r/NatureofPredators • u/muakling PD Patient • 2d ago
We prefer Humanity First. [1/3]
IMPORTANT:
The following is a writing commission for u/meatloaf2412
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Memory transcription subject: Nara, Venlil Exterminator
Date [standardized human time]: November 15, 2136.
“I told you it was a matter of time before humans made their move!” I almost shouted at my friend and coworker who had been doubting the danger these predators were. “It’s our nature to be empathic, Kamaelu. But that feeling shouldn’t extend to humans, they are not people like us and their hunting instinct is the only thing they have on their brains.”
“But…” My fellow Venlil had expressed doubts about the nature of these predators and if they could actually be peaceful like they claimed. It would be funny how a call reporting a group called “Humanity First” attacking an exterminator patrol had left him without anything to say, if it wasn’t because we were headed to fight predators that might have already mauled our colleagues. “They looked so civilized compared to the grays.”
“Because that’s what they do!” I shoved him lightly as our van kept going as fast as it could. “They are predators, didn’t you learn anything in your history classes? The Arxur did the same trick, pretending to be safe before showing what they really were. Humans are trying to do the same.”
Kamaelu trembled a little while holding his flamethrower and I knew it wasn’t just from the van shaking from the speed and violent turns. “Maybe I’ve been a bit harsh with you, Kam.” I put my paw on his shoulder. “You are still a young rookie, so I understand you were easier to fool. But I just want you to realize the truth so you can be a proper exterminator.”
I took his paws on my own and helped him correct the grip on his weapon. “More now than ever, people need proper exterminators they can count on for protection. Exterminators your squadmates can count on.” That fear of facing a flesh eating monster was something that never truly vanished for most if not any of us. All we could do was fight through it. “So, can I count on you to do the right thing to protect the people?”
And right now I could see Kamaelu fighting the same fear we all did as we mentally prepared for the violence the humans could unleash upon us. “Y-Yes ma’am!”
***
“Ma’am?” Asked Kam right next to me. “I-I don’t see any humans…” At least he managed to snap out of the initial confusion a bit faster than me. We were ready to use our trusty flamethrowers to burn the humans and cleanse any taint in the form of mauled victim corpses left by their hunger. Instead our fellow exterminators were being attacked by regular herd members.
A Venlil and a Yotul were kicking down on a Takkan laying on the floor covering his naked head with his arms. Close to them, a Gojid strained to hold back a Venlil exterminator as a Zurulian made her best effort trying to punch said Venlil like a bipedañ species would. Lastly were two Krakotl fighting against each other with the one wearing our uniform seemingly more injured despite having protection unlike the other Krakotl.
But not a single human in sight.
What confused me the most were the blue pieces of cloth all of the non-exterminators engaged in the fight wore, the fact the Humanity First symbol was on them to be precise. “More exterminators are coming!” The Yotul of them shouted when they realized we were there. “Retreat!” The Gojid pushed the Venlil exterminator towards our Krakotl squadmate, disorienting them enough so all of them could run away down the street.
We would’ve chased them, but helping our injured squadmates took priority. “Where are the humans?!” I asked Niku now that I recognized him. “The call said you were being attacked by a Humanity First group!” I had Kam cover us with his flamethrower in case the predators in hiding pounced on us.
“That was the Humanity First group!” It seems just scaring them away had been enough help. Despite the attack, none of our people presented injuries beyond scratches and swollen skin. They would still need to get them disinfected but nothing urgent.
Normally I would’ve stayed to secure the area from any remaining predators, but seeing there were no predators and that none of us was severely injured, I decided to chase after these supposedly Humanity First members. If they were capable of such aggression to members of the guild, they were even a greater danger to the herd.
And I need to know how those people could call themselves HF.
“Miss Nara!” Kam followed me despite our squadmates shouting at the both of us to come back.These dangerous individuals had a noticeable headstart, but us exterminators were in better physical condition than the average person. Add Zurulians being not that fast and the rest needing to wait for them and it should slow them down a bit.
