##Little Big Problems - Trials and titulations 12
Memory transcription subject: Zyre, Venlil Exchange Program Co-Administrator
Date [standardized human time] August 29th 2136
I couldn’t keep the wag out of my tail as I watched the most recent show of aggravation coming from my coworker and friend, Roscoe. I tried to keep my reactions to his every movement to a minimum, with how simply adorable he was with how much he cared about what happened to the Exchange Program participants, not that he would ever admit it.
“What are we going to do with those two, Zyre?” He stalked in circles on top of our desk, one arm behind his back while the other held an equally miniature Holopad with a list of recent articles on the ongoings of every Human who was allowed Prime-side with their Exchange partners. But two in particular were pulled to the forefront.
“Roscoe.” I prided myself in how I kept the cooing out of my voice. “Sure, it was worrisome that Dillon hadn’t checked in, that first time. But-.”
“Worrisome!” This caused Roscoe to cease his pacing to stare up at me in that Abhorreal way his kind insisted on. While others may have found it offputting, it was a constant reminder on their limitations and why they should be protected. “Dillon is a walking magnet of everything that can go wrong on Venlil Prime!” He held up the holopad so I could see the screen, despite how small it was. I rolled my ears in exasperation before leaning down to rest my chin on the desk, a natural resting place for it, lately. “He is attacked on as much as three separate occasions!”
“Technically, the situation with the Yotul Mother and Pup was a hostage situation.” I couldn’t help but quip, causing Rosco’s body to twitch only visibly to me with my eye almost being level with him.
“He has been almost killed, nearly as many times!”
“Come now, Roscoe. We both know how surprisingly durable Humanity seems to be when pitted against us larger, softer people.” This caused Roscoe to turn away. “And besides, we made sure to explicitly notify the mayor of the importance of our mission. To the point he made sure to get assurances from the local Exterminator guild of their cooperation in only interfering with Dillon if necessary.”
Roscoe continued looking at his pad, as if not hearing me. I knew, more than most, how much he wanted the presence of Humanity to have little to no problems, but the reality was entirely unknowable. Despite how others would react to Humans, I just knew that Empathy would win, throughout. Humans did seem to affect those in the Federation they came in contact with, in strange yet beneficial ways. I lowered my voice, keeping a slow wag in my tail as I positioned my snout right behind Roscoe.
“You care a lot for them, Roscoe.” He visibly stiffened at this. “But I have faith in the participants to keep the Humans safe. Not to mention, Humanity now has the assurances of the Gojidi military for your safety. Horizons are broadening in ways none of us could have dared hope for. Not to mention, with rumors of a separate Exchange Program for the Gojid, in the works. It’s only a matter of time that we can introduce you to the Federation, on the whole.”
By this time, Roscoe had turned halfway to face me. His usually stiff demeanor softening, allowing me to practically feel it, myself.
“Not to mention, with the UN preparing a trip to Colia. The Zuruleans are some of the most logical of our members. Once they see the Empathy tests, and conduct some of their own, it’s almost a certainty they will be willing to take you in, as well.”
He sighed, shaking his head. “Zyre, all of these events, these near misses and unrest with a portion of Venlil Prime-.”
I brushed my snout against his side. “Was unavoidable. With the diversity of Prime practically being a Hub world, different cultures and opinions were certain to clash.”
“And those two.” He looked at the latest article on Dillon and Tunja, once more. “They were the catalyst for the entire thing.”
“Remember how they entered our office, giving what was probably a very confident plan for their living together? If Tunja had been the height of a Venlil, she would have sent the entire door off its hinges with how nervous she was, when entering. How she was already tail holding with Dillon. He was her anchor, even then. You Humans do have a knack for grounding those you are with.”
Roscoe scoffed, finally turning to look back into my eye. “I had to stop you from outright agreeing, on the spot. You were going to give them free reign with hardly any conditions.” I bloomed, at that. I couldn’t deny that it was a problem that I had to come to terms with.
