her hip that hurt from being thrown to the floor... Xa'Gun breathed a few times and centered himself, as he felt a wet dripping run down his chest from the love bite, if love, it could be called...

After a moment of calming where silence reigned, Xa'Gun spoke, "Thank you..." He began to walk out the door.

Shocked by the 'thank you,' Demze called out in question, "Thank me for what?!"

Xa'Gun put his hand on the edge of the door before leaving, as he left behind his reply, "For the motivation to fight today... Your hateful bite, makes me want to hurt someone... So watch me kill today, and think of what you did."

Demze remained in the dusk of the dank burrow thinking on the words said by Xa'Gun...

[Is... He smarter than he lets on???] Demze couldn't help but think such, as she rose to her feet. It would be soon that she needed to go to the arena as well. She needed to prepare for an appearance. Now that she marked a male, she would need to look the part of an Orcess that was claimed. Light makeup and nice attire would do the trick.

As Demze walked down the hallway, she lifted the basement door to the end of the hallway and descended into her new abode she had claimed within Xa'Gun's burrow. As she took the steps and closed the hatch behind her, she could still taste Xa'Gun on her tongue...

[You and I were meant to be... You know it's true... So why are you making it so hard to get through to you???] Demze mused to herself, as another thought occurred to her, [I hope he can maintain his hate of me the night we consummate... Mmmmm.]

*******

Jukzuk and the Stonethrower brothers waited outside the entrance of the burrow, could hear clearly Xa'Gun's bellow. They watched as he exited, and all present couldn't help but see the bleeding mark on Xa'Gun's chest.

Gnarg elbowed his brother, as his brother grunted in near jealousy, as Gnarg commented, "You lucky son of a bitch... I didn't know that princess was so rough!"

"..." Xa'Gun didn't grunt but remained silent.

"Ummm... Let's go." Jukzuk slapped Xa'Gun on the shoulder and began to walk toward the Slave pits.

The Stonethrower brothers didn't understand the issue but grunted and moved to the sides of Xa'Gun as they walked behind Jukzuk.