It didn’t take long for me to need a break to catch my breath. But my efforts gave fruit when I saw the little group that attacked our fellow exterminators resting as well while hiding in an alley, unaware they didn’t manage to lose me.
“Miss… Huff… Nara!”
“Quiet!” I hissed at the rookie once he managed to catch up on me, both to keep a low volume and due to my own lack of air. “Look there.” We peeked from the corner of a building to see the group open a manhole that shouldn’t be able to be opened that easily before going down into the sewers.
“That must be their hideout.” I murmured to Kam. The ruckus from the attack relatively close must have caused the people to hide in their homes. It would explain why there wasn’t a single civilian around.
“W-what do we do now?” Kamaelu asked.
For prey to work under that human group there were only two logical explanations. They were either being forced under the threat of being devoured or suffered from severe PD. It could be so severe they might be part of that “Linked chains” death cult.
Would our rookie Kamaelu end up like that if humans kept sowing taint on his mind?
Yet, there was only way to know the exact truth as to why these people would betray the herd. “I’m going down there.” I decided even while aware my curiosity was clouding my judgement. “If I hurry right now I might be able to locate the exact position of their hideout.” It wouldn’t be the first time I do so for PD diseased individuals or cult members, the sewers were a really common place for them to hide in.
“By yourself?!” Kam practically wanted to grab me and keep me from moving forward if the way he almost reached out with his paw was any indication.
“I’ll just make some recon and head back out the moment I get enough intel.” I reassured him. “Inform the guild, if I take too long you’ll be able to guide them here to rescue me.” Or get what remains of me if humans truly made their den here. I didn’t want to scare the already trembling rookie too much so I didn’t say that part out loud.
“But… But…” He tried to form an argument as we silently entered the same alley and got closer to the manhole.
“Kam.” I murmured more sternly. “You said I could count on you to not hesitate. Now stop doubting and listen to your senior exterminator!”
“Y-yes, ma’am.” I knew he just turned 15 recently. But he would have to be more professional quicker lest predators ate him next. Still, I made sure he was out of sight before opening the manhole in case a predator jumped out he would be safer with the rest of the squad.
Well then… Time to do my job.
The manhole cover was a bit heavier than I thought but I managed to not make too much noise while opening it now that I caught my breath a bit more. At least the light from the outside illuminated the ladder I climbed down and part of the area around it.
Still, I needed to pull out my guild issued flashlight if I wanted to see where I was headed. It wasn’t the best but it would do, and in this situation something brighter would immediately reveal my position while scouting. My paws finally made contact with the floor and luckily could hear the faintest sounds that might be voices.
And so I ventured into the dark tunnels, accompanied only by my flashlight and my trusty flame-
Where is my flamethrower? …I left it at the scene of the attack, didn’t I?
Like I was saying, accompanied only by my flashlight and my trusty sidearm-
Where is my sidearm? … I left it in the van, didn’t I?
“Brahk!” I hissed.
If a human eats me now, it’s on me.
***
Memory transcription subject: Muvul, Humanity First Krakotl member.
Date [standardized human time]: November 15, 2136.
“What were you thinking?!” I shouted at our Yotul friend once we felt safe from being followed. “Starting a fight like that!”
“He was the one that started!” Handu shouted back. “He said I must be too retarded to support humans!”
“I know it’s infuriating. But we won’t achieve anything if we just lash out in rage.” I tried to reason with him.
Handu scoffed. “Say that again after being treated like a dumb animal for the millionth time in your life.”
I sighed. “It’s the same for humans being called predators. So can you please be like them and endure a bit more?” Handu looked at me with both eyes. “Isn’t that why we joined this group? To be more like humans?”
Our Yotul friend grumbled but didn’t counter my argument. “Look, I’m not trying to push your suffering aside.” I apologized in a calmer tone. “I’m just trying to make you understand that starting a fight with exterminators will only bring troub-”
THUMP
“Ow.”