LOADING RELEVANT TRANSCRIPTION
Date [standardized human time] August 23rd 2136
The Exchange was going wonderfully. Even the normally, and admittedly adorable, gruff Roscoe seemed pleased with the lack of any injuries or accidents, with the current Program group well under way. From our reviews, every Venlil/Human pairing, despite some having a rough start, had warmed up to each other. Our only outlier, unexpected as she was, had also seemed to become close to her Human.
As if summoned by my thought, the smaller door installed into the base of the large almost seemed to be kicked open with the impact it made. I jump in my chair, only to see the Resident Dossur and her Human enter. The first thing I noticed was how she held his hand with her tail, causing a warmth to rise in my chest at such an act Roscoe would have never allowed me to do with him. Roscoe opened his mouth to no doubt berate the two, but I spoke before he could.
“Ah, Tunja, was it? And Dillon. What do we owe to this rather excitable entrance?” A grunt from Roscoe told me just how close he had been to going off on these two.
It was almost comparatively adorable at how she stood before our desk, mouth opening and closing, as if my jovial demeanor had not been what she had been expecting. While it was true that it had been rude to come, unannounced, as soon as I saw them together, even now how they stood side by side, hinted that something truly wonderful was in the works. As if to prove me right, The Human took a step forward, Tunja’s tail still trailing from his wrist.
“A-Administrators Roscoe and…and Zyre?” Roscoe placed his forepaws behind his back, a no nonsense position that he tended to take when dealing with the participants. I sat up, adjusting my chest fur that had been flattened into the desk. “Tunja and I have come to a…well, a seemingly rushed, B-But WELL thought out decision!”
I had to hide the electricity building within my body at what I was assuming with how Dillon was holding himself. If such thoughts were true, him and Tunja were going to be the first of the exchange partners to come to us, for this!
“Well?” Roscoe’s gruff voice snapped me back. “Out with it, Dillon. Because, by the way…Tunja…is standing, she may bolt if you don’t.” I opened my mouth to assure Dillon, but I had to agree with Roscoe. While Tunja’s tail signalled eagerness and agreement, the way she held the rest of herself almost screamed Freeze or Flight.
I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. While Roscoe had been ready to apprehend her at the gate, upon realizing Tunja had lied on her application, I had eventually calmed him down by telling him that Dossur were only the lowest scale of PD in the Federation, so certainly wouldn’t pose any threat to a Human. Not to mention how I had already found it vexxing that Tarva was only allowing Venlil the joy of meeting Humans. Roscoe had agreed on the condition that Tunja, as well as Dillon, would be a focus group.
Tunja seemed to regain some of her resolve, standing beside Dillon, once more. “Dillon has expressed great interest in coming to my home, in Everbrite, to visit and…well, experience life while being guided by me…Of course.” Now, this was interesting. For a Human to be able to live with someone that not only accepts them for who they are, but for them to also be of similar size, to be able to empathize with them on a similar scale.
“Roscoe.” My attempts at keeping my voice level seemed to not work as Roscoe gave a deep sigh.
“Zyre. How did I know that this would be something you would be for?” My tail was swaying behind my chair, at this point, despite my ears being relaxed, much to Roscoe’s indignance. I couldn’t deny my doing things to see just how he would react, sometimes. Of course, I knew how important such a decision was, but he couldn’t deny that this was exactly what we were hoping for.
“It makes perfect sense, if you think about it. With Tunja being close to Dillon’s size, and…” As soon as Roscoe turned back to the two still standing in the middle of our office, I tried my best to return to a more professional demeanor.
“Ahem. While it is precisely what this Program was designed to accomplish, Zyre and I would still need to express the dangers and implications of what having a Human, in your household, would entail. You are comfortable with the fact of what he is, as well as the stigma around the multiple reactions that follow our kind, among those in the Federation?”
Tunja seemed to bloom at this. There was no doubt, now, as to the relationship that was budding between them. The downward tilt of Dillon’s head, the sidelong glance he gave Tunja, as a whole. And the way Tunja’s body seemed to gravitate towards him, only to be rectified by her, as if trying to hide it.
