Nov 12, 2025
a toy for children
seen from Colombia
seen from Pakistan
seen from United States
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seen from Romania
seen from T1
seen from China
seen from United States
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a toy for children
She loves it
I wanna know the whole story behind this soooooo bad.
kwei and dek im a sucker for brother bonds
Brotherly bonding ✨✨✨ (Dek gets yeeted every 5 minutes)
Look I love angst as much as the next guy but I’ll appoint myself as the (mostly) wholesome artist for these two 😤 I know Kwei was the best big bro to Dek
The Warrior's Choice
Summary: During a sacred Yautja ceremony, a warrior must choose the mate who will stand beside him for life. Among proud hunters and warriors, you expect to remain unseen.
Kwei walks through the forest slowly, the weight of the skull resting in his hands. The creature had been strong. Fast. Its claws had cut through stone and bark alike, leaving deep scars across the trees where it fought for its life.
But it had not been strong enough.
Kwei had brought it down before sunrise, ending the fight with a clean strike through the spine.
Now, its skull belongs to him.
And soon, it will belong to someone else.
It is quiet as he returns to the clan grounds.
The evening air is cold, carrying the smell of distant fire smoke.
The clan is already preparing. Fires are being lit.
Warriors move through the settlement, carrying supplies and sharpening blades.
They all know what tomorrow is.
The claiming ceremony.
A tradition older than most of the warriors present.
A hunt is completed. The skull of the creature is offered. And from the females of the clan, one is chosen to become a wife.
Kwei reaches the entrance of the central courtyard and pauses for a moment.
His brother is waiting.
Dek stands near one of the fire pits, arms crossed over his chest. His posture is relaxed, but his eyes immediately fall on the skull in Kwei’s hands.
“A worthy kill,” Dek says.
Kwei steps closer and sets the skull on the stone table between them.
The bone is thick and ridged, its teeth curved and brutal. A dangerous creature. The kind that earns respect when it is brought down.
Dek runs a clawed finger across one of the horns.
“It will make a fine first gift.”
Kwei grunts in agreement.
The skull will not remain here long. By this time tomorrow, it will be placed in the hands of his chosen mate.
Dek glances at him.
“You have decided, then.”
It is not a question.
Kwei has never been one to hesitate.
“Yes.”
Dek leans back slightly, studying his brother.
“And yet you have told no one.”
Kwei does not answer.
He reaches for a cloth and begins cleaning the remaining blood and dirt from the bone.
The silence stretches.
Dek snorts softly.
“You enjoy this.”
Kwei glances at him briefly.
“What?”
“The mystery. Every female in this clan has been preparing for weeks.”
Kwei knows.
He has seen it.
Some train harder. Some speak louder. Some walk closer to him than they once did, hoping their presence will be noticed.
Dek gestures lazily toward the outer paths of the settlement.
“They believe they know what you want.”
Kwei finally sets the cloth aside.
“They are wrong.”
Dek’s brow ridges lift slightly.
“Oh?”
Kwei leans his weight against the stone table.
“I do not want a warrior.”
Dek blinks.
That is not the answer he expected.
“You are a hunter. One of the strongest in this clan.”
“I know.”
“Then why would you not want a warrior beside you?”
Kwei looks toward the distant treeline.
Because he has seen what that looks like.
He has watched the pairings before.
Two warriors sharing a home that feels more like a training ground.
Competition.
Strength measured every day.
He does not want that.
“I have enough war in my life,” he says simply.
Dek studies him carefully now.
“You believe a warrior cannot bring peace.”
“I believe a warrior will not try.”
Dek crosses his arms again.
“And the others?”
Kwei knows what he means.
The females who have approached him these past months.
Strong hunters.
Impressive fighters.
Loud.
Proud.
They want to stand beside him because he is strong.
Because his name carries weight in the clan.
Because they believe standing next to him will raise their own.
But that is not what he wants.
Kwei glances down at the skull again.
“I do not want someone who sees me as a prize.”
Dek tilts his head slightly.
“And yet you have chosen.”
“Yes.”
The answer is firm.
Certain.
Dek’s gaze sharpens.
“Then tell me who you chose.”
Kwei meets his brother’s eyes.
“No.”
Dek laughs under his breath.
“You truly intend to surprise the entire clan.”
Kwei does not smile.
But his eyes shift slightly toward the path leading down to the water pools.