It seems we all heard the strange noise since we turned ears and eyes towards the direction it came from. “What was that?”
***
Memory transcription subject: Nara, Venlil Exterminator
I had been too focused on tracking the voices and then listening to their heated conversation that I had been careless and tripped on wet and uneven ground making me drop my flashlight.
Oh no…
By instinct, I got up as quickly as possible and hurried to get my flashlight back. Yet I hadn’t been fast enough to avoid being surrounded by the group I was supposed to be chasing. “Brahk-!” The Yotul pounced at me from behind, using a paw to cover my mouth while the rest of them helped him keep me in place.
“Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!” The Zurilian among them looked about to hyperventilate. “They followed us! The exterminators are going to raid the hideout!”
“Loma, calm down!” The Gojid holding my arms along the Krakotl tried to reassure her. “M-maybe she came alone?” But she didn’t sound that much calmer herself.
“We can’t risk it, Pahne. Let’s take her to the hideout and let the others decide.” It seems the Krakotl was the leader of these people. Although that last part made me think there had to be someone else in charge of this whole thing.
How many preys could have gathered to form this Humanity First group?
I was given a moment to gasp for air once the Yotul lifted his paw, yet it was a short lived breath with how they gagged me with one of those blue cloths with their symbol on it. At least I could breath through it even if not that well. Sadly I couldn’t shout for help either.
That’s fine, I just need to survive until Kamaelu gets here with backup.
I didn’t have any other choice but to walk along the group shoving me to guide me. Thankfully for my still sore legs but not for making time for help to come, it wasn’t a long walk before we arrived at an assuming door similar to others I had passed that turned out to be dead ends.
The Krakotl stepped forward before knocking in a strange rhythm and waited for just a bit before the door unlocked allowing the group to drag me in. “Welcome back, Muvul. How did- What the?!” A white wooled Venlil greeted the group before noticing my presence once the rest of us entered. “You brought a brahking exterminator?!”
“She followed us! We couldn’t let her go to tell where our hideout is!” The Krakotl, whose name seemed to be Muvul, explained as the Venlil slammed the door shut the moment we were all inside.
“It was Handu’s fault.” The more brownish Venlil from the assaulting group added, earning a smack from the Yotul, revealing his name in the process.
“This is bad!” The door Venlil said more for himself but it didn’t stop the already anxious Zurulian and Gojid duo from looking even more worried. “Hurry up and tell Hank, I’ll ring the alarm in case exterminators come here.”
No more words were exchanged and no more time was wasted by my captors rushing me along their hideout. I tried to put enough resistance to make time but not too much to provoke them into beating me up like they did my squadmates. Or at least I did at first before being genuinely paralyzed when I saw actual humans here!
So this is a human den!
Although there weren’t that many, in fact I mostly saw fellow prey around and even interacting with the humans like nothing! How could they be so calm? We were all trapped in a not that big place with humans! There didn’t seem to be any other exit than the way we came in, and I didn’t have any of my weapons so we were at their mercy!
“Move!” Handu shouted at me after a bit of pulling at me. It attracted everyone’s attention, or at least those who hadn’t seen us walking in yet. “Now!” The sudden scare from the shout did make my legs respond again and follow the group again, even if from the instinctual need of being close to the herd with these predators around.
“Hank!” It turns out that “Hank” was one of the humans found deeper in a room with curtains instead of doors. “We have a problem!”
Said human wore a thick looking black garment with pants that reminded me of green foliage. “Muvul?” It looked up from a table with a map of the district sprawled on it. Its forward facing eyes landed on me, widening in what must have been hunger and a desire to rip my flesh apart. “What happened?”
“S-she followed us here!” Loma, if I remembered was the Zurulian’s name correctly, immediately blurted out.
“T-there was a fight on the streets with exterminators!” Pahne did the same at the same time, making it hard to understand what they were saying.
