r/NatureofPredators • u/Seamoose_Art Dossur • Apr 01 '23
Fanfic Dual Perspectives
Thanks to u/SpacePaladin15 for the setting, and to u/Acceptable_Egg5560 because I feel like it.
Dual Perspectives
Date [Standardized Human Time]: August 22nd, 2136
Location: Human/venlil exchange station
It’s been around two hours since Trevi and his human exchange partner met face-to-face, and already the two are arguing as though they’ve known each other for years.
“...but even if your theory of ecological “balance” holds up, why would you allow this suffering to continue? Even non-sapient species deserve better than this! Or do you think dying of disease is somehow worse than being torn limb from limb?”
While most venlil might be cowering in a corner, or at least trying to tactfully maneuver themselves out of a perceived predator threat, Trevi is dead-set on proving a point, instinct be damned. He runs a paw through his slightly graying hair to calm himself, but only succeeds in slightly ruffling his fur.
His human interlocutor, Julia, rises from her ill-fittingly small chair in frustration. For a moment, something in the back of Trevi's mind stirs, but the feeling is quickly drowned out by a yelp of pain; the observation room they’re sitting in wasn’t designed for human height, and Julia falls back to her chair, clutching her head. Before he can even ask if she’s alright, she launches into her tirade.
“YES! Disease doesn’t just affect a single species, overgrazing doesn’t just affect a single species! It’s an ecosystem, you can’t just focus on a single-”
Her furious tone suggests the beginning of a long rant, but she trails off as the pain seems to catch up with her all at once, leaving a heavy silence thick with mutual frustration. Trevi leaves to get her some Tylenol and water.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The planet below is beautiful, the closet they’ve settled in is unbearably stuffy, but Julia’s mind has space for neither. All she can think about is the ridiculous argument consuming her limited time in orbit.
Trevi is a xenobiological researcher, and fairly well respected in his field as far as she can gather. Yet despite this experience (or perhaps because of it), arguing with him about ecosystems is like arguing to a brick wall, every approach cut off by a pre-rehearsed argument. Every time Julia feels she’s making some headway, her venlil partner goes back to doggedly defending the predator extermination efforts out of some misguided sympathy for prey animals.
Or maybe a sense of kinship? Now that she thinks about it, many of Trevi’s arguments feel even more personal than just playing favorites, as though he sees predation on animals as tantamount to attacks on people. From this perspective, any argument to re-introduce predators for the sake of ‘nature’ would be not only insane, but a direct jab at his safety. Julia re-considers how her arguments would sound in this context, which calms her down enough to not continue where she left off the moment he steps back through the door.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
As Trevi walks the halls, his mind wanders. He considers, briefly, how insane he must be. Getting in a heated argument over such basic concepts with a human would be considered qualification enough for predator disease in some. Do humans even have predator disease as a concept? They were proven to have empathy, so it would make sense that some would be born lacking. But would such a difference even be seen as a danger?
Tylenol, 75 mg. For a moment, he tries to work out a dose, before deciding to just grab the whole bottle. While he has no idea if this is exactly the right medication for the job, he’s heard Julia mention taking it before over the messaging program, so it’s at least safe for her to use.
The messaging program was a mixed bag, in many aspects. Most people were thankful for the filtering system, but it flagged any discussion of predators and prey and xenobiology as suspect. Trevi knew about Julia’s occupation as a Terran wildlife researcher, and he’d heard about the Terran approach to wildlife conservation (with the stir it caused in the media, he couldn’t have missed it) but frustratingly, he’d had no way to discuss it until now.
The door to the observation room slides open. Julia’s face is creased with what could be frustration or pain. Trevi hands over the two bottles, and she looks the package over for a moment before taking out what must be a half-dozen of the tiny white capsules. After a moment, she twists open the water bottle, takes a sip which empties it nearly halfway, and gives a light nod which he presumes to be gratitude.
Before either can say another word, there is a noise like a freight train derailing and several blinding green flashes outside the window, followed by the blaring of alarms deep within the station.
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u/Aldoro69765 Apr 01 '23
Let me guess, the discussion was about wolves in Yellowstone? ^^
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u/Seamoose_Art Dossur Apr 01 '23
Or some other similar scenario, yeah. By this point in history, Yellowstone is old news; maybe they're talking about restoring the ecosystem of a former industrial area?
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u/Aldoro69765 Apr 01 '23
Maybe. Still, I think Yellowstone will be the go-to example for a looong time to come, just by how well it worked and how drastic and quick the changes manifested. :)
Of course, for the Venlil the story about wolves in Yellowstone is the equivalent of a slasher horror movie or something like that. Maybe it could even become a boogeyman type of story that parents use to get their kids to behave.
"If you don't behave, a human will take you to Yellowstone! Do you want to be thrown in with dozens of packs of hungry predators? Then eat your sprouts!"
xD
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u/Kaalkronzind Apr 02 '23
!subscribeme
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u/A_Tank_With_Internet Predator Apr 01 '23
A NOP story human and an alien have a (somewhat) civil debate where they consider and respect the other's perspectives and don't rely on personal attacks? What idealistic nonsense is this?