Earlier that day, he had passed by there.
He had seen you kneeling beside a youngling, cleaning a cut on the small warrior’s arm.
Your hands had been gentle.
Your voice soft.
You had not noticed him watching.
You rarely notice him.
Most of the others do.
They look at him with calculation.
With ambition.
With the quiet hunger to be chosen.
You do not.
You speak to him when spoken to.
You nod respectfully.
Then you return to whatever task you were doing.
Water.
Food preparation.
Helping someone who needed it.
You never try to impress him.
And that, strangely, had made you impossible to ignore.
Dek notices the shift in his gaze.
“You are thinking of her.”
Kwei’s attention snaps back to his brother.
“I did not say that.”
“You did not need to. Is she strong?”
Kwei considers the question.
Then shakes his head.
“Not in the way you mean.”
Dek leans forward slightly, curious.
“Then why her?”
Kwei looks around the courtyard.
The stone.
The weapons.
The skulls of old hunts mounted along the walls.
This place is strong.
Impressive.
But it is not warm.
His home is the same.
Strong.
Cold.
Empty.
He exhales slowly.
“A hunter can fill my walls with trophies. But they cannot fill my home.”
Dek’s expression changes slightly.
Understanding flickers there.
“You want warmth.”
“Yes.”
Dek studies him for a long moment.
“You believe she can give you that.”
Kwei nods once.
“I know she can.”
Dek pushes away from the fire pit and stretches his arms.
“Well. Tomorrow will be interesting.”
Kwei lifts the skull from the table again.
The bone is heavy.
Solid.
A worthy gift.
Tomorrow, he will place it in your hands.
You will be shocked.
He knows that already.
You will look up at him with those wide, uncertain eyes and wonder why he has chosen you.
He can already imagine the question forming in your mind.
Why me?
Kwei turns toward the ceremonial hall.
The fires inside are already being prepared.
The clan will gather.
The elder will speak.
And when the moment comes, he will walk past every female who tried to be noticed.
Until he stops in front of the one who never tried at all.
Dek calls after him.
“One last question.”
Kwei pauses.
His brother grins slightly.
“Are you certain she will accept you?”
Kwei glances back over his shoulder.
For a moment, his expression softens.
Then he answers.
“If she does not, I will accept it. But I will not choose another.”
Dek studies him carefully.
That answer surprises him even more than the rest.
Kwei turns away again and continues toward the hall.
The skull rests steady in his hands.
Tomorrow, the clan will believe he is choosing a wife.
But the truth is simpler than that.
Tomorrow, he will choose warmth.
---
You were the only human living in the settlement. Yautja wasn't really the kind to accept other species. But after one of their Elders took you from Earth as a live trophy, you began to live amongst them. You learned their language, their traditions and soon, you became a member of their clan.
During an attack, you proved yourself worthy by saving the younglings. They were left behind, not a priority. But you fought a monster and kept them safe.
It earned you your place in their society.
An independent female living on her own, doing chores she can.
This will not be your first ceremony. During such events, all females are present.
You were never chosen and you expect the same to happen today.
The fire is already burning when you arrive.
The smell of smoke mixes with the cool evening air.
You pause at the edge of the courtyard.
There are many females already standing near the stone platform where the ritual will take place.
Some are hunters.
Some are warriors.
All of them know why they are here.
You lower your gaze slightly as you move to stand among them.
The ceremony is an old tradition. One that carries weight within the clan. A warrior proves himself through a hunt, bringing back the skull of the creature he killed. That skull becomes the first gift to the female he chooses as his mate.
A promise.
A declaration.
A sign that he can provide.
And tonight, the warrior who will make that choice is Kwei.
You have spoken to him before.
But not often.
You do not think he even notices you.
So you take your place quietly among the others and keep your head lowered.
Around you, the other females stand tall.
Some wear their armour proudly. Others carry the marks of previous hunts on their skin. Their posture is confident. Their movements are careful and deliberate.
They expect to be seen.
You do not.
Your hands rest loosely in front of you as you stare at the ground underneath your feet.
The stone floor is warm from the fire.
The air around you feels heavy with anticipation.
Then the drums begin.
A deep, steady rhythm echoes across the courtyard. Warriors of the clan begin to gather around the outer circle, their large forms surrounding the ceremonial space.
You feel their eyes moving over the line of females.
Judging.
Watching.
