The Nature of Predators - Thafki Waterpark Day (One-Shot #11)

Memory transcription subject: Ralikenn, Thafki Diplomat

Date [standardized human time]: February 16, 2137

Twelve thousand.

That was the number of Thafki who lived as free citizens, per Federation censuses, rather than in Arxur cattle pens…prior to humanity liberating an entire sector’s captives. I hadn’t been sure what to make of the arboreal predators releasing livestock, but the Mazics had helped with the millions of Thafki refugees from Shaza’s sector. There were fears among our diplomats that this would lead to greater cultural dilution, since most of our future citizens wouldn’t be descended from our homeworld. Most of us who were born free were raised in alien societies, except for a handful of communes; we barely remembered our culture and dead planet as things were.

The UN vehicle steered itself around a thin road built into a cliff, with a rusting guardrail standing between us and a hundred-foot plunge. I stared out at the water, despite its dizzying height, in an attempt to avoid looking at the predator assigned to be my tour guide. I had no idea where the human was taking me, but it was far too late to plot an escape. An odd yearning filled my chest, with the blue-green expanse calling to something deep in my soul. I knew the ocean harbored predators, along with every other aquatic body, leaving you unable to see danger coming…but I wondered what it was like to be able to swim to the horizon. Rather than wishing I wasn’t on Earth, I wished I was lost at sea.

Someone had to come here on our behalf, now that we’re Sapient Coalition members. Earth is a beautiful planet, though I can’t imagine how I’d be so casual and relaxed with predators.

“Are you familiar with the concept of icebreakers?” Demir Baljić asked, refusing to accept my silence.

I pretended that the growling voice didn’t belong to a binocular-eyed war-ape twice my size. “Breaking ice? Like c-chisels?”

“No, you silly goose. Though I have wondered how you Feddies—shit, I’m not supposed to call you that anymore—uh, how aliens handle being snowed in. The Venlil ain’t got much in the way of seasons, so we couldn’t ask them. Say, what was my question?”

I sighed. “Icebreakers.”

“Right! It’s a way of breaking the ice, socially, when there’s tensions between two people ‘cause you don’t know each other. You do something that’s, like, funny, amusing, or teaches you something about the other person: I like asking weird questions.”

“I don’t see how that would make this any less awkward. No offense, but is t-this necessary?”

“Kenn—I can call you, Kenn, right—we have to spend a lot of time around each other. You look like you’d like to be halfway to the nearest solar system. Unless you intend to hop on the next flight back home, we could make this a little more enjoyable for all of us.”

“I’m not here to have fun.”

“Let me have one question! Ahem. If you could be any other sapient species for a day, what would it be?”

That whimsical topic jolted me out of my stubborn gaze out the window, and I gawked at the predator in disbelief. Demir’s dark hair was buzzed back to his scalp, while the faintest hint of fur lingered as a shadow around his lips. I had trouble distinguishing his pupils from the usual ring of color humans had for their irises. It was difficult to read any hunter’s emotions, when I couldn’t pick out the slight shifts in his gaze. Flustered by the weight of his skewering stare, I distracted myself with the inane question. The vehicle had descended from the remote UN installation, and was zipping along a more populated road. Pondering how many predators were in the vicinity would make me hyperventilate.

I listed off various Federation species in my head, sensing Demir’s anticipatory gaze boring into my skull. What I longed for was to swim without concern for predators, but I thought the premise was to try something I didn’t know what it was like to do. A dark part of me wondered how it was to be human, and still retain some prey traits among the more visceral attributes. That was absolutely not the answer I could offer up to a Terran, nor was it one I should have jumped to. The wings of the Krakotl or the Duerten, the spines and sharp claws of the Gojids, or the massive size of a Mazic were all interesting. However, I could imagine what it was like to be them.

Pick a truly alien species.

“I’d be a Tilfish,” I decided. “What’s it like to be hexapedal? To have…light sensors on the back of your head, as well as mandibles, antennae? They can breathe through their skin, you know.”

