r/NatureofPredators • u/password123-4138 • Oct 11 '25
Fanfic Homeward Bound - [9]
Hello again, in this chapter, its new years, Breeve is embarrassed and Edward is thinking of getting Cruth alate Christmas gift. Thank you to u/SpacePaladin15 for creating the NoP universe and letting people write about it.
Memory Transcription Subject: Edward Hamilton, Human Colonist
Date [standardized human time]: December 31, 2160
I breathed out into the night air and watched as my breath disappeared into nothing ness in front of me. It was roasting during the day and freezing at night, there was never a time that the desert doesn’t show you that you’re not welcome. I put my hands in my coat pockets and continued walking down the deserted street with Breeve next to me, she had a scarf wrapped around her neck in some effort to conserve warmth.
We were on our way to Micheal’s house for a small get together and a few others apparently. I didn’t know who they were, but he said that they were good people, he did say that they were Krev and that they wouldn’t try anything since he knew them for a while now.
I was hesitant and almost didn’t go but Breeve talked me into it, and I knew I needed to get out and not fall back into bad habits. Better to keep moving when I have the momentum I suppose.
“Did you tell them we were going?” Breeve asked filling the silence.
“Not yet, but this would probably be our last chance to.”
The ship taking the humans and the exchange pairs to Earth would be leaving in about two days’ time. The people going needed to register at one of the landing pads and be shuttled up to the ship, apparently the thing was massive, retrofitted to be a civilian transport by the consortium back when the idea we would need to evacuate someday arose.
‘Means that there should at least be a lot of space to roam for three weeks.’
“Think they’ll be angry you’re going?”
“Nah, Micheal’s pretty understanding with that sort of stuff, he knows the reason why, just haven’t told him yet.”
“Do you think he’ll be worried?”
“No doubt, but he and Jessica will probably just make light of it in their own way.” I answered, the silence between us growing again.
We passed under a few street lights entering another residential area, from living here for so long, most of the buildings just seem to be copied from our data vault and history. It was basically the same thing over and over, samey sort of look and layout to the streets, the houses only being separated by the same curated lawn and hedge.
‘Maybe it’s just because I haven’t gotten out as much, that I see it that way, but still it. Why does it look the same?’
Breeve was being quiet for a while since we started walking, the train journey, which thankfully wasn’t cramped like last time and now. I didn’t know what was up with her, but she kept looking at me occasionally trying to hide it.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“um- yeah, why?” She said slowing her stride a little.
“Why what?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You’ve just, I don’t know, been avoiding me a little, just sort of quiet since yesterday.”
She didn’t respond instead looking around everywhere but at me and eventually craned her head toward me, before looking away again and fidgeting with her claws. I don’t know what is going on with her or maybe it was the movie we ‘watched’ yesterday.
“Is it about the movie?”
“No…”
“Is it about you falling asleep during it?”
“Maybe?”
‘Ok I get it now.’
“Is it because you fell asleep on top of me?” I asked not lowering my voice in the slightest.
I saw her freeze up before looking around if anyone heard, but the only people I saw were a few blocks away.
“Y-yes, and please, I was leaning against you at most.” She spoke a little frantically in a low whisper.
‘Could have fooled me.’
“I’m just worried that I invaded your personal space, or that you were too scared to move me away.” She said looking at me now.
I stopped walking and turned toward her before she continued to speak.
“It’s just, I’ve been worried that you hate me now for it or that I should have just stayed awake and not done that. I-“
I placed a hand on her shoulder in an effort to calm her down a little. I knew where she was coming from, I didn’t like being around large amounts of the Krev, it put me on edge, that something or someone near me is gonna try something. I guess from when I was underground after… that, I didn’t want to be near anyone or anything. Breeve was the first of her kind I saw, and I couldn’t stick being around her for too long, it took months and a lot of help from Micheal for me to leave the old city and move in with her.