“I am, Mr. Zyre. I have more than enough room for Dillon. We already have an idea on how we will handle his…presence. Slow and gradual. Most likely through social media, first. Maybe even his own Bleat account. Make it gradual.”
Roscoe seemed surprised at something so reasonable and well thought out. Even I had to admit the attraction in how subtly she was willing to introduce Dillon into the herd.
“I, for one, think, with our cooperation, as well as yours, that this could be a wonderful idea. What do you think, Roscoe.”
To which Roscoe slowly turned his head to look up at me. I was trying to memorize all of the different features in which a human can control with emotions, but this one was new. “I think there will be much discussion, on more than one front.
I couldn't help but feel that I had said or done something in a way that Roscoe had been trying to iron out of me, to coin one of their phrases. I felt the tips of my ear starting to bloom as I tried to salvage the situation. “Weeeeee will discuss it and notify you on the details in the next Paw or two. I want to congratulate you both on being the first Exchange Partners to be brave enough to come to us. You have our full support!”
They both looked dazed, from how simple it had all seemed, I was certain. I could understand how nervous they had been to come in and ask what they must have felt was going to be a failed endeavor. I wiggled my ears in dismissal, tail continuing to wag as they exited, much more calmly, through the door.
As soon as I was sure Roscoe and I were alone once more, I purposefully tilted my head downwards at a glacial pace, allowing a very human grin to spread across my molars. He had been the one to outright deny that the first ones to ask to be together on Prime would be the only odd two out. I said nothing, didn't need to as Rosco looked everywhere but up at me. I had never been the kind of person to gloat about being right, but it was so difficult for me to hold it in.
It was a good quarter claw before he spoke to me once more, in the meantime having busied himself with a few documents involving the other applicants. “To think, that there is a chance for prey folk, of like-size, to bond with our kind.” There was an edge of emotion in his voice, but he kept it from shaking. Roscoe was very good at masking his emotions, despite passing the empathy tests with nurturing marks almost rivaling that of the Venlil. I knew that he cared about The success of the exchange and how important it was. It was everything I could do to stop from reassuring him with any sort of physical gesture.
My tail had yet to stop passing back and forth behind me. “You humans have proven, time and time again, since I fell in love with all of you, that you deserve to be a part of the federation just as much as any of us. Maybe even more than certain members.” I shuddered at remembering the first time I had learned about the Yulpa, when I was still in school. I felt that if similar races were allowed into the federation, then humans clearly had a chance.
Roscoe then did something that surprised me. He walked to the edge of the table where my chest was still resting, and stared forward into my wool. You look like he was hesitating, But I didn't want to assume never, tried to assume when it involved him. But something about the way he stood, back slightly hunched and hands clenching and unclenching, told me all I needed to know.
I brought a paw onto the desk, positioning it behind him but stopping just before touching. I left it there, letting him make the decision whether or not he wanted to deny the affection, even going so far as to make sure my chest was pressed against the edge enough that there would be no chance of him falling. When he did not, I completed the connection of my paw against his back, the warmth that spread through me at the touch making me breathe deep.
I already knew that I loved humanity, How could I not? But to actually touch a human brought that love bubbling to the surface. The knowledge that I would do anything to protect them only added to that warmth. “We are making a difference.” I whispered. “I know how much you worry, how much you care. How you call my hope foolish, especially after what you learned has been going on between the Federation and…A-Arxur. There's no way we can truly know what is to come for any of us. But Humanity represents hope.”
RETURNING TO CURRENT TRANSCRIPT
When I had first met Roscoe, all I wanted to do was pick him up and hide him away in my chest wool. To give him an embrace to ensure his kind were welcomed. He did eventually give in and allow me to hold him. It had been a special occasion, after all.
“Zyre, You were full of hope then. Has that changed?” Roscoe’s voice fully brought me back to the present, causing me to sit back up.