Demir laughed in his bone-chilling barks. “It would be weird to be a giant insect. I didn’t take you for a bug guy, Kenn.”

“I’m not. I’m just curious. Um, what would you pick?”

“I’d be a Yotul, but a female one. Why female, you ask? It’d be so fuckin’ cool to have a pouch, and the boys don’t have one. Think about it: it’s like a built-in, giant pocket on your stomach. What’s it feel like if you stick your holopad in there? Is it like having metal under your skin, being some cybernetic augment? It has to be strong enough to carry a living being. If you’ve ever seen a Yotul newborn, they’re hairless, like us—more like a Sphynx cat.”

“How much have you thought about this?!”

“A couple times.”

“That’s a weird thing to think of on your own.”

“It’s what happens when humans get bored. We start imagining random dudes parkouring on the buildings, or how many toasters we could pack together with us in this car. As for that one, I think about fifty or so. Did some mental arranging.”

“I…don’t have a response for that.”

“But now you know what the big, scary predator’s really fantasizing about. I’m gonna show you a good time, Kenn. I promise, where I’m taking you, you’re never gonna want to leave.”

“Why’s that?”

The human blinked like it was self-explanatory. “It’s a water park.”

“What a nonsense phrase. You can’t have a park in the water.”

“Oh yes, you can. There’s nothing to do here but play in the water.”

“You talk as if this park is where we are right now.” I followed where his directional gaze was pointing, seeing weird complexes of colorful spiral structures and artificial pools. Predators were floating on inflatables in some, reminding me of the Federation’s warnings that dangerous creatures flocked to water. “Why would humans, a land species with no aquatic origins, build something like this?”

“I dunno. Water’s the most alien environment on Earth. That makes it fun of its own right. Now, put on your happy face, Kenn the Tilfish wannabe, and let’s get going!”

I loped after the human, with some reluctance, not understanding how this was an appropriate excursion for a diplomatic mission—humans did things differently. Perhaps the Terrans wanted me to make a fool of myself, so they could treat me as a lesser creature. Then again, if that was their goal, Demir was doing an atrocious job of presenting the predators as dominant or sensical. I tried to imagine the arboreal predators having pouch flaps where their stomachs were, and chuckled in spite of myself. The UN liaison made a sweeping gesture toward the park, clicking his credit chip by a turnstile to permit us entry. I couldn’t help but notice the scale of this place; it wasn’t quite the horizon-to-horizon ocean, but it was a vast complex. There was nothing comparable in the Federation.

When these predators swim, they don’t look very dynamic. What land animal swims with their face planted into the water?

My guide walked to the edge of a pool, which was packed with predators. Gawking sets of eyes turned toward me, and for a split second, Demir molded his face into a threatening mask. Humans who were considering an approach toward the prey alien backed down, seeing the UN liaison’s superior build. The Terran returned to a mindless snarl moments later, and pointed at the blue-green water. I was uncertain what the predator wanted from me, but given that I was trapped on Earth, wasn’t I obligated to comply with any demands?

“Rule 101 of pool parties. You gotta learn how to do a cannonball, Kenn,” Demir declared. “Take a few steps back from the edge, take a running start, and make as big of a splash as possible.”

“I don’t understand why you’re doing this.” I felt Sol’s warmth scorching into my neck; despite being predator-infested, the water did appeal to me. The Thafki must be a broken species, for our natural leanings to outweigh proper herbivore instincts. “If I do this, can we leave, and go somewhere less crowded? I feel swarmed.”

“You put your heart into the plunge, I’ll take you wherever you like. If that’s what you want. C’mon. Cowabunga!”

I stared at the sleek, blue-gray Thafki that represented by my reflection, and the tapering tail curled behind me. Backing up several steps, I sprinted toward the water with haste, hoping to get it over with. Out of my periphery, I could see Demir shedding his chest pelt, for some reason; oh stars, was the predator going to pounce on top of me? Had the running prey set off his latent instincts? It was too late to hit the brakes, so I committed to my leap into the water. The cool liquid was ethereal, sucking the tension from constant human exposure out of my bones. My legs struck out on instinct, almost forgetting that my tour guide was about to lunge at me.

