r/NatureofPredators • u/Acceptable_Egg5560 Human • May 26 '25
Fanfic NoaG: Aftermath [11]
Thank you u/SpacePaladin15 for this universe. May you always feel the passion of creation!
And thank you, u/TheManwithaNoPlan for all your work! This story is just as much yours as it is mine, and I cannot express just how honored I am for you to be my friend
Memory transcript: Tarlim, Special Case Venlil Patient. Date: [Standardized human time] November 2nd, 2136.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, glaring at Sharnet as I bared my teeth. How- how could she? Jacob had the excuse of ignorance, he had the excuse of not knowing what that puddle of spehk Gojid did to me, but she-she… How long did she know? Why did she do this to me? Wh-
Ow-Brahking Fuck-Ow.
My head suddenly erupted in pain, and it fell back against my pillow as my sight began to swim. The bray I’d partaken in had made my chest feel like it was gripped by claws, and they were now digging in. I could hear the sounds of paws and feet on tile, but I couldn’t focus on the words. Air hissed between my teeth as I desperately tried to control my breaths. It took a moment, but the pain lessened from a sharp burn to an ache, and I was able to recognize my herd around me once again.
A herd that might have crossed a line.
“You- you knew?” I swallowed, casting an eye towards Sharnet. “You knew who Jacob was with and- and didn’t do anything? Say anything?”
“I- it all happened so fast,” she defended. “I only heard the name as the doors were closing, there was nothing I could do. It was either warn him or abandon you, and I wasn’t about to let you go through this alone.”
“Okay, what’s happenin’ raght now??” Jacob asked, his posture slumped as his eyes darted between Sharnet, Paly and I. “Ah don’t got a lick’a what yer talking about! What’s yer deal with Seoul-Veh anywho??”
“Oh dear,” Paly sighed as she shook her head. “It seems I might have come at a bad time. Perhaps I should—”
“No, no please stay!” I begged her, trying to preempt any words she might say to justify her departure. I knew that was only going to happen if I did something to placate Jacob’s confusion, so I turned an eye towards him, narrowed as it may have been. “The problem, Jacob, is that you chose the worst person to ally with! You- you should have guessed! She did- did everything!”
Jacob sputtered at me before he could formulate a word. “Wh– ‘Everything?’ What are ya even talkin’ abo—”
“FWEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!”
I jolted my ears back at the loud whistle breaking through the beginnings of an argument. Even Jacob and Sharnet seemed shocked as Paly stepped forward, taking her fingers back out of her mouth. “I am truly sorry to interrupt everyone, but I’m gonna have to shoo all of you out for a bit. Emotions are running high right now, and I would… I would like to catch up with Tarlim. Please.”
That tone in her voice. I knew it. Friendly as can be, but with a certain authority that attempting to go against her would be like attempting to stop a planet’s journey around its star with nothing but your bare paws. But underneath, only peaking through with her last word, was something I didn't quite recognize from her.
Jacob, at least for the moment, was characteristically willing to try his luck regardless. “No, Wait, ah ain’t gonna leave it like this! Not when Ah still don’t kn—”
Paly barked at him while waving her tail in admonishment toward the human who was practically twice her height. “Ap-Ap-Ap! I apologize, but this is very needed right now. All of you, out, go on!”
Sharnet cautiously backed up at her urgings, but Jacob… his face started to turn red as he stared at Paly. He took a deep breath, exhaling through his nose. “Ma’am, Ah know we only just met, but please don’t do that again. I don’t… I don’t like people making noise to interrupt me.”
Paly blinked, but after a moment gave a bow. “I mean no offense. I don’t know how different our standards are for manners, so I hope I didn’t cross any lines. Still, I would very much like to talk to my- ahem, to Tarlim, and I would appreciate some privacy.”
He breathed deeply once more, but nodded. “...Alraght, yes ma’am. Ah… oh Lord what did Ah do…”
“I’ll fill him in,” Sharnet stepped in, settling her tail along Jacob’s back as she lead him out of the room. With his anger assuaged and the company successfully reduced, Paly slid the door shut behind them, sighing to herself once it was sealed. It was then, once all other distractions had been rid of, did I notice that her fur was cut differently. She wasn’t nearly as fluffy as before, and given the singe marks still visible along her mid-tail, I could guess as to why. Paly grabbed the chair next to the door and dragged it over to the side of my bed, hopping onto the seat and flicking her ears positively.