“Indeed it has, my little friend. Before, it had been an uncertainty, only wishful thinking. But now, seeing the reports that are coming in, I truly believe that humanity will have a place in the herd. How that place will affect the remainder, I am fearful. I don't know how, but something tells me that there will be a storm before the beautiful weather can return.”
He seemed wary of my uncharacteristically somber voice. But I merely flicked my ear in the negative.
“My home is one thing, even with human influence spreading towards Gojid and Zurulean, I fear There will be those who will not share our love.”
“Especially with that war.” His gruff voice affirmed my own uncertainties. “I hope you don't find this in poor taste, but what I wouldn't give to be able to interrogate one of those Greys.” My body shivered at that. “To be so predisposed to violence and hatred. It's hard to believe anyone could be so evil.”
“C-Can We please not talk about them so lightly? While I have no doubt that if anyone could do that, it would be you, but there is just no possibility that you would even get one word of civility out of their vicious mouths. I'm sorry, Roscoe. This is just how it is.”
But he didn't look too certain. I had grown to learn that the expression he was making right now meant he was thinking about something. I decided to push any and all thoughts of the war aside. There were those, in the service, whose job it was to plan around wartime, and we were not two of those people.
I looked down at the pile of paperwork, regarding various reports of the humans we had already sent planet side, not to mention the future candidates we had lined up who had not made it to that portion of their exchange program. Hope renewed within me, and that was worth striving for.
Memory transcription subject: Pidny, Thafki Delivery runner and submarine
Despite not touching Dillon directly, there was a feeling. Almost like instinct, that seemed to radiate from him, into my chest. As if it were possible to live through this experience in a way that was partially vicariously with him. Exhilaration threatened to take my held breath away as my body coursed through the water. I always felt so free when I was swimming. And the shame I felt for enjoying it, despite most of the Thafki in the Federation almost never experiencing a body of water any larger than a tub, saddened me for them.
It wasn’t very often that I just allowed myself to swim for pleasure, within the Forum. I had plenty of energy, but I wanted to be productive with it. There were a few others enjoying the Forum in the same way as I, but not nearly as many as was normal. I specifically suggested a majority work claw on purpose for this very reason. Wanting to have a leisurely swim with the little Human.
Slight movement against my chest from the plastic, airtight satchel the Human was in reminded me of why I was doing this. I was sharing the Forum with him in a way only I, and to an extent Glirck, were capable of. My powerful tail automatically bent upwards and, with a deft kick of my hind paws, I swam the short distance to the bottom, almost feeling my belly run along the cool sands. It was such an anomaly, the forum. In all truth, the planet locked strip of land that situated just shy of The Burning would have never had a town like Everbrite if not for its cool waters. It truly was a blessing, and for the Exterminators to allow us to use it. Chief Exterminator Xera had become a fast favorite of those, like me, who enjoyed it.
A push against my chest made me look down at Dillon’s pouch with one eye, to which he held his arms around his torso, squirming a little. A muffled trill giggled from me as I understood. I moved upwards towards the warmer part of the Forum. I couldn’t imagine what it must be like to barely have any fur on my body. Even if my fur was thin, compared to most people on Prime, my body just seemed better acclimated to handle cooler water. There was little wonder why it was my preferred temperature of bathing.
I hovered in the water, bringing a paw to the pouch to rub some warmth back into the little guy. He squirmed, slight vibrations of his barking laughter meeting both my ears and chest as a wave of warmth tickled me. A pressure on one of my pads caused me to move my paw enough to see him pointing forwards and up. Did he want me to surface?
Remembering the finite amount of air in the little bag, I did as instructed, happiness guiding my mood as nothing else seemed to matter. To the point that when I broke the surface, my body completely left the water before I dove back under, breaking my momentum with a quick loop that would surely cause Dillon to become dizzy. I did it on purpose, hehe.