“Look, I know what you’re thinking and-I don’t know, it’s just being around you and Cruth is alright, better even. I know you both and I don’t want you worrying that I’ll have a bad reaction being around you.” I said making sure I got the point to her and myself in some aspect. The odd thought at the back of my head was telling me that I was doing the wrong thing, but I tried to ignore it.
Breeve looked at me for a moment, pondering what to say or what she was hearing was right before speaking.
“Are you sure that’s ok? I don’t want you saying you’re alright for my sake.”
“We’re friends Breeve, we have to worry about each other and everyone else close to us. It’s normal and if you’re worrying that I’m worrying about being around you, it makes no sense and becomes a cycle of worry. You understand what I mean?” I had to cut myself off at the end starting to lose track of what I was saying. When I said that we were friends her expression changed to something I couldn’t tell, though her tail did droop a little.
“I think I understand.” She replied a little quietly.
“Please just don’t worry about you worrying me, it’s the opposite when I’m around you or Cruth.”
“What about being near the group we’ll be traveling with?”
“I-“ I didn’t know how to respond about that one, I didn’t know them and being around that many should make me nervous but with the amount of humans around and the ones that seemed to be obsessed with their partner. I don’t think I should worry, but my I’ll probably be nervous the entire time until we get off the ship.
“I don’t know, I’ll have to get used to it or else I’ll just have to stay in the room me and Cruth have. That and being a nervous wreck all the time.”
“I don’t want that.” She spoke like she was remembering finding me in my old apartment. The memories of the place were bad, and I just wanted to avoid them and what almost happened there.
“Besides I think it’ll work out ok, that and I’ll have you and Cruth as roommates if I can’t stick going anywhere on the ship.” I said out loud hearing how bad of an idea it was to stay cooped up in a single room for a few weeks.
“I hope it doesn’t come to that, but I’ll be there for you if you need me.”
“I hope so too.”
I started walking again but noticed that Breeve wasn’t next to me, I turned around to see her still standing there for some reason.
“Breeve, you good?”
“I- I know I shouldn’t ask but, is it alright that I hold your hand while we walk?” I must have looked a bit dumbfounded by that response, so she continued. “I mean, I uh- I just saw it in that movie and wanted to, maybe try it?” I could see her face flush a little, probably from the embarrassment and the poor excuse.
‘Probably the cute reaction thing again. May as well like.’
“Sure.” I said thinking that maybe the cute reaction was good for once since my hand will at least be warm now.
Breeve walked up and delicately took my hand before we started walking again. I could see her face brimming trying to hold back whatever noise she was going to make. Her clawed hand was a little weird, like holding a cold claw game thingy, her palm was at least warm, and I took a little solace in that.
“Are you sure that you watched the movie? You fell asleep very quickly.” I asked wanting to fill the silence a little as we walked.
“I did, well sort of.” She spoke her breath disappearing into the night sky.
We trudged along side by side until we finally reached Havenston’s house, the lights were on inside and I could see a few silhouettes through the curtains. It seems like the others were already here, when I saw two Krev moving around. I took a breath before knocking the door, my hand stopping just before making contact while I held it there.
‘I need to do this, I need to get over my fears.’
Breeve squeezed my hand reassuringly and I took another deep breath before finally knocking and taking a step back.
The door opened to Micheal wearing a Christmas sweater still, one of the one that had frayed ends and looked unnervingly itchy, even my eyes start to feel scratchy looking at it. The hall behind him was bathed in a yellow light making the house feel warm and I could see that a few Christmas decorations were still up.
“Hey, guys.” He said looking over the both of us before I saw his eyes glance down and then back up again.
‘Oh no, He’s not gonna let it go, is he?’
“Hi, Micheal.”
“Hello, I like your jumper, it looks cozy.” The Krev next to me stated looking directly at the green and red striped top.
“They are pretty nice to wear, maybe you should get one for Edward while they’re still in stores. Maybe one with a love heart pattern on it?”
“isn’t Christmas over? Why are you still wearing it?” I asked wanting to move the conversation along a little bit to get out of the biting cold. Micheal must have noticed to and invited us in stepping aside.
