It was a great affront to Touzaya for Kokuuzou to have pulled her so unceremoniously from the heat of battle. She was very angry with him for many days. Eventually, her attitude cooled toward her bond, but she was still consumed with hatred for the yautjadragon Jenin and anything that had to do with him, including Akarui. Unable to seek retribution with physical attacks, she satisfied herself with small tricks and taunts directed at them. Leaving dead birds and other small rodents on their doorstep or other minor inconveniences. She also eavesdropped heavily on what was going on between the two. When she found out that Jenin was training to pass the test that some doctor was to call him up for in the near future, she cackled gleefully, as if she’d found a particularly dank and host-ridden place to nest a clutch.

It became her obsession to find out about this test, discovering that it was being kept in the utmost of secrecy. The yautjadragon would only know when to arrive by a call through their own (no doubt lesser) version of mindstream speak called “huntermind communication”. Now her task was to find a way to be sure that Jenin’s invitation got “lost in the mail”.

The day had come, so to speak. Not long after Jenin was hatched, Akarui had found him a small 5-year calendar with which to count down the days until the Trial was to happen. And, on his and his siblings second birthday, he was waiting expectantly for the call to go out. But it never came. He waited anxiously all day, tail flipping nervously, talons drumming on his couch. When the day reached it’s close, Jenin went to his bond worriedly. Are you sure it’s today? Akarui sighed. ”Yes Jenin, for the fiftieth time today, I am absolutely, positively sure that today is your second birthday. You do have a lot of siblings, perhaps the Doctor is not finished testing them yet? Be patient. He nodded. Yes, patient. A hunter must be patient, after all, if he wishes to capture his quarry. But he didn’t sound all that convinced.

Nor did he sound convinced when he repeated this phrase at the end of the second day, either. Nor on the fourth, or the fifth... Seven days passed, exactly a week and two years since his birth and no word from the Doctor. Even Akarui seemed slightly worried. ”C’mon, we will go visit the Doctor and see what’s going on. It certainly couldn’t be taking this long...” What awaited them there, would nearly break Jenin’s spirit.

"What!? What do you mean it was a week ago! Jenin never received the call!” The Doctor shook his head sadly, and Jenin just gaped. “I’m sorry, I sent the message out through the huntermind on the exact day. It does appear you are not the only one who missed out.” He smiled sadly at the yautjadragon. But, Doctor Schroeder, surely you know I would not simply ignore something as... as important as this! I have been training my whole life for whatever task you would set before me! Please, there has to be something you can do, something I can do... Behind him the genetic “mother” of the clutch, a yautja by the name of Rhakarndi clicked her mandibles angrily, then uttered something in a language Akarui didn’t understand. Jenin visibly drooped lower. ”What, what did she say?” She said... she does not think I am worthy of a second chance. That there are no second chances in the hunt. I should have been more vigilant to outside threats. The yautja female glared at Akarui with her fierce yellow eyes, so unlike Jenin’s.

Jenin turned, fully ready to accept this and leave, but Akarui wouldn’t. ”No! No, Dr. Schroeder please, he has worked so hard for this, so hard. It’s all he’s thought about since his birth! Jenin has trained every single day of his life for this moment, only to have it stolen from him? I believe in second chances. My friends and I, we screwed up big time at our shot at the stars. We hurt innocent people for petty things. This here, Jenin and all this... this is my second chance. Is there anything that we can do... at all?” Rhakarndi said something else, her eyes all the more fierce as she stared down Akarui. It was clear what her standpoint on the issue was. Dr. Schroeder appeared to be in deep thought. The Light mage sighed, ”Let’s go Jenin...” and she reached up a hand to soothe her bond as they left.

”Wait, wait just a minute. I think there is something we can do...” Jenin froze, scarcely daring to believe... “Perhaps... since there seems to have been some kind of problem with the initial communication... we can give you a second chance at the Trial.” His blue eyes lit up in a grandfatherly way at the ecstatic expression Jenin wore. But Rhakarndi let out a shriek, stamping a booted foot and saying something fiercely to Dr. Schroeder. The two appeared to be in a staring contest, but Jenin seemed to be following the conversation very closely. Akarui was confused. Then, Jenin slumped again, but still wore his intensely relieved expression. ”What, what happened now?” Akarui asked as the female yautja crossed her powerful arms across her chest, looking not quite pleased but certainly more so than she had been before. “Rhakarndi here is most unwilling to allow Jenin another shot at the test, but she will. Unfortunately, he will not be able to acquire the armor and weaponry given to newly blooded yautjadragons. Such is the cost of being late.” The Doctor gave a small shrug, but still beamed up at Jenin.

Clearly, Jenin would have thrown himself at the Doctor and hugged him if such an act would not have crushed the smaller man. He had to settle himself with a wide (and quite fearsome) yautjadragon grin and his fervent thanks. Thank you Dr. Schroeder, thank you so much! You’ll see, this time I won’t let you down.