Before opening Dillon’s pouch, I deftly moved so as to float on my back, as something told me he would appreciate the safety of myself as a perch. And, much to my surprise, I was right! As soon as I opened the zipper, he poked his head out, looking around before training those forward facing orbs onto me.
“P-Pidny. Would it be rude of me to ask if I…If I could get out while you are on your back?”
I lifted my head enough to flick my ears wildly at him in a goofy gesture. “Awwww, Dillon. Thank you so much for asking. But, be careful, I’m a bit slippery. The warmth returned, separate from the sun as I watched him look out over the Forum. For some odd reason that I couldn’t begin to fathom, seeing him standing on my front just felt…right. As if I could just pin him with my paws and hold him to my fur to warm in the sun.
“And now, my Thafki friend, I must ask you to let me swim!” A shiver ran through my body as I suddenly felt protective over him. Tunja was trusting me to keep her Human safe. But at the same time, Dillon had said he wasn’t to go swimming with me, at the Forum. If I didn’t let him swim… “If it would ease your mind, Pidny. You could hold your paws beneath me to ensure I didn’t sink. I am a really good swimmer based on the soul fact, I can’t sink!”
“You can’t…sink?” This earned a bark from him as he took of his foot coverings to toss them into the still-open satchel.
“Nope! Back on Earth, I actually have to hold a sizeable rock, just to keep my butt planted at the bottom of the lake. Otherwise, I pop back up, like a cork.” He began walking to the side of my torso. Which was alarming, but I felt as long as he used his claws to keep on my fur…Wait…claws?
I watched, as if in slow motion, as Dillon took one more step to the edge, only for the wet, naturally oily surface of my fur finally took effect. With a comically high pitched “Whoop!” from Dillon, he was sent sliding down my side, only to be stopped by my paw before he had a chance to hit the water. I was just about to scold him when his barking laughter returned. “Damn! I’m starting to think bad luck just follows those who don’t respect your gravity.
I couldn’t help but laugh right along with him, moving my body upright while skillfully keeping the back of my paw touching the water so as to give Dillon a far closer dive point. While I still had uncertainties, the fact he was so small and without any sort of webbing convinced me I wouldn’t have to swim far, at all, if the heavier gravity of Venlil Prime had any sort of effect on his buoyancy.
I held my breath as he stared down into the water, once more. “It’s so bizarre.” He softly spoke, sounding awed. “There are few large bodies of water, on Earth, that allows people to see clear to the bottom. The water here is so clear, almost as if I could reach out and touch the bottom of the Forum if I tried hard enough.” Something resonated within me, causing me to feel for the little Human. I couldn’t imagine what being on a planet far too big to naturally meet his needs.
I would do my best to accept him and take some of the obvious strain it’s had on our poor Tunja.
Instead of diving or jumping in, Dillon instead sat down on the edge of my paw so as to dangle his legs into the water, first. It seemed he had humbled himself a little, what with his observations sobering him up. I watched in wonder as he submerged himself, completely, still holding onto my paw before pulling his head back up, only to shake it wildly. To clear his eyes, possibly.
“I know the sun is always shining, here. But I wasn’t expecting the water to be this warm. Such a contrast to how cold I felt when you took us to the bottom. I can only imagine the amount of vapor this Forum provides for land close to the habitable belt!.” And, with that, he pushed away from my paw. A shiver ran through me, as if my body felt the loss of his presence. Truly, Human Empathy was no joke. Not bad, in any way, but still a strange feeling, without.
I drifted slowly around Dillon as he swam. At first, I was scared he might be struggling, but he assured me it was just how Human’s swam. It was like watching a Thafki pup learning to swim in the tub, for the first time. There was certainly different forms, but it all looked so…clumsy. I started to appreciate my anatomy all the more.
Faint splashes from behind caused my ears to perk, causing me to train only one eye on Dillon while viewing the fast approaching herd. I gasped as recognition caused my tail to flick in the water, causing Dillon to jerk a bit as it moved beneath him, no doubt causing the water to thrum around him.