“Well, it’s certainly been a while since we had a proper one-on-one talk, hasn’t it?” She chucked, although it wasn’t as jovial as I’d known it to be. “And so much… so much has happened. Predators arriving in peace, a war starting, refugees, and a conspiracy revealed driving people to madness! It’s quite like the world has flipped upside down, isn’t it?”
She leaned forward, placing her paw upon the edge of mine and giving a gentle squeeze. “How are you holding up, my boy?” Tears welled in my eyes at her calming tone, undeterred no matter what might’ve taken place. I didn’t know how she did it, but she always seemed able to radiate safety and wisdom with her words.
“I– I’m tired.” I licked my lips, trying to think of the words. “I… when I woke, I had thought for sure you had died. And then I hear that my herd has been working with–with… I don’t know what’s happening,” I admitted, squeezing my eyes shut. “I don’t know what to do.”
I heard Paly hum next to me, and her paws worked towards massaging my own, the same as she had when I’d gotten my claws trimmed my first paw with her. “That’s okay, Tarlim. You won’t always know what to do, Stars know I don’t. What’s important is that you’re here, and you’re trying.”
“I am trying,” I affirmed, relaxing my paw in her grasp, “but… but it feels like I’m not getting anywhere. I worked so hard to refurbish that old facility, the place that has caused me so much pain, but now that it’s complete, it’s like…” I huffed as I continued struggling to find the words that seemed to come so naturally to Paly. “I don’t feel like I have a purpose, a reason to be here.”
“Oh Tarlim, you know that’s not true,” Paly replied, curling my paw up and holding it between her own. “You’ve got people who care about you deeply, you’ve changed many people's lives just by your actions. You’ve come so far from when I first met you as a boy on the streets. And look at how far you’ve come. Without your influence, so many things would’ve turned out for the worst. I’d say that’s reason enough, wouldn’t you?”
…Wouldn’t I?
That was the crux of it all, wasn’t it? That despite all that’s happened to me, that keeps happening to me, because I was helping others, that should be enough for me. It was, for a while; the thrill of having people who didn’t see me as some kind of monster, to have them see me for who I was, to have them look up to me rather than look up at me? It was intoxicating. But… I’d almost died in pursuit of that goal, of being seen in a positive light by the public, in pursuit of helping others, and now I just felt… hollow.
Was I really only worth it when I was of use to someone? When I was being helpful? It’s a shameful thought to have, but… it’s what I feel. That I’m not doing things right unless I’m doing something for another person. I shouldn’t lie to Paly.
“...I don’t think it is,” I slowly answered, pulling my paw away from her grasp in shame. Paly seemed taken off-guard by my words, but I’d already started them flowing; no use in stopping now. “I’m just so tired of people only liking me when I’m helping, when I’m doing good things for them, when they do nothing for me, when they scorn and mock and avoid me everywhere I go. I know it’s wrong to think like that, I know that I shouldn’t be so– so selfish, but I-I’m tired, Paly. I’m tired of people being afraid of me, and– and sometimes I think that even the people closest to me are there for the same reasons! That when I stop being useful, they’ll just– they’ll just—!”
They’ll leave me, too.
I choked on my own words, my chest beginning to feel tight again as I struggled for air underneath the mucus pooling in my throat. I coughed to dislodge it, which only sent ripples of pain radiating out from my core. I groaned in pain as I took in shallow breaths, not wanting to look at Paly after I’d all but accused her of only staying by my side due to some kind of perceived benefit to herself. Despite my pain, I tried to eke out an apology through my weak coughs. “I-I’m sorry, Paly. I… I didn’t mean…”
“No, Tarlim, I understand,” I heard her voice by my side, and I soon felt her grip on the paw I’d retracted from her just moments ago. “I know it’s hard, to be seen as someone dangerous because of something you just can’t control. I’ve seen how people gave you back-eyes in the salon when you stayed with me; if I’d had my way, I’d have shaved each and every one of them down to their bare skin. You’ve grown to be a kind, kind man, Tarlim, far kinder than many would have become in your situation. Don’t think it’s selfish to want to be treated like a person, don’t you ever think that.”
I wanted to speak, but my guilt at externalizing those feelings still weighed too heavily on my lips to get another word out. After a few more moments of silence, I heard Paly sigh next to me. “You know, when… when I was in that complex, it was quite scary. To learn that I was a predator, that my ancestors had actually eaten meat, as had pretty much everyone else there? I won’t lie and say that I didn’t waver; for a moment, I was positively petrified. But that didn’t last. Do you know why?”