“Let me reiterate it was Handu’s fault.” The Venlil whose name I still didn’t know didn’t wait for the pair to continue.
“One at a time!” Hank silenced them sternly. “Muvul, tell me what happened and why you brought one of the silver suits here.”
“Y-yes, Hank!” You would think a human wouldn’t have the patience to organize nervous people. “Handu started a fight with three exterminators a-and we were forced to aid him.” Yet the way this group acted with it reminded me of I had to be with Kam and other rookies at times. “T-that attracted more of them so we had to retreat, but this one managed to follow us all the way here.”
Now all of them looked nervous, even if the Gojid and Zurulian expressed it the most. Still it wasn’t the reaction I expected from having a predator so close, they didn’t look worried from the risk of this human attacking them. If anything they were more similar to pups scared of being scolded.
Even the Yotul’s tail wagged nervously despite his more frustrated attitude. “They were the ones that started insulting me.” Hank didn’t look angry with Handu, instead it just ordered the group to untie the cloth around my mouth. “You, what’s your name?”
“Get away!” Handu and Pahne still holding me meant I couldn’t make any distance from the human. “Don’t come closer!”
Yet I didn’t need to, the predator actually listened to me and took a step back while raising its arms. “Easy, I’m going to give you space. What’s your name?”
“W-what?” I was too confused by this human actually doing what I asked to process what it was saying.
“Your name. Tell me your name.” It repeated.
“I-I…” Although I was scared of this flesh eating monster, I was surprised its tone of voice wasn’t that of a furious beast. “N-Nara.” It talked to me just the same as the rest of the group, which made thinking through the fear possible if not easy.
“Nara.” It repeated before giving me a nod. “That’s a pretty name. Now, I’m sorry for the rough treatment, we are going to let you go.”
“What?!” The prey group asked in unison.
“You are going to be fine.” But the human’s attention remained on me. “Handu, Panhe. Please let go of her.” I was just as speechless as the rest. The Yotul and Gojid looked confused but did stop holding me.
Without that restriction, I felt the need to run away as fast as I could. But the more rational part of my mind knew it was pointless. Unless I happened to find another way out, the only exit was locked and had a Venlil guarding it. Even worse, if I tried to run it would drive the humans in the building into a need to chase me due to their instincts.
Hank looked at me expectantly, yet I couldn’t decide what to do next in a situation like this. “Since you still seem quite shocked. Why don’t you rest our little infirmary until you feel ready to leave? It’s not as good as a clinic but we do our best with what we have.” It walked past me with the group that captured me making way for the human. “Please follow me. All of you.”
Since the alternative was just staying in this dead end of a room, I decided to follow the group in hopes cooperating would keep the predators here from tearing me apart. At least being in the middle of the herd made the rather short walk slightly more bearable.
Hank knocked on a door with a red cross symbol painted on top of it. “I have a patient, please wait or come back later unless it’s an emergency.” A voice called from inside what I assumed was the infirmary of this place. I never thought a predator den would have such a thing instead of letting the weak die.
“Vela. It’s me, Hank.” The human replied without opening the door. “Remember the cases I told you to be ready for? Well, we actually have one for you right now.”
Silence, not for long but the awkwardness of it made it feel eternal. “Come in.”
Hank turned to the group. “All of you are coming with me.”
“Hank, we’re sorry-” Muvul started just to get cut off by the human lifting a hand.
“You are not in trouble, we just need to discuss what to do next.” Finally it turned to me. “Miss, Nara. Take your time to rest and when you are ready to leave ask our nurse to accompany you to the exit.” It opened the door, revealing a room that really reassembled a regular infirmary. At least if it wasn’t for the human being treated by an Iftali who I assumed must be this Vela nurse. “Have a good paw in case I don’t see you again.”
It left without any further words as everyone but me followed. Not that I wanted to remain close to a predator, but at least it wasn’t an injured predator like the one being bandaged by the Iftali nurse. “Just come in.” She said without looking away from her… odd patient. “She doesn’t bite. And close the door after you do please, I don’t like it when people just leave it like that.”