The approaching group dove down while circling. There were four of them. Four and familiar, filling me with both worry and hope. In a last minute decision, I turned to face my body towards Dillon, who had yet to notice the other four, and moved close enough so my chest brushed against his body. This finally seemed to get his attention as he looked up at me, his little hind legs kicking slowly back and forth to keep himself upright in an objectively cute way.
He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted as the Thafki herd coordinated emerging at the same time in a way that my body completed a circle. Causing the little human to brush up against my fur in a way that helped calm me. I used a paw to hold him against me so is not two become too displaced by all of the movement in the water.
“Pidny!” The largest of the four was the first to speak. He was the main voice of the Herd and had caught my eye a time or two. Despite nothing serious coming of it. “It’s rare to see you actually enjoying yourself in the forum and not rushing about on your deliveries.”
The circle shrank a little as the herd drew a little closer. The younger voice of his little sister being the next to speak. “You should have told us. It's almost like we don't live in the same complex, anymore.” She gave an adorable whine, body twisting and turning smoothly to also show her displeasure in a playful way.” I bloomed, knowing that they were right in calling me out on how I had allowed my work to get in the way of anything but social time with my closest herd.
Similar voices spoke on either side of the siblings, being twins as well and always seeming to finish each other's sentences.
“We can finally reclaim our title of quickest swimmer.”
“As you've been too busy for a quarter cycle since taking it from us!” This earned chitters from all four of them.
With the tips of my ears still certain to be purple, I struggled for any adequate excuse as to why I had been so lost in my work. Had it really been a quarter cycle? “I-I…thought that I would spend any free time with my herd. I've been trying my best to save up credits, and-.
A glint from the eye of the younger sister let me know that she was staring down at my chest, where my paw was still covering most of the human. Her eye widened in a way that I knew meant a squeal was soon to follow, but I headed it off.
“Actually!” I moved my other paw to surround Dillon in sort of a loose cup under him so that I could move him away from my chest while still being gentle. “I…I was introducing a new friend, to the forum.
They all looked confused until I looked down, causing their gaze to follow mine, but much more slowly. Dillon truly was proving to be as good a swimmer as he claimed. His feet never once dipping low enough to touch my cupped paws. The silence that followed caused me to look back up, finding that they were still staring at him. They hadn't bolted or freaked out, which was good so far. But I didn't want it to become any sort of problem, so I surged forward.
“Dillon, I would like you to meet my herd away from my herd. We all live in the same complex. This is Trull, on the right. Migg, next to him and Migg’s sister, Kord. And last, but certainly not least, all the way on the left is Trull’s Brother, Krull.
“By the pearls of the ancestors.” Krull whispered, not even a ripple passing between the four of them. “That's one of those new predators, isn't it? What's it doing out on the forum?”
“Never thought you'd be the one to taint the waters, hey Pidny?” Came Trull’s voice, Just as soft, but with a hint of apprehension.
“What? No…I…Look, guys.” I finally moved my paws from under Dillon's body, showing them more thoroughly at how the little human was capable of swimming. “Dillon told me how he loves to swim back on his homeworld. And ever since he learned about the forum, he-.”
“What? Wanted to swim in it himself?” Migg barked out in disbelief. “Scoping out new hunting grounds, more likely!” He began pushing his sister behind him, Eye now fully trained on Dillon. Who, for the most part, was starting to not look so timid.
“I couldn't hunt in these waters, even if I wanted to.” The twins jumped at Dillon’s voice after the human finally spoke up. “I'm not exactly a fast swimmer, compared to you guys. I wouldn't have been able to make it halfway as far as this if it hadn't been for Pidny shuttling me around in one of her pouches.” Kord peaked around her brother's torso as Dillon began doing what he assured me was called swimming, for humans. As if showing how inadequate his body was, in comparison to ours.”
Migg was trying his best to look intimidating, even going so far as to showing teeth on one side of his snout. But even his ears started to point forwards at the awkward display.