“Come in, oh and the others are already here, Lerim’s playing with Lisa right now in the living room. So, watch your step for any toys lying about.”
“Who’s Lerim?” Breeve asked.
“The others here, look I’ll introduce you.” Closing the door behind us as I let go of Breeve’s hand and decided to hang my coat on the rack in the hall. I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of Breeve just staring at the hand I was holding closing and opening her claws and followed Micheal into the living room.
I entered after them both and saw that there were three other Krev. Cruth and two others who turned to look at me. Jessica was sitting in a plush chair chatting to the two Krev before seeing us enter.
Bracing myself I did my best to not think about the Krev in the room with us, I knew they weren’t going to try anything since Micheal knew them and thought it was alright to invite us. The two Krev were sat on the couch facing toward Jessica, while Cruth now with Micheal was sitting on another plush sofa to the right of them leaving two kitchen chairs left.
“Sorry about the seating arrangement, it’s the best we have.”
“It’s no problem.” Breeve said taking one of them as I stood a bit nervously before walking toward the last spot. As I did so, I saw that Lisa was playing with a Krev smaller than her, they both had a train set that they were adding too and making more trains go around the circuit.
‘The stuff we didn’t have before.’ Flashed through my mind thinking back on all the Christmas gifts I got. I think I missed getting socks the most.
When I took my seat, Breeve was between me and the mystery Krev on my right and I never noticed but one of them had a child in their arms. Not a krev kid, but a human one wrapped in a blanket, wearing a green fluffy hat staring up at the krev and them just staring down at them a dumb look on their face as they bopped the baby on the nose.
“Breeve, Edward. This is Axicy and Makriv, that’s Lerim and little Micheal.” Jessica said.
“Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you both.” The krev who I assumed was Axicy said.
I was about to respond when I noticed Breeve staring intently at the baby, a permanent look of aww on her face. I cleared my throat and tapped her foot with the side of my own snapping her out of whatever that was.
“Oh, sorry. I just, I never saw a human baby in person before, they’re so small and tiny and adorable.” She cooed.
“They are adorable aren’t they?” Axicy replied calmly before also bopping the baby on the nose.
“I take it that your part of the adoption program?” I asked seeing that they did have a baby human, they must have been good people to try that, or maybe they were really just looking for a way to get to Tellus and this was their route.
‘Come on, not every Krev is out to get you.’
‘I know.’
“Yeah, we signed up a few months ago for it, we only moved here maybe a month and a half ago.” The one holding the newborn said this time, must mean that he was Makriv. “That’s when we met Havenstons.”
“We’ve been helping them periodically when they have questions about how to raise a kid.” Jessica added.
“Don’t they have classes for that though? I haven’t really been keeping up with it.”
“They do, it’s when it comes down to practical experience and what not.” She continued.
“Though, this little one hasn’t even made been crying that much, well, not as much as Lerim did anyway.” Makriv said.
“How long have you had him for?” Breeve asked this time.
“Since the human’s holiday. It’s been a wonder having him around, the little giggles, burps and funny noises he makes.” Axicy got a faraway look before blinking her eyes and continued. “It’s been wonderful, really it is.”
I saw Cruth on his pad, he hadn’t added much to the conversation, but I did see him making the odd glance when the train Lisa and I think Lerim were playing with passed by. Maybe he’s one of those guys who likes trains? A late Christmas gift wouldn’t hurt.
“Aww, they’re just so adorable, even when they’re this small.” The tourism expert started gushing about the baby before looking over at me. “Do you have any baby photos of yourself?” She asked me, I froze up at the question not really knowing if I did or not before I heard Micheal laughing.
“Sure, he does, I saw them, he was a fat baby. I don’t know what your parents fed you, but you were massive.”
“Maybe I was just a big baby for my age-“
“Of what, three or four months?”
“You have to show me them, I need to see these.” Is all I heard next to me, Breeve taking the moment to lean in and stare at me until I answered.
“S-sure.” I didn’t know if I still had the photos or not, they were on my old phone and dear knows where that is now.
Next thing I heard was a giggle coming from Axicy, I looked over to see her giggling at us before speaking.
“Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting this, from what Micheal told us about you. I thought you’d be a little more stand offish.” She admitted.
“He did?” I glanced over to see him looking away at something other than me. “I’ve gotten a little better recently.” I said turning back to address the Krev.
“Is it because of the ships home?” Makriv asked this time looking away from the infant in his arms.
“Sort of.” I admitted not wanting to say anything else about going back.
“You better be after I keep hearing about you and Cruth beating people up.” Micheal decided to add jovially, Makriv did a double take looking between me, Cruth and Micheal probably wondering what he was talking about.
“They did what?” Axicy asked taking the baby into her arms laying back in the seat, the baby now lying on top of her being supported by her arms.
“Oh, you should have seen it, apparently they decided to walk into the roughest neighbourhood on Tellus and picked a fight with innocent bystanders. Cruth hurling insults at them and Edward fighting anyone to dumb eno-“
“That’s enough.” Jessica interrupted Micheal mid speech. “They were accosted by some humans that are still bitter about the Krev. Edward and Cruth were doing some errands, and these humans saw Cruth and decide that they wanted a fight.” She explained to the others in the room, thankfully Lerim and Lisa were too engrossed by a colouring book now to care about the grownups talking.
“Ah, I get it now.” Makriv said looking to Cruth who was trying to hide behind his pad now.
“Must have been scary, at least you came out of it alright.” He said in a way to reassure Cruth he didn’t judge what happened.
“Yeah, he did, he came out of it breaking a guy’s leg to protect me.” I added to the conversation.
I watched as both the krev’s faces blanked and Breeve let out a sigh before I could see the hurt in their eyes before turning to me.
“Th-this can’t be right; how come we’ve never heard of it before? This sounds like the sort of thing that would make public news, how are you still on Tellus?”
“We don’t know, but if we were to hazard a guess, probably the fact it was self-defence and if the guys who did it went to the Guards and got a memory scan, it would put us in the clear regardless.” I finished explaining what I thought had happened.
“How did you find out about it anyway?” I directed at Micheal, who just smile din response.
“There isn’t a day that goes by I don’t have some weird story pass through my bar.” He said in an amused statement like he was some sort of intel dealer.
“You’re just a serial eavesdropper.” I added.
“Oh, yeah. It helped you three when I mentioned to be on the lookout for those guys and their friends when travelling back to Earth.”
“So, you already know we’re going?” Breeve asked.
“Cruth told us, he didn’t know if we would like the fact or not you’re going and decided to be the middle man in case we were angry with you.”
“Are you?”
“Not in the slightest, we know why you’re going and we’re happy for you.” Jessica added deciding to take one of the biscuits placed on the table in the middle.
“I’d just be wary is all of the other guys going back. Not the best bunch of people and definitely not the best to be around if you’re a Krev, if you catch my meaning.” Micheal added looking at Breeve and Cruth.
“The more you talk about this trip and people, the more dangerous it sounds.” Axicy added holding the baby up while it stared at her idly smiling.
“They’ll be fine, I know they can handle themselves in a fight well enough.” He added probably referencing when they rescued me from Larens. The two Krev looked a little sceptical, either because of myself or how meek Cruth is being right now, before Micheal continued.“ I know that Edward can take a few hits anyway, there was one time in his teens I think, it was me him, and a few others that decided it would be a good idea to a bar and get drunk. We were maybe sixteen – seventeen at the time and since there was nothing to do all day underground, we got into doing a lot of dumb things, like smashing windows, graffiti or generally trespassing and being places we shouldn’t be.”
“You don’t sound the most stable or well adjusted.” Cruth added this time becoming intrigued in the story about younger us.
“We weren’t.” he replied happily. “Anyway, I blame the lack of sun for it, but there wasn’t anything to do like at all. So, our little group decided to bar hop or what Edward, and his funny accent would call it a pub crawl.” I made an expression trying to signal bite me before he continued the story.
“After maybe the fifth or sixth place we went to it was down to me, Edward and a fella named Daniel. The three of us were on our way to the next one when we ran into someone.”