Waiting.
You try not to think about it.
You try not to think about Kwei.
The drums grow louder.
Then suddenly they stop.
Silence falls across the courtyard.
You lift your eyes slightly.
The elder steps forward first.
He stands beside the stone platform, raising one hand to quiet the crowd completely.
“Tonight,” he begins, his voice carrying easily across the courtyard, “a hunter returns with honour.”
You hear movement behind you.
Heavy footsteps.
You already know who it is.
Kwei enters the courtyard slowly.
You do not look directly at him at first.
But you see the shape of him from the corner of your vision.
Tall.
Broad.
Strong.
In his hands, he carries the skull.
The bone is pale beneath the firelight, thick and ridged with long, curved horns. Even from this distance, you can see how dangerous the creature must have been when it was alive.
The elder gestures toward the skull.
“The hunt proves strength,” he says.
Kwei steps forward and places the skull on the ceremonial stone.
The bone lands with a heavy sound.
“The gift proves worth.”
You swallow slightly.
This is the moment every female here has been waiting for. You don't expect anything tonight. But then, why are you nervous?
The elder continues.
“From among the females of this clan, the hunter will choose the one he believes worthy to stand beside him. The skull of his hunt will become the first gift given to his mate.”
The elder steps back.
All attention turns to Kwei.
Your heart beats even faster now.
Kwei stands beside the skull for a moment.
He lifts it.
The bone looks heavy in his hands.
He turns.
And begins to walk.
You keep your head lowered.
You do not want to draw attention to yourself. You do not want to seem as if you expect anything.
So you stare at the stone floor and wait for the moment to pass.
Kwei’s footsteps move slowly down the line of females.
He stops briefly in front of the first.
She stands tall.
Confident.
But after a moment, he moves again.
Another female.
Another pause.
Another step forward.
You hear the faint murmurs of the crowd.
Everyone watching.
Your hands tighten slightly together.
You know he will not stop here.
You barely know him.
And you certainly are not the kind of female warriors usually choose.
You are not the strongest.
You are not the fiercest.
You have never tried to be.
So when the footsteps stop in front of you, you assume he is choosing the female standing beside you.
You remain still.
Head lowered.
Breathing quietly.
But the footsteps do not move again.
Seconds pass.
You lift your eyes.
And find Kwei standing directly in front of you.
Your breath catches.
For a moment, you simply stare at him.
Surely this is a mistake.
Surely he means someone else.
But his eyes are on you.
Only you.
The courtyard has gone completely silent.
Your heart begins to pound.
You glance slightly to the side, wondering if he will move again.
But he doesn’t.
Instead, he lowers the skull.
And places it gently into your hands.
The bone is heavier than you expected.
You nearly stumble under the sudden weight.
Your eyes widen in shock.
A ripple of murmurs spreads through the watching clan.
You barely hear them.
All you can see is Kwei standing in front of you.
All you can feel is the heavy skull resting in your arms.
Kwei speaks.
“This hunt, I dedicate to my mate.”
Mate.
The word echoes through your mind.
Your fingers tighten instinctively around the bone.
You look up at him again, searching his face for some sign that this is a mistake.
But there is none.
His expression is calm.
As if this decision was never in doubt.
The elder steps forward again.
“The gift has been given. The choice has been made.”
Your heart is still racing.
You feel the eyes of the entire clan on you now.
Some surprised.
Some curious.
You barely know what to do.
So you hold the skull carefully and bow your head slightly.
It is the only response you can manage.
You accepted.
The elder nods once.
“Then the bond is acknowledged.”
The drums begin again.
The ceremony continues.
But you barely hear any of it.
Your mind is still caught on one simple thought.
Kwei chose you.
Out of everyone standing here.
He chose you.
And you have absolutely no idea why.
The celebration lasts long into the evening.
Fires burn across the clearing, and the scent of roasted meat fills the air. Yautja warriors sit together, recounting hunts and victories, their deep voices carrying across the night. Skulls and trophies gleam in the firelight, reminders of strength and survival.
You sit quietly among the others. The other females congratulated you, you could tell, they were truly happy for you.
The skull Kwei offered you rests beside you, polished and carefully placed on a mat. It is heavier than you expected. Not just in weight, but in meaning.
You try not to think about it.
Instead, your fingers trace the ridges of the skull, remembering the moment he placed it in your hands. The heat of his gaze. The certainty in his voice.