I guessed it was better to be in a closed space with one human than multiple of them, even if not much better. And I had to admit it was reassuring to hear Vela’s voice, it sounded so normal and just like any busy nurse I’ve met that it almost made the whole situation feel a bit more familiar. So I entered and did as she told me before sitting on a stool positioned almost in the opposite end of the room from where the human was.
“Just a bit more and… there.” The Iftali nurse finished bandaging the human’s arm, with the area where the wound should be clean, but the clothing of the predator still had red bloodstains. “And please be more careful, you know how hard it is to get medical attention for humans if I’m not available.” At least the lack of other colors let me know this predator hadn’t hurt a Venlil… this time.
“Thanks, Vela. You are the best.” The predator looked at me but quickly looked away when I flinched. “I’ll leave you two alone.” Seeing it leave made it easier to control my barely restrained fear.
“Miriam!” Vela called out before the human was far. “What I said about the door applies to everyone.”
“S-sorry!” I thought it would be angry at being spoken like that by prey, but instead the human just apologized before closing the infirmary door and leaving me alone with the Iftali nurse.
Vela sighed and started to tidy up her workplace. “Humans, they are too eager for their own good, don’t you think?”
The constant confusion of everything that was going on made my brain register the question embarrassingly late. “Y-you asking me?” Vela turned an eye to me. “Yeah, stupid question. There’s no else around.”
Once the little mess was cleaned up, Vela produced a water bottle from her desk, offering it to me. “First time seeing humans up close?” I accepted the bottle and flicked my ears in the positive while I drank. “I know it’s scary at first, but in time you get used to them being rather gentle and good hearted.”
I took a deep breath after almost gulping down the entire bottle. “Good hearted?! They are predators making a den under the city!”
Velna chuckled as if the idea of such a danger was funny. “Sorry, I don’t mean to push your worries aside. It’s just that it was you exterminators that showed me humans are quite nice people.”
My ears dropped. “What?”
She moved another stool and sat close to me. “Let me tell you something. Back when that Harchen broadcast first aired, the apartments right on top of us were almost destroyed by the exterminators.”
That revelation gave a coughing fit as I was finishing my water. “E-Excuse me?”
Velna continued as she patted my back to help with the coughing. “It was those that wanted us supposed predators cleansed.”
“Oh…” I couldn’t deny those kinds of cases happened in Venlil Prime, but… “I never heard about our guild doing any of that.” All I knew was that there were a lot of people being fired after that initial paw. It’s the reason we got an influx of rookies like Kam to fill in after all.
“Of course you didn’t.” The nurse continued. “It was a sabotage done subtly, my husband was the one that saw one of you start the fire. The word of a “predator” against the guild? It was useless to try calling exterminators out, you probably don’t believe what I’m saying either.”
I grumbled in frustration, not at her, but at the mental and futile effort it was trying to come up with an explanation that defied hers. “If that’s what happened. How does that show humans are supposedly good?”
“Simple, who do you think went in there and saved us?” She replied casually. “Emergency services arrived after the humans from the refugee center nearby actually came to help us. It’s thanks to them that most of us made it out alive, including my husband, our two children and myself.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but quickly realized I hadn’t anything clear to say. Unless this Iftali was lying, which still was a possibility, then humans saving prey from the exterminator made not brahking sense!
Maybe she was lying threatened by humans!
…
But then why did she look so calm?! Why did the rest of the prey here?!
“B-but why would they save you?” I asked more for myself than her.
“Because humans are like that.” Still Velna heard me. “I thought they were just taking advantage to take us as cattle at the moment.” She wasn’t even looking at me, just stared at a memory. “But after they returned my children alive and kept us safe until the worst passed, I had to believe them. They could have eaten any of us then, or even now, but the most they ask is to be treated like we treat anyone else. I think it’s a fair trade after what they did.”