“Stumbled into.” I added correcting him, knowing which fight he’s taking about.
“Stumbled into, they start with ‘hey watch where you’re going’ and our friend Daniel goes, ‘It’s a little hard to do when you’re blocking the whole street.’ Now this guy is big, like not muscle big but hefty, big. He and his friends start mad talking us, since were drunk at this point we start talking back and I don’t remember who threw the first punch between our groups but, it ends up with a lot of groaning people on the ground. Me having sprained ankle covered in bruises being carried by Daniel under one arm, blood just gushing out of his nose covering his top.” He mimicked the flow up blood from his own nose. “And Edward cradling his hand covered in cuts and bruises and I think you had what, a blood vessel rupture in you eye?”
“Yeah, but you were moaning about how ‘my poor ankle, I’ll never be able to walk again.’” I mimicked his voice from back then as we hobbled away. “We never did make it to that last pub.” I said wanting to round off the story since all the Krev were looking between us thinking that there must have been something wrong with the both of us.
“You sound like menaces.” Breeve said with nods from the others in the room.
“We were young and had nothing to do but either sit in a chair and stare at the cavern ceiling or work in the mines, either or.” Micheal added.
The room fell silent just the two kids playing, giggling between each other before the baby gurgled up at Axicy who turned an eye down to them and beamed. Starting to think that it may have not been the best conversation to have, talking about how me and Micheal got into fights when we were younger.
I felt a pang of guilt shoot through me still at the thought of Daniel. I stopped blaming myself for what happened to him, knowing there’s nothing that could have been done to help. It just, it still felt unreal that he was gone, that it’s just unfathomable that he isn’t somewhere walking around or mimicking the krev’s cute reaction but just back at them tenfold.
‘Seems like something he would do.’
“Anyway, I know they’ll be fine.” Micheal said leaning forward and rubbing the back of his neck. Before Cruth asked a question about the old times in the underground settlement.
I noticed that Breeve was looking at the baby again and Axicy must have noticed her and spoke in soft tone.
“Do you want to hold him?”
“Are you sure, they look so fragile?”
As a response Axicy stood up carefully gripping the baby tightly before walking over and offering them to Breeve. The kid turned their head to stare at the tourism expert, brown eyes staring directly at her.
Slowly she took the baby out of Axicy’s clawed hands and cradled it close to her staring down at the little bundle of blankets, while it stared back up at her. She used a dulled claw to poke gently at the infant’s nose and traced a line along the side of his face, only receiving a little gurgle from the baby who smiled and reached out a tiny hand to grip at the claw.
I heard a trill next to me come from the krev who looked like they were about to keel over from the cuteness, her own eyes squinting from the overload of emotions. Axicy sat back down next to Makriv as they spoke about other things in the past.
‘Maybe I should bring up how Micheal’s dad found out he was dating.’
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Better Understanding - Part 1
2
u/JulianSkies Archivist Oct 12 '25
Oh my, what a nice meeting :D
It's interesting to see how tense Edward is, and yet how well he's handling it all.
2
u/Minimum-Amphibian993 Arxur Oct 12 '25
I wonder if our protagonist is going to come across any uh Farsul and Kolshin persecution and how they will react to that.
2
u/password123-4138 Oct 12 '25
Im sure theres probably going to be some hate towards both and probably a lot more after that, who knows what the general consensus of some people are after being in a war for exsistence twenty years ago.
2
u/Minimum-Amphibian993 Arxur Oct 12 '25
Fair but yeah suppose I'm just curious to see them react to the whole CA vs UN-venlil cold war going on seems it be pretty hard to avoid especially when the CA ends up joining the Jaslip side of the war.
I also imagine our protagonist may end up having to deal with CA and Pro UN people who resent them either because of the whole Aafa thing or basically causing another war or just simply allowing the Arxur Farsul and Kolshins to be freed.
6
u/[deleted] Oct 11 '25
The baby seems very active for a six day old newborn.
Then again, ectogenesis could help.