The human’s enormous body mass collided with the water next to me, rather than snapping my spine. A plume of liquid was tossed up into the air, as the pool was displaced by his entry. Demir’s teeth were on full display, with harsh barks rumbling through his chest on loop. He cupped his clawless fingers together, deviousness flashing in his forward-facing eyes. His pupils definitely were sizing me up like a fresh kill. Was this all some way of toying on me? Would every Terran in the pool converge on me as some pack hunting game, in an exotic environment? It wasn’t every day that prey wandered into their aquatic resorts.

While I was praying the humans were merciful enough to make it quick, cool wetness splashed onto my face. Demir batted a paw against the pool’s surface, and shoved another wave of water at me. This was some sort of “play-fighting,” wasn’t it? Despite the predatory roots of such behavior, I was relieved that was all there was to it. Expectancy tugged at the Terran’s reddish lips, and his dark pupils flicked toward the water. I wasn’t sure what came over me, but my tail had flung an aquatic volley at the predator before I could stop myself.

Please don’t drown me in retaliation. Prey aren’t supposed to fight back against predators…

The human pushed an even greater splash into my face, bringing his hands back for another motion just as quick. Reacting out of self-defense, I used my tail to drench him even further; his dark brown hair was shedding droplets onto his face. I laughed as his binocular eyes blinked shut, and he raised his free hand in an attempt to shield himself. Demir allowed me to bat water toward him, until I tuckered myself out. The shocking realization occurred to me that I was amused; how could I be having fun surrounded by predators, in an artificial pool?

Demir panted, hoisting himself back onto dry land. “See, Kenn? You were born to thrive, to bask in the water! It’s marvelous. The Feddies just didn’t like that none ‘cause they need somewhere to hide their secrets. Wouldn’t hide it under the sea if it was really that bad, huh? The Thafki didn’t deserve…this, for wanting to swim. You gotta be who you were meant to be!”

“Maybe you’re right,” I admitted, shimmying out of the water. “Out of curiosity, what else is here?”

“I’m so glad you asked. Oh, I’ve got to get some folks to record this. Thafki on a big-ass water slide: you’ll love it! We’ll go to the wave pools after, float into the sunset.”

I cursed myself for giving the human encouragement, rather than calling him on his promise to let me leave. However, there was a part of me that was curious to see if I could derive the same enjoyment from the other attractions here. Tears welled in my eyes briefly; something about being surrounded by water gave me a sense of returning home after a long journey, when I hadn’t realized I was homesick. Demir and humanity couldn’t be that perilous, if they shared our passion for aquatic activities. I was impressed that without any input, my liaison had identified my heart’s desire.

The Terran led the way up a set of stairs, where a line of predators were waiting to slide down a ramp. These colorful inclines pumped water over their surface to add slipperiness, allowing the humans to hurtle into a pool below. It looked terrifying to my eyes; I wasn’t sure why they wanted to fall into the water, except perhaps for a more over-the-top edition of the “cannonball.” My heart climbed up into my throat, once we were next in line. I wanted to back out, but seeing Demir behind me, it seemed I had to go through with this. The liaison instructed me to lay flat on my spine, crossing my arms over my chest. I screamed as the primate gave me a push, feeling gravity tug me toward my destination.

It was exhilarating, but only after the fact. When the pool enveloped me, it took me a brief second to paddle back to the surface. The satisfaction of submerging into the cooling liquid was accentuated by the harrowing journey; I found myself wanting to relive the experience again. Demir smacked into the liquid behind me, cheering with an ear-to-ear snarl. The question lingered of where the human got his crazy ideas, but I was suddenly willing to play along. This was the most fun—the only fun—I’d had in my life’s memory. Whatever else these wild Terrans had in store, perhaps this was a place the Thafki belonged. It was the closest to our lost home I’d ever gotten.

“Are you having fun?” Demir shouted, with needless volume.