You are still not entirely sure this is real.
Across the fire, Kwei sits with the other hunters.
He speaks little. That part does not surprise you.
But his eyes move often.
And every time they do, they return to you.
You feel it each time.
It makes your heart beat strangely.
Eventually, the celebration begins to thin. Warriors rise and return to their homes. The fires burn lower. The air grows quieter.
You stand slowly, unsure of what comes next.
You feel his presence before you hear him.
Heavy footsteps approach behind you.
"Kwei."
His voice is low, gentle in a way that surprises you.
You turn.
Up close, he seems even larger than before. The firelight catches along the plates of his armour and the faint scars across his skin.
For a moment, neither of you speak.
Then he gestures.
A simple motion toward the path leading away from the clearing.
You follow him.
The walk is quiet.
The clan settlement fades behind you, replaced by the softer sounds of night insects and distant wind moving through the stone.
His home stands slightly apart from the others.
It is sturdy, built from thick wood and dark stone, decorated with trophies of hunts long past. Bones, claws, and carved markings line the entrance.
Yet the inside feels strangely empty.
Cold.
You step inside cautiously.
Kwei enters behind you and closes the door.
For a long moment, he simply stands there, watching you.
You feel suddenly very aware of yourself.
Of the skull you still carry.
Of the strange new weight of being chosen.
Finally, you speak.
"Why?"
The word leaves you before you can stop it.
Your voice is quiet, but the question feels enormous in the silence.
Kwei tilts his head slightly.
You force yourself to continue.
"There were stronger females."
Your hands tighten slightly around the skull. You look down briefly.
"I am not like them."
Silence fills the room.
You wonder if you have spoken out of place.
Then Kwei moves.
He steps closer until he stands only a short distance away.
Up close, his size is overwhelming.
But his posture is calm.
Not threatening.
His voice is softer than you expected.
"I know."
You blink.
He reaches out slowly, tapping two claws gently against his chest.
"My home."
Then he gestures around the room.
The cold walls.
The empty space.
"It is cold." His gaze returns to you. "I do not want another hunter."
His head tilts again, studying your expression carefully.
"I want warmth."
Your breath catches slightly.
He gestures again, mimicking the shape of something being built with his hands.
"A nest."
A nest.
A home.
His voice lowers even further.
"You bring warmth."
Your throat tightens unexpectedly.
You stare at him, trying to understand.
"But... we barely speak."
His mandibles shift slightly in what you slowly realise might be something like a smile.
"I observe."
You freeze.
"You bring food to injured younglings. You share water. You speak gently. You are kind."
Your cheeks grow warm.
You had never thought anyone would notice those things.
Kwei steps closer.
"The others want battle. I want peace."
His hand lifts slowly.
For a moment, you think he might touch you.
But he stops just short, as if he is unsure if he is allowed.
"You are different."
Silence settles between you.
Your heart beats quickly.
Slowly, carefully, you set the skull down on the nearby table.
Then you look back up at him.
"I don't know how to be a Yautja wife."
The words feel embarrassingly small.
He shakes his head.
"I do not want a Yautja wife. I want you."
The simplicity of it hits harder than anything else.
Your chest tightens.
Slowly, you step forward.
His posture goes completely still.
You lift your hand.
For a moment, you hesitate.
Then you place your palm gently against his chest.
The warmth under your hand surprises you.
His breath catches slightly.
You look up at him.
"I can try."
The words are quiet but sincere.
Kwei does not move for several seconds. Then his large hand slowly lifts, covering yours where it rests against him.
---
The clan is quiet when Kwei returns from the hunt.
Night has already fallen. The air is sharp with the coming winter, cold enough that frost gathers along the edges of leaves and stones.
His armour is heavy with the scent of blood and earth. A large creature hangs across his shoulder, its claws bound with thick rope.
The hunt was successful.
Any other hunter would walk proudly through the clan with such a prize. Many do. They enjoy the attention, the admiration, the loud praise from other warriors.
Kwei walks past them without stopping.
His path leads somewhere else.
Home.
The word still feels strange sometimes. Not because it is unfamiliar, but because of what it has become.
Years ago, this place was nothing more than a shelter. Stone walls. A place to sleep between hunts. Cold, quiet, empty.
Now it is something different.
Now it is yours.
The door opens with a low wooden creak.