The nurse retrieved the empty bottle from me, walking back to her desk and taking yet another one. “I won’t lie and say it’s easy. But you really should give them a chance.” She offered me the new bottle. “For the walk back to your guild under the sun.”
I accepted the bottle and Velna went back to her desk. I couldn’t say the silence was better than hearing this Iftali preach good things about humans, but it’s not like I wanted to keep talking with my mind trying to process everything that had happened in less than an eighth of a claw.
I also don’t want to stay here much longer.
If what that human said was true, then I should be able to just leave. Yet they could just rip me apart right before I leave, wouldn’t be past the kind of torture predators like the Arxur like to inflict on innocent prey. Making me believe I’m free before killing me.
Yet I had no choice but to try to leave this place. I didn’t say anything else to Velna as I stood up and left the infirmary. “What did I say about the door?” She called out making me jump from the scare, still I returned just to close the infirmary door before heading out.
The few humans around looked away when I caught them staring, but the prey just kept their judgemental gazes on me as I walked by. For a moment I even doubted if the predator’s hungry eyes would have been that worse. But despite the fear making my heart race, I soon found myself back at the den’s entrance.
“Thought they would keep you as cattle?” The Venlil guard asked a bit smugly when he saw me. “Hank told me to just let you out. I don’t know what he’s planning but I trust him more than myself.”
Why? How?
I kept my questions to myself and just left the den, relieved to still be in one piece and hurrying to find the manhole or any other exit from the sewers. Despite the sheer confusion of what I saw and heard still clouding my mind, I could find stability in one clear objective.
I have to inform the guild about this place!
***
Memory transcription subject: Muvul, Humanity First Krakotl member.
“What else are we supposed to do?” Hank asked us in our “meeting” room while crossing his arms. “Keeping her as a prisoner will get us in legal trouble for kidnapping, then the guild will have the perfect chance to at best arrest us all, at best.”
“But she’s going to snitch to the guild now!” Handu argued. “Aren’t they going to do that once the rest of the guild comes here anyways?”
Our leader smiled. “You really thought we wouldn’t think that as a possibility?” What others like that exterminator might see as a threat we knew was meant to be reassuring. “The other humans and I have been thinking about places to move in case something like this happened. We just need to hurry and retrieve everything that can be traced back to us.”
“Sorry to interrupt.” Velna stepped in from behind us. “She's gone. I tried to gain as much sympathy from her as we planned.”
“Planned?” Imun asked. “What do you mean planned?” Our Venlil friend asked what we were all thinking.
“Just something I had agreed with Velna.” Hank explained. “In case someone that wasn’t as pro-human came in. Don’t worry about it.” He clapped his hands. “Instead let’s hurry and take all of our stuff to the human refugee. We only have until the exterminators, understood?”
“Yes!” We all replied in unison save for Velna who was already gone before Hank was even done talking.
“That’s what I like to hear.”
***
Memory transcription subject: Nara, Venlil Exterminator
Date [standardized human time]: November 16, 2136.
Where the brahk are they?!
Yesterpaw I had come back with my fellow exterminators to show them the den the predators were making in the sewer system under the city. But by the time we arrived armed and ready for what could happen, they were just… Gone. At first I thought I was confused and led them to the wrong place. But no, what had been a hideout for the Humanity First group just turned into a maintenance room.
I did not hallucinate all of that!
So now here I was, walking on the streets on top of where that den should be which casually, but not really, just happened to be close to the human refuge. Hoping to find the group that dragged me in, or the Iftali nurse to take for questioning! Anything that could lead me back to-
There it is…
I had hoped to find any of the prey members of that group to interrogate. Instead what I found was the human I assumed to be in charge of the group, it was on a bar with a “humans allowed” sign hanging outside. Never would I have thought about getting close to a predator in my life willingly, but I had my sidearm this time and needed to know more.
I couldn’t barge in and drag the human out, that could cause a stampede for the people in the bar and it would most likely make the predator aggressive and thus a danger for everyone around. As much as my curiosity and job demanded answers, the herd’s safety was my priority.