I hauled myself to shore, and waited for the slower-swimming human. “I guess so. Since we got here, I haven’t been wishing to be anywhere but Earth.”

“That’s what I like to hear. You told me you weren’t here to have fun, Kenn, but I didn’t believe you. You’re here to find your calling, and to have the time of your damn life.”

The human vaulted from one leg to another in a strange, sashaying pattern; he was quite the character, so I suppose normal bipedal locomotion didn’t suit his superfluous mood. I trundled after him toward the wave pool, grateful that he eventually slowed to a pace suitable for my shorter legs. Demir steered me through a series of pathways, before pointing to our starting point. I could see the volume of the water rising and falling, threatening to dump Terrans off their precarious rafts. Inflatable rings were situated ashore of the rectangular area, and the predator looked stumped for a moment. He grabbed one with a muscular arm, before grinning with a novel idea.

“You’re definitely too small to fit in here, since it’s built for humans. That means you’re gonna curl up on my lap, and enjoy the ride!” Demir decided.

My eyes nearly tumbled from their sockets. “I’m not going to touch…to sit on you. You’re…never mind. Let’s go do something else.”

“Nonsense. I don’t mind; I bet you’re super cuddly. I always thought otters were adorable, and you’re kinda like them, but pebble-colored. You can just pretend I’m an endothermic chair.”

“You’re a predator that’s twice my size. I need some separation from you.”

“Nah. You need me to keep you safe from the big, bad waves. I’m very snuggly.”

That’s just asking for Demir to eat me. I don’t care what the Venlil in the exchange program say; the Arxur think we’re delicacies. My scent could push this predator over the edge!

The Terran struck a childish, pouting pose. “I thought you were here to have fun, Kenn. Do I disgust you that much?”

“I…” I fumbled with my words, unable to find a refusal that wouldn’t betray my innermost thoughts. “Okay, but when I’m done, I’m done.”

“Yes! Oh, if I wasn’t worried you’d mistake a fist bump for some punching children instinct, I’d celebrate like crazy. You’ll love this, I promise!”

The human steadied the inner tube in the water, and sprawled out in it. I was terrified, creeping forward toward his outstretched hands; the last thing I wanted was to be trapped in a predator’s grasp. This was the Terrans’ planet, however, so arguing with their whims was an exercise in futility. At best, it could sour relations between our species. Shaking from head-to-toe, I leapt toward Demir. I could feel him catch my weight with a grunt, and he positioned me against his chest with a delighted snarl. The primate paddled us out into the center of the pool, using the lightest touch to restrain me if I fell.

I could see the wave bearing down on us, pushed forward by predator mechanisms. Humans further back in the pool rose up on their tubes, before bobbing back down onto the flat level. I could feel us lurch forward, tipping to one side as the water forced its way beneath us. The rocking motion was strangely relaxing, and Demir avoided any risk of me slipping off. It was low-intensity and soothing. Some moisture splashed onto us, an environmental blessing. My proximity to the predator somehow morphed into an afterthought, as I immersed myself into the aquatic fluctuations.

Despite the fact that my instincts should have remained in a haywire state, I felt like I could fall asleep in perfect safety and serenity. Part of me wished I could stay in the water park forever, feeling internal harmony between myself and the universe. This was the habitat where I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I belonged. It might be possible to get used to living among predators, if it meant delights like this would be available on a regular basis. Perhaps my time on Earth wouldn’t be as much of a tribulation as I anticipated.

A/N - As promised, the first of the top 4 options you voted for in the poll! Ralikenn, a Thafki diplomat sent to Earth after his people joined the Sapient Coalition, is brought out of his shell by a character of a human. Demir grants Kenn his heart's desire with the fun aquatic activities, and in turn, warms him up to the best of what Earth can offer. Will this visit be enough for Kenn to accept that there is nothing wrong with his water-loving instincts? Was this the cute, wholesome content you, the reader, were imagining?

As always, thank you for reading and supporting! Next on the docket is our Haysi story, and for my history fans here, this one will be especially for you, so I hope I did it justice!