The Nature of Predators - Arxur Miniseries (2/6)

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Memory transcription subject: Kaisal, Arxur Dominion Third Fleet

Date [standardized human time]: September 28, 2136

My first impression of this human was that she was a solitary predator; the same brand as us. Their race must not have identified the benefits of working in groups, for select purposes. War was a game of numbers, and it was sloppy not to assemble military units. It was fascinating to try to decipher her mind, assessing how they could’ve gotten onto the cradle by force.

The Gojids were colossal failures at warfare, like all prey, but their air defenses should’ve kept landing parties at bay. There was no sign that the human fleet had engaged in orbital bombing; our people had to step in and start the process for them. I didn’t know why a predator race wouldn’t bring heavy munitions to a battle, when it made it much easier to soften up the populace.

The alien steered me into a cave, creating a camp to wait out the nightfall. Her forward-facing eyes were on high alert, searching for any Gojid or Arxur approaches. My gaze swept across her armor, which didn’t seem to offer much protection. There was a decorative patch affixed to the fabric, a rectangle of green, white, and red stripes. An avian emblem was at the center, which looked like a bird of prey.

Do they idolize winged hunters, and try to mimic them with their arboreal sensitivities?

“What’s your name?” I asked.

The creature hesitated. “Maya.”

“I’m Kaisal.”

Maya was hunched over a stack of timber, drumming up a blaze. Her pupils reflected the oranges of the firelight, and I could see heavy dislike in those eyes. My stomach emitted a deafening rumble, as she studied my form; the discomforting sensation was nigh unbearable. We had walked for hours, and my captor hadn’t offered me a morsel to mitigate my pain.

An intrusive thought crossed my mind, wondering how human flesh tasted. There was no way the alien could outrun me, and there was nowhere for her to climb away. I shoved it aside, knowing how shameful it would be to consume sapient flesh. No matter how far I was along the path of starvation, I wasn’t an animal.

The human focused on the drool around my lips. I realized my mouth was watering at the thought of eating her, in spite of myself. The fat stores by the abdomen, and the muscles on the limbs attracted my unwilling gaze. My brain screamed for food, and my arms quivered with want. Some protein in my belly to blunt this smoldering appetite…there was nothing I wouldn’t do. I could just pounce, and get it over with.

The last of my self-control held me in place. I released a strained howl, and squeezed my eyes shut. It was becoming impossible to fight the cravings. This alien had plenty of delectable organs, just waiting to be harvested. I couldn’t bear another minute in this famished state. The mental images were intensifying, and the voices in my head whispered that Maya was a weaker predator.

I licked my lips, and felt my vision go blurry. “F-feed me. PLEASE! I’m losing control.”

The alien’s eyes widened in alarm, before she pointed her gun at me. My breathing accelerated and my heartrate quickened, while her oily aroma tickled my nostrils. Maya reached into the knapsack she’d thrown aside, and rummaged through her options. She tore open a pack of dried meat, throwing it at me. It smelled funny, like char, but I didn’t care.

I wolfed it all down in a single bite, shivering from the pleasure. My eyes snapped open with renewed focus, and I tried to make myself look presentable again. That delirious state had played right into whatever the Federation said about us. Talk about making a terrible first impression of the Arxur.

“Sorry. I’ve scarcely eaten in weeks…my higher brain functions were shutting down,” I growled.

Maya kept the firearm pointed at me. “Is this something I’m going to have to worry about? How often do you ‘lose control?’”

“Never, with adequate food. This is bad as it’s ever gotten. You’re seeing me at a low point.”

“Hmph. The Federation says you have no empathy.”

“Not for a one of them. They’re animals, but you? You are unique.”

Tired of the conversation, I turned my head toward the cave wall. That exchange was lengthy enough; there was no need to torment Maya, by flooding her with everything about us at once. The human didn’t take a hint that I was bored of talking, which I suppose was her prerogative. Sure, this was her interrogation, but why wasn’t she disinterested? We’d been in each other’s presence for half-a-day, a near eternity.

Maya jabbed a finger at me. “Are you unique, Kaisal? You said your pals were chasing you because you were weak.”

“I left, ran away. They stole my catch. MY CATCH!” I roared, quivering with fury.

“Will they come after you?”

“With more people, yes. They hate traitors…and their pride is wounded by retreating from you. I didn’t want to fight for the army, but fighting isn’t a choice for us. It’s a requisite if you don’t want to be shipped to the slaughter, like PREY!”

“Keep your voice down. You’re going to attract unwanted attention.”

The human paused for a moment, appearing to listen for any activity. That implied that her sense of smell was much weaker than mine, despite the lengthy nose. I could detect intruders on the breeze, long before they were visible or audible. It was tough to believe this predator had good hearing either, with the seashell ear shape. Why were her senses so underdeveloped?

Also, why is she alone? We could use others of her kind, if Typhith and Naitha come back, I mused. She seems able to tolerate company…more so than me.