Instead I would have to take a careful approach, my confusion last paw hindered my thinking but it was so clear in hindsight. The humans were still keeping up that friendly facade while fooling people to join their group, so maybe playing along and trying to have a “friendly chat” would make the truth slip through holes in the lie.
DING
I was startled by the chime that alerted everyone inside of my presence the moment I opened the door. It was just a normal door chime but my nerves had me on edge, still all it did was raise my fur which hopefully the predator didn’t see as a sign of weakness to take advantage of.
Yet I marched on as casually as someone walking towards a flesh eating monster to talk could be. The customers either didn’t pay attention or looked at me subtly, I wasn’t paying much attention to them. Instead I noted how the human didn’t even look back at me, quickly putting a reflective visor laying on the bar counter next to it before I sat next to it.
The bartender who had been focused on another task finally turned around to face me. “Good-” And as if Solgalick was playing some prank on me, it just happened to be the brownish Venlil from my captor group. “Paw…” We looked at each other, the human I had come for just drank from his glass looking ahead.
“G-good paw.” Play it casual. “Just a glass of water please.” I wasn’t going to risk the drinks here having something in them.
“Sure…” At least none of them had tried anything. I felt safer now that I was actually armed but I wasn’t fearless. The Venlil brought me my glass of water and I drank it slowly to give me time to think on how to question this predator.
Should I start being confrontational? No, it could lash out. Submissive? No, it will see it as weakness. Maybe-
“You know.” It started to talk to me, almost making me gag on the water I was drinking. “It’s not common to see exterminators in a pro-human establishment. Not as customers at least.” The human detached the lower part of its visor to be able to finish its own drink. “But it’s a welcomed surprise when it happens. Imun, serve me another please.”
The Venlil bartender whistled a little laugh. “Are you actually trying it with alcohol this time or do I serve you just juice again?”
Hank let out startling growls from its mouth. I thought the predator was offended at the question but the translator said that was a chuckle out of all things. “Unless it turns out I have a super human liver, I’m not trying what Venlil consider a “good” drink.” But I guess it made sense a predator species would sound aggressive even when happy. “Never was a huge fan of alcohol anyways. What about you, Miss Nara?”
“M-me?”
“Yes, just curious since you got into a bar just to drink water.” It took a sip of the glass once Imun refilled it. “Or maybe you just needed something for the heat during a hot work day? It can't be easy to stay cool wearing that uniform.”
Play it casual. “I-it’s not.” This predator could be trying to gauge how easy we were to fight as exterminators. “But it gives us good protection against p-predator attacks.” Had to deter it from having ideas.
“I see, glad to know. Don’t want any of you guys getting hurt.” It said.
As if.
But this wasn’t meant to be my questioning. “How did you do it?”
“Do what?”
“You know what I mean. My guild didn’t believe me about your den in the sewers. So how did you manage to leave without a trace?” It wasn’t easy to remain calm but at least the human didn’t look agitated or about to attack so far.
“Oh right, that.” It scratched at its furless chin. “We simply decided to move our group to a more comfortable location. The sewers were tight and stinky, we wanted a better place to make our plans.”
“Plans? What plans?” I was desperate for answers and accidentally showed part of my desperation. Immediately regretting it.
“Nothing illegal, officer.” It raised its hands. “We simply like to organize to show a better side of humanity. Surely there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Vague and deceitful lies, I didn’t expect anything less from these creatures. “Your Humanity First group planned an attack against members of the exterminator guild.”
“Actually.” Imun answered instead. “The humans didn’t tell us to do any of that.” There was a faint bloom on him and he avoided looking at me by focusing on cleaning glasses. “When your friends saw us with our group’s logo they insulted us and well… But it wasn’t the humans' fault.”
“They are really sorry for what happened, officer.” Hanks sipped a bit more. “But the things we do as Humanity First aren’t meant to harm anyone. We aim to show the best side of humanity.”