Warm air greets him first.
Then the smell.
Cooked meat. Herbs you gathered earlier in the day. The faint smoke from the fire burning in the hearth.
It is a scent he knows well now.
It is the scent of peace.
Furs cover the stone floor, and the large sleeping nest in the corner is piled high with thick pelts from hunts. Some are from creatures that live far. Some from beasts so large that bringing them home nearly cost him his life.
Every single one was brought here for the same reason.
You.
Humans feel cold easily. He learned that very quickly.
And so the nest grew warmer with every passing season.
Kwei lowers the creature from his shoulder onto the floor near the door.
The sound draws your attention.
You step out from the back room, wiping your hands against a cloth.
When you see him, your face lights up immediately.
"Kwei."
Your voice is soft and warm, exactly the way it always is when he returns.
You walk toward him without hesitation.
You are smaller than him. Much smaller. Yet you stand before him without fear, reaching for him.
Your hand touches his arm.
"You are back."
He nods once.
Your eyes move briefly to the creature on the floor.
"You had a good hunt."
Another nod.
You smile.
There is no jealousy in your voice. No competition. No pride that demands proof of strength, the way many Yautja females would.
Only quiet happiness that he returned safely.
The warmth in his chest spreads instantly.
You turn slightly, already moving toward the fire.
"I made food. I was not sure when you would return, but it should still be warm."
You speak casually, like this is the most natural thing in the world.
Maybe for you it is. For him, it is still something precious.
Something rare.
He watches you move around the room, adjusting the pot above the fire, setting out the carved wooden bowls you prefer to use. The soft fur around your shoulders shifts when you move.
You hum quietly to yourself while you work.
Kwei removes his armour slowly, placing the heavy pieces against the wall.
Your home is full now.
Not with trophies or weapons.
With life.
You glance back at him over your shoulder.
"Was the hunt difficult?"
He could tell you many things.
About the creature that nearly tore open his side. About the long chase through the frozen river. About the moment he drove his blade through the beast's skull.
But he only answers simply.
"It was good."
You laugh softly.
"You always say that."
Kwei tilts his head slightly.
It is true.
He does not enjoy talking about hunts the way the others do. They sit for hours telling stories of blood and battle.
He listens.
But he does not speak.
You bring the food to the low table near the fire and sit down.
"Come. Eat."
He steps closer.
But instead of sitting immediately, he reaches for you.
Large arms wrap around your body, lifting you easily from the floor before you can react.
You laugh in surprise.
"Kwei!"
He does not answer.
Instead, he carries you across the room toward the large nest of furs.
You try to continue your earlier conversation.
"What did you hunt this time? It looked big."
No answer.
You glance up at him.
He lowers himself onto the nest, pulling you with him until you are pressed safely against his chest.
Your head rests just under his chin.
Only then does he finally speak.
"I want to hear you."
You blink.
"What?"
His arms tighten slightly around you.
"Talk."
You laugh again, quieter this time.
"You just came back from a hunt and you want to hear me talk?"
He nods.
Your fingers trace small circles against the skin of his arm.
"What should I talk about?"
Kwei closes his eyes briefly.
Your voice is calm.
Soft.
Warm.
It fills the space in a way nothing else ever could.
"Anything."
You think for a moment.
Then you begin speaking about your day.
About the herbs you gathered near the river. About the young hunter who slipped in the mud during training and covered himself completely in dirt. About how one of the elders tried to teach you a new recipe, but nearly burned the meat.
Your words flow easily.
Kwei listens.
He does not interrupt.
Does not move.
His large body relaxes slowly under your gentle voice.
This is what he wanted all those years ago.
Not another warrior.
Not another hunter eager for battle.
Warmth.
A home.
A nest filled with life.
Your hand eventually moves through his dreadlocks absentmindedly while you continue talking.
Your fingers are gentle.
Comforting.
At some point, your voice slows.
"You are very quiet tonight."
He opens one eye slightly.
"I am listening."
You smile against his chest.
"Did you at least miss me while you were gone?"
The question is playful.
Light.
Kwei opens his eyes fully now.
His hand moves up, gently holding the back of your head as he pulls you closer.
"Always."
The word is low.
Certain.
Your heart warms instantly.
Exactly the way Kwei always wanted.
~Masterlist~
ˇAO3ˇ
bros will be bros 😅
This is as far as I go. No more. This is it.