“I just wanted to try swimming on Prime, honest. I'm happy for your kind, that they even allow you to do that, here. Knowing how much you have lost, as a people.” Dillon was now floating in equal distance between me and the rest of the herd, not even having to kick his legs in order to keep his head above the water. Much like the cork he had mentioned before. “If it's truly something that you would prefer I did not do, I will get out of the forum. I wouldn't want to make you feel unsafe in one of the last few freedoms native to your kind.”
With deft movements of his forelegs, Dillon floated back towards me. My ears lowered at how he was willing to give up something for someone else, despite how much he enjoyed it. An Arxur would have fought tooth and claw for domination. But humans seemed to be willing to compromise.
It wasn't until the little human was cupped in my paws, once more, then did Kord swim around her brother to be beside him once more. “Dillon.” Her voice was soft, unsure of herself as her brother placed a comforting paw around her back. “My brother is protective of us, but he is right.” Dillon nodded his head, looking down at my paws as his disappointment was almost palpable. “But, not in that way.” This made him look up at Kord, causing her brother to hold her tighter, the twins huddling closer together. While they didn’t look fearful, as Thafki were usually the more curious of the herd, there was still caution about them. “With what you understand of us, if you truly care. Perhaps we can put together something a bit more…planned?”
While I was flustered at how they were practically denying Dillon a chance to swim, I was starting to wonder if I should have mentioned this, spur-of-the-moment, decision with those of us who use this Forum for more than just sight seeing. We all shared in using it. And I was only now realizing how it could have been reckless and selfish to allow an outsider, a predator, into our waters.
“I’m sorry. It was partly my idea, as well.” I spoke softly, pulling Dillon against my chest as I curled slightly in the water in a posture of apology. “It’s just not often there are those, around us, that share in our love for water. Maybe, sometime in the near future, we can do something to allow Dillon the swim time he so very much wanted?”
“Pidny.” Kord continued, chittering softly. “It’s not that we don’t want…Dillon…to be swimming in the Forum. We just wish you would have included more of us in something that affects all of us.” The twins swished their tails in agreement.
“Yeah!” Trull seemed to perk up a bit at Kord’s idea. “While it’s flattering for someone outside of the normal people who like this Forum.”
“We must enjoy it as a herd!” Krull finished for his brother, tail swishing in the same way.
The three looked towards Migg, who had yet to stop staring at Dillon, to which Dillon finally returned the gaze, albeit in a more reserved way. My paws were supporting his body, now so that he was sitting on my toe pads. Migg turned silently away and started swimming back the way they had come, the other three following a moment later, Kord being the only one to look back at me and, lingeringly on Dillon before continuing on their way.
I felt disappointment start to well within me when Dillon spoke up. “That could have gone worse!” He swam so that his body now rested in only one of my paws, giving my wrist a reassuring hug. “You had good intentions, but I can see where they are coming from. I wouldn’t want to be the deciding factor of you guys losing such a wonderful privilege.”
I lifted him fully out of the water before nuzzling my cheek into his body, pinning him fully against my paw. “I hope you had fun, at least”
“Ahhh!” His muffled cry sent a shiver of excitement through me, even more-so when his strange barking laughter followed. “You were able to show me the Forum and I was able to swim a bit.” I felt him return the nuzzle, even going so far as to spread his paws over my cheek in a way that just felt right. “There's always the future. We're still new to this galaxy, people just need to get used to us.
Inspiration struck as I made my way back to shore. I was aiming further along the shore from where we entered so as to stay in the water as long as believably possible..”Dillon, would you like to ride on my shoulder for the way back? I know we talked about it, but I'll go slow.” I lifted him to my shoulder, feeling him move in answer to my question as I felt him perch upon me. I couldn't help but squirm in the water at the friendship I was certain was budding between us. He was right, we couldn't know what the future held, But I would be supporting him in any way that I could.
Reaching the shore, I took care to stand in a way that was smooth enough so is not to dislodge him, feeling his paw against my neck to help stabilize himself. I looked over to where I had left the herd under the dome, Just to see that only Vul! and Glirck were sitting under it, Dillon also seeming to notice.