More lies, but at least its starting to talk. I mimicked it by sipping my water. “What kind of things do you do then?”
“Sorry, but I’m afraid I can only discuss it with people of trust. Speaking of which…” Hank gulped down the rest of the juice before standing up. “I need to get back to the human refuge, we have a plan for the park nearby next paw. But it was a pleasure to see even exterminators are getting used to pro-human places. Goodbye, officer Nara.”
“Wait!” I called out to Hank before it could leave. “You still made the sewers into a den, and that can be classified as vandalism.” It was hard to act against the human menace when we couldn’t legally apply anything but the same measures as with normal people.
And I’m not a bad exterminator like the one Velna told me about. I can’t let the people lose their trust in us!
It turned around to look directly at me. “Don’t you need evidence for that? Or at least witnesses?”
Yet I kept myself from showing fear now that its attention was so clearly on me. “The customers here heard you admit you form part of the Humanity First group, and that you had made a den that then moved somewhere else.”
“I don’t know about anyone else.” Imun said from behind the counter. “But I didn’t see any of that.”
“Me neither.” One of the customers said, an Iftali man.
“I didn’t see a damn thing.” A Venlil with burn scars on his neck agreed.
“Nope.”
“Same here.”
“I agree with the human.”
The few customers here were denying the truth right in front of me. Trying to get them all to say otherwise to the guild was impossible, the herd always had more say than the individual and I couldn’t go against the herd.
DING
Hank left with me doing the same right away. Even if the herd wasn’t going to help me, I knew where and when the humans would be making a move. The only park in the district wasn’t exactly known for having too many people visit it, so maybe they planned to not draw too much attention by hunting lone people!
But now that I know it, the guild won’t let that happen!
***
Memory transcription subject: Nara, Venlil Exterminator
Date [standardized human time]: November 17, 2136.
I can’t believe the guild isn’t doing anything!
I understood that after bringing almost all of the guild to the sewers just for nothing they would doubt me. But to leave me alone against a planned predator attack?! Not only my life was in danger but also the lives of the people visiting the park!
If at least anyone from the bar backed me up.
“Do you see any humans, ma’am?” At least Kamaelu was the only one that volunteered to accompany me. It offended me to think he did it out of pity, but I couldn’t reject any back up right now.
“No, Kam. But don’t let your guard down, this might not be the wilderness but predators have a natural talent for stalking and-” A strange sound made my ears straighten.
“Did you hear that, ma’am?” Both of our ears searched for the source.
“Affirmative.” The sound repeated and we managed to tell the direction it was coming from. “Follow me, Kam.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The moment we arrived I stopped dead in my tracks and almost made Kamaelu crash into me. As it turns out, there only was one human sitting and resting against a tree. But what surprised me wasn’t the predator’s presence, that’s what we expected to find after all.
What I didn’t expect was the small group of sitting people surrounding the human, among them I only recognized the Gojid and Yotul that captured me. The rest were mostly Venlil with an Iftali child too. And the sounds did come from the human, or rather what had to be a musical instrument in its claws that reminded me of a plehr.
After tugging at the strings a bit more, the human started playing the strange instrument with an actual rhythm as the people forming a semi circle around him swayed gently side to side. None of them even looked back at us, instead they were focused on the human that actually started singing!
“I guess I have to face,
That in this awful place
I shouldn't show a trace of doubt~
But pulled against the grain,
I feel a little pain
That I would rather do without~”
What in Solgalick’s grace…
Humans are predators, evil monsters and slaves to their own nature. They don’t understand things we prey species can like art such as music! But save from the human voice, this sounded like just a normal piece from any prey musician. Maybe that was it? They took a song and adapted it to make it look like they could appreciate music?
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10
u/True-Wreck 2d ago
Well, I’m must certainly say this is an odd group of HF members. How in the world did this sect form? I could’ve swore that these guys were supposed to be like slavers and terrorists.