I blinked. “Why are you traveling alone? Unit warfare is tactically beneficial, especially for seizing targets.”

“I’m what you call a Tactical Air Control Party Specialist. Your army had my unit pinned down, defending a Gojid daycare center,” Maya answered.

“Defending them? You called them children earlier, but you’re at war with the Gojids. They treat you like shit cause you’re predators; you said so yourself!”

Her binocular eyes narrowed, and the brown irises darkened to a smoky shade. The human was justified to display infuriation, but perhaps I added insult to injury. There was something about the way she talked that reminded me of the prey. Perhaps this softness meant these predators would take mercy on a weakling like me.

“Forget it. Look, I got a good vantage point, and called in an airstrike. But the UN fleet never came,” Maya continued. “I stood there, waiting and pleading to an empty radio, as my friends were slaughtered. Help never came.”

Listening to her voice crack, the pieces began to fit together. Her instinct was to refer to her squadmates as friends, not partners; that placed emphasis on their social value. It suggested that she cared about them, despite the lack of blood ties or shared interests. Tack that on to the fact that she wasn’t showing any irritability, after hours of interaction…

I tilted my head. “Social predator. Interesting. We are solitary, so we do not talk to each other for long. Company becomes grating fast, like having a burr in your scales.”

“You didn’t realize we were social? Kaisal, humans spend all day around each other, in most professions. Hell, we built social networks and chatting services with the internet. We try to connect with people even when we’re alone.”

“But you must run out of meaningful things to say. What do you talk about? The breeze? Grooming habits? Prophet forbid…mating rituals?”

“I haven’t mentioned any of those things.”

“And I’m very glad of that. Please tell me you have a plan to get out of here. Why haven’t you contacted your people?”

Maya retrieved a paper map from her knapsack, and unfurled it on the cave floor. In the light of the fire, I could see it was a crude interpretation of the Gojid terrain; the humans must’ve drawn it up from their intelligence. She tapped a forested area with her finger, which must be our current location. Her hand glided closer to a industrial settlement, near the wind farms.

“This was our evac zone. In the event that we got separated, our orders were to rendezvous here. I missed the flight out…the UN isn’t coming back for me. It’s over,” the alien sighed.

I released my best snarl. “That’s it? You’re just giving up? That’s the most defeatist, prey-like attitude I ever heard!”

The human pursed her lips. She dragged her finger to the opposite side of the forest, in the direction of Naitha and Typhith. Drifting past our landing spot, her digits pointed to a Gojid military base. This complex was well-fortified and primarily underground, not worth the effort of seizing it. The village adjacent to it was an easier, juicier target.

“I’m going to look for other human survivors, and any Gojid civilians I can help.” Maya gazed into the dancing flames, and the blaze reflected in her sharp pupils. “There’s a blast bunker in the base. My plan is to get there, and ride out the bombing.”

I growled with alarm. “Ride it out? Nothing is going to survive an orbital raid! Besides, you won’t get within an inch of that bunker; those spiky animals will kill you on sight!”

“Well. That’s the only plan I’ve got. Your arrival just complicated things further.”

It was all I could do to bite my tongue, knowing there was a ticket to safety. We could find other Arxur pockets, far away from Typhith and Naitha. They’d arrange safe passage out of here for us both; delivering a new predator to them would prove my worth. It was a win-win scenario for everyone involved. However, now was not the time when the human would be suggestible to a partnership.

“No, I’m good news…you need me. I can track down other humans with my scent. Also, those Arxur you saw could be tracking us already, and Gojids could be running around anywhere. I’m your nose and ears,” I hissed.

The human neatly refolded her map. “If we’re being tracked, we’ve stayed here long enough. It’s time to move.”

“Are you kidding? It will take them plenty of time to regroup and scrounge up a hunting party. You should sleep, so you’re at your best. We’re mismatched with them as is.”

Maya started to argue, but her mouth gaped in an emphatic yawn. It was as though her body was protesting her brain’s orders; the dark circles beneath her eyes suggested exhaustion. The human must’ve been running on adrenaline for days, and while I couldn’t understand her hardship, a pack predator would be distraught about the loss of their group.

“Don’t try anything. I’m a light sleeper,” she muttered.

Wrapping my tail around my torso, I could feel the ribs beneath my scaly hide. It was nice to bask in the warmth of the flames, and to rest my head on the coolness of the ground. This was how ancient Arxur had lived, free in nature’s purity. My own eyelids were heavy, as I sank into the clutches of sleep.

The morning came around without incident, though the bright sunlight was more pleasing to the diurnal mammal than me. Maya had a bit more pep in her step, and the rest restored some of her vigor. My hunger was back with a vengeance, but the human already laid out greasy meat strips beside me. She was scarfing down a yellow, spongy substance, which seemed to crumble beneath her utensils.

Imagine using silverware like prey, because you can’t tear up your food with your teeth. Biology has robbed Maya of a proper jaw.