“Huh, Tunja must have taken Drein somewhere to help her feel better.”l I think I should do something for her, Even if she did pounce me. She had good intentions, and I'm not too sure she fully believes that I had forgiven her.”
I was about to respond when a sudden explosion, or something resembling as such, sounded ahead of us, off to the side of where Vul! and Glirck we're sitting. I didn't see any damage or smoke that could have came from such a sound, but there was movement along the shop front, a sizable group of Venlil.
“Pidny, what the heck was that? Is it just me or is that fluffbank getting closer?”
Closer…Stampeding…No…No!
I turned and ran. They had taught us in school about stampeding, but only ever a part of the stampede or following behind. My instincts were starting to take over. I wanted to join them, to get away from the danger, but they were all coming right at us! Blind fear and panic were in their ears and tails, as if very little thought, other than to get away, were cascading through their heads.
I brought one of my paws up to help steady the human as I ran, but no matter how much I tried to push, be at the gravity of the planet or the energy I had expended from swimming, The sound of stampeding steadily got louder from behind us. Did I dare jump back into the forum, even after the discussion with Migg and his herd? Do I deviate for my current path in hopes that they don't follow? No, I was now at the head of the stampede and steadily growing closer to becoming a part of it!
A shove from behind sent me sprawling. I managed to keep a hold of Dillon As I tumbled, only to feel him fly from my paw as I came to a stop. I tried to go after him, but was stopped as several hind paws threatened to crush me. “Dillon!” I screamed, curling up into a tight ball as to protect myself, school lessons taking over as instincts began clouding my mind.
Memory transcription subject: ***Dillon Bringun, currently underpaw
Despite the amount of shenanigans that had happened to me, ever since landing upon Prime, I don't think I have ever experienced going 0 to 100, as much as I was feeling right now. One moment, Pidny was taking me back towards the umbrella, next we were running away from a cloud of fluff that was moving faster than any sort of storm front I could imagine. Worse off, it was coming right towards us!
They say that, when you are in the midst of danger, time was supposed to slow down. But it seemed to be an instant between me riding on her shoulder and me tumbling through the sand. Thunderous, yet muffled impacts seemed to surround me as I was finally able to roll onto my back. To say I was merely terrified while staring up at the passing Venlil would have caused me to slap whoever had said it.
I was hardly able to stand up when I had to jump out of the way of a falling hind paw, only to find myself in the path of another. I tried to stumble towards Pidny, only for the sand beneath me to stop any further movement, As I fell backwards. I could only watch as the second paw came down on top of me, throwing my arms in front of me to try and soften whatever blow came.
My eyes closed as the impact was unlike anything I had felt before. I was expecting pain, but before the pressure could have exceeded anything more than what one would feel beneath a half ton plush before suddenly being released as the paw came back up, followed by what sounded like a startled braying. But that didn't mean I felt the impact any less.
^”Dillon!”
Pidny’s voice sounded too far away. I tried to sit back up, only for the pressure to return, only to release once more, I was vaguely aware of the impression my body was making into the paw-shaped imprint the two Venlil had left me in. I wasn't in any real pain, but even lifting my arm was proving to be difficult. Is this what shock feels like?
My heart was pounding in my ears as I could only stare up at the clouds rushing by.Paws slammed the sand around me, near misses, the edges of my vision began to grow dark. I could feel it. Their fear, or was it my own? I hadn't been on Prime for more than a week. It was only a matter of time, I suppose. I hope you're happy. You talked enough about them. I hope it was everything you wanted. Not like this!
I felt delirious as one of the clouds seemed to be getting bigger, filling my entire field of vision where I couldn't even see individual legs anymore. My thoughts went back to Tunja As I closed my eyes for what must be the last time. I prayed that she wouldn't miss me too much.
MEMORY TRANSCRIPTION INTERRUPTED
REASON: ERROR