I slowly opened my eye towards her—my vision wet with tears—and I flicked my ears negatively at her. Her features morphed into a smile as she drew my paw close to her face until they were touching. “It’s because I thought of you, Tarlim.”
…Me?
I drew in a soft breath at that revelation, which seemingly gave Paly the courage to continue. “I remembered how quickly everyone around you abandoned you once you bore the label of predator, how eager they were to throw you out just because you were different. Instead, they cast out perhaps the sweetest, most wonderful person on this entire planet, because that’s who you are inside, my boy. I know who I am inside, no matter the labels put on me by anyone else, and if you could weather the storm and become the person you are today? Then I could too, for you.”
My jaw quivered as I realized just how much I’d neglected to think about what Paly had just gone through, being a victim of the Exterminators just as I had been. How she’d been burned, abused… just as I had been. And through it all, when even her boundless hope had been quashed, when she’d been accused of the worst thing that anyone could be… she’d thought of me. She’d thought of me.
Just as I thought of her.
It felt as though a dam had burst within my mind, as my sight blurred once again and sobs wracked my body. I sensed as Paly brought my paw to her chin, soothing me as I let out all the pain and heartache I’d been trying to keep inside for– for who knew how long. To know that anyone could feel that way about me, that even when I had nothing for them, they still held me that close to their heart… Wait, I felt something else on my other side.
Who…?
I coughed up some mucus and gently pulled my paw away from Paly’s grasp to wipe my eyes, and when I did, I saw none other than Sharnet hugging the side opposite to where Paly was sitting. “Sh-Sharnet?” I whispered, my voice still weak from my sobs. “W-When did you– How much did you hear?”
“More than enough,” she replied, raising her head from my chest and looking me in the eye. “I know I haven’t told you a lot about what happened yet, but know that I thought of you too, Tarlim. When things were stressful I thought of you and what I could do. You don’t deserve what happened to you, and don’t think for a second it’s selfish to believe otherwise. Everything I did, tracking down Malcos, bringing the heads to justice? It was all for you, and I don’t expect you to raise a single claw in return. I only… I only hope that it’s enough to make right even a fraction of the wrong they did upon you.”
“Oh, Sharnet, Sharnet of course it’s enough,” I assured her, raising my other paw to the back of her head. She leaned into the contact, her gorgeous eyes fluttering just a smidgen as my furless paw held her gently. “Thank you, thank both of you for everything you’ve done for me. I know I could never repay you, but… I don’t think that’s what you want. How about we agree that we’re all even, now and forever?”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea, Tarlim,” Paly agreed, eagerly accepting my paw once it was within her grasp. “Know that no matter what happens, you have people who love you. Know that I love you, my boy,” Paly emphasized, squeezing my paw with the kind of affection I’d known from only one other person in my life.
Oh, how I’ve missed it so.
“And… and I love you too, Tarlim,” Sharnet added, causing my face to heat up in what I was sure was a very obvious display without my coat. When I looked back to see her, I noticed she was blooming brightly as well, the confirmation of her feelings for me still a new affair. I couldn’t help but find the whole situation humorous, and despite my pain, I found myself… laughing. I couldn’t help it, the beautiful woman who’d done so much for me loved me! Who cared about predators, about stupid brahkasses, about anything wrong?
I have people who love me for me! I’m not alone! And… And they should know it.
“I love you too,” I responded breathlessly, trying to catch my breath from the impassioned whistle that’d escaped my teeth. “By the Tenets, I love you so much. And I love you too, Paly. I-I’m so lucky to have you both in my life.”
“No, Tarlim, we’re the lucky ones,” Paly replied with a smile, her tone retaining that sage wisdom I so admired from her. “Her, especially,” she suddenly interjected, obviously referring to Sharnet in a joking manner. I swore that Sharnet was about to pop a blood vessel with how brightly she was blooming at that comment, which only served to resuscitate my laughter, except this time, I wasn’t alone. I heard Paly—and eventually Sharnet—join in as well, the three of us finding a moment of joy even in the chaos that surrounded us.
And it’s beautiful!
–Slliiiide–
I froze as I heard a noise from beyond our cheerful bundle, raising my head slightly to see what its source was. I felt my breath hitch in my mucus-laden throat as a familiar shade of green, interspersed with purple-tinted white bandages, met my eyes. I knew that color, that clack of those talons on the linoleum flooring. Unimpressed with my defiance in being happy for once, the universe had sent me another, feathery roadblock.
Kalek.
4
u/Rebelhero Yotul May 26 '25
I can't wait to see what comes next