A greedy hunger took over, and I devoured the reddish flesh in a heartbeat. This time, I allowed the odd flavor to linger on my tongue for more than a second; my tastebuds sent waves of pleasure to my brain. Perhaps this scorching process was designed to replicate the warmth of a fresh carcass, with old rations. It tasted much stronger than what I was accustomed to, though it wasn’t unpleasant.

“What is that? The yellow stuff,” I asked.

Maya finished chewing a modest bite. “Eggs.”

“They give you such delicacies, on an ordinary mission? And you are not an officer?! Your species must have an abundant food supply! Krakotl eggs are a prize, though they’re not practical or economical. Too small, not a full meal.”

“Gee, you talk a lot for a solitary species.”

“Because you’re actually interesting. I care about philosophy, science, discovery…things with meaning.”

The human pushed the last mouthfuls into her gullet, before sliding the empty bowl to me. I licked the plate clean happily, lapping up every last crumb. Eggs tasted so light and airy, more tender than even meat. It was delightful! Perhaps this was worth betraying the Arxur, to be with such food-wealthy predators; even if they were talkative by nature.

Maya picked up her rifle, and gestured for me to exit the cave ahead of her. The two of us shuffled out into the brightness, greeted by the sound of rustling leaves. It took my eyes awhile to adjust; I envied the dark goggles the human slid over her gaze. Hindered by her weak nose, the primate looked around constantly. I could reassure her that there was nobody in the vicinity with a single whiff.

Retracing our steps was an easy process, since the alien had the foresight to slash the trees as we passed. It wasn’t anything noticeable at a glance, unless you knew what to look for; it wouldn’t lead anyone to our location. The female predator seemed distracted by the bomb explosions on every horizon. The cities were being shelled relentlessly, and nothing the Gojids built would withstand our onslaught.

“Smell anything funky?” Maya asked, as we labored to the edge of the trees.

I sucked in a sharp breath, not wanting to admit how badly I was hurting. The human rested a lot less than I desired, possessing what seemed like endless stamina. After two days of walking for miles without reprieve, my muscles were starting to ache. Her frail form shouldn’t lend itself to such lengthy voyages, yet the only sign of tiredness was a few sweat beads on her neck.

“Hold on. Let me catch my breath, so I can take a proper sniff.” A wheezing gasp slipped from my chest, and I leaned against a tree for support. “It is hot out here. It’s so fucking hot.”

She shook her head with exasperation. “Forget it. So much for being my ‘nose and ears’, Kaisal. I’ll do it myself.”

The human found a foothold on a fat tree trunk, and ascended to a dizzying height within a minute. Perhaps I hadn’t appreciated her species’ evolution, and how practical strength differed in the forest. It was a separate biome from traditional land hunting; her kind were well suited to vertical endeavors. There was a nimbleness to her movements that we couldn’t mirror if we practiced.

Maya pressed a black device to her eyes, which seemed like an extension of her gaze. Judging by the two lens, I decided it was some kind of magnifying device. She stayed balanced on a wavering branch without issue, and scoped out the grassy opening where I had come from. My nostrils flared with urgency, knowing I couldn’t become a liability. The scents in the air were confusing, and required concentration to untangle.

The human snapped upright, and slid down from her perch with ease. My olfactory sense picked up on Gojid traces, though to my disappointment, none were fresh. The strongest trigger was Maya standing beside me, and the salty perspiration seeping from her glands. Trying to block out her scent, I cast my net out further. The breeze was carrying hints of Arxur from the clearing; Typhith and Naitha were fresh triggers, but there were other Arxur signatures too.

“There’s ten Arxur moving on our position, directly in our path,” I announced.

Maya sighed. “Already saw. They definitely know we’re here. We have to fight, or at least drive them back. Problem is, I don’t trust you with a gun.”

“You can trust me to shoot them. I hate them, and they hate me…for weakness, and treason.”

“Hmph. I’m going to regret this.”

The human hesitated for a moment, before uncuffing my paws. I could sense her wariness, and even taste a hint of fear on the breeze; she didn’t trust me not to attack. That was fair, considering how tenuous my control was earlier. But now, I was well-fed and eager to get back at my cruel partners. It would be ironic if the weakling they terrorized sent them to their grave.

A spare sidearm was retrieved from the alien’s bag, and pressed into my grasp. She gestured to a pair of strong-smelling bushes; I obeyed the cue to take cover. Maya hoisted herself back into the tree, while we waited for the Arxur party to close on our scent. Numbers were not on our side, but at least we wouldn’t go down like mewling Venlil.

Regardless of the outcome, I was certain this gunfight was going to be bloody and chaotic. This would be the first time Arxur forces had clashed with another predator, after all.

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A/N - Part 2 of the Arxur mini-series! We learn why our mysterious human was alone, and her desperate plan to escape the cradle. First, they'll have to fight through Kaisal's "buddies"...vastly outnumbered. Can they beat the odds?

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