The trio of Vressian acid beasts stalked down the starship's red and gold carpeted corridors, the corrosive juices that dripped from their muzzles leaving black holes like cigarette burns. They were mangy, their fire orange fur matted and dirty, and above all they were hungry.
It was a one week journey from Vressia to Limmis and their owner had seen no reason to feed cargo that was going to be killed and skinned once it reached its destination anyway. The only reason they were even kept alive was because the tax on livestock was less than the one on pelts, which were considered luxury goods.
What the cheap bastard hadn't counted on was that a starving acid beast produced more bile and corrosives than a healthy one. That along with his insistence on reusing cages over multiple trips had finally resulted in the electronics of the cages failing, they just weren't rated for that kind of environment.
Now three emaciated hunters stalked the unfamiliar corridors of the luxury starliner. Thankfully it was the night cycle so only a skeleton crew was working and most of the passengers were in their quarters. The casino and bar were still open but they were on the far side of the ship.
An acid beast with a jagged scar down its muzzle sniffed the air, prey was near. It signalled to the rest of the pack to follow and stealthily they slipped onto one of the darkened observation decks.
A lone Limissian adolescent stood with its back to the predators, looking out a window into the incredible kaleidoscope of space. There was no atmosphere or light pollution, no clouds. Stars and galaxies shone in the blackness with nothing to impede their majesty.
The hairs on the back of Kemm's neck stood up as a never before used instinct told him to turn around, slowly. Limissian were herbivores. Their ancestors had walked the plains on four hooves until a gradual decline in grazing land had forced them to learn to climb trees in search of food.
That had led to the shaggy cape buffalo-like creatures taking their first steps on two hooves and developing grasping hands capable of using tools. They had built a civilization, colonized planets, spread among the stars. And at that moment none of that mattered.
Because at that moment Kemm of clan Jerr was just a lone Limissian, barely old enough to grow horns, surrounded by starving predators. He tensed to run.
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"Don't do it." Warned a voice from somewhere in the shadows. Kemm froze in place. His translation chip tagged the language as Human, a species he was unfamiliar with. He searched for the source of the voice and saw a furless hornless creature about his height wearing a green gardener's uniform and cap. It was standing near the doorway, a basket of tools held loosely in one hand.
The acid beasts turned to face this newcomer, it was bigger than they were but between the three of them it would be no problem to tear it to shreds. The human moved forward with purpose, putting itself between them and the Limissian. "Stay behind me, youngling." The human said.
Kemm felt conflicted, part of him was happy to no longer be alone and the rest of him was afraid that this creature was about to sacrifice itself for nothing. There was no way that this human could fight off all three of the acid beasts, it had no horns or claws, no apparent weapons, not even a thick hide to protect it.
Yet, there was something odd happening. The human seemed to sway, the acid beasts picking up on the movement and swaying in turn. It was like the human was testing them. "You poor creatures." The human sighed, taking in the dirt that caked the lead acid beast's fur and the way it favored one front paw over the other. "You're probably starving. I'll have to get your cleaned up and find you some food."
Slowly the human walked forward and reached out with an open hand, palm down, fingers together, then pushed forward and down on the empty air. Kemm could feel a sense of incredible pressure settle over the acid beasts as the human asserted its authority.
The beasts were scared, starving, half dead. By all rights they should have lunged forward and taken the human's hand off at the wrist. Instead one let out a low whine.
"Know I know." The human whispered. "But it's alright now, I'll take care of you. I promise." There was no way that the acid beasts could understand its language but somehow the human was making its intentions known to them.
Then with an authority that could not be denied the human pushed its hand forward in an arc like motion, fingertips leading, palm exerting that same invisible pressure. The acid beasts fought uncertainly against the human's influence but one by one they submitted until only the leader stood, its scared muzzle nearly touching the human's hand.
The Vressian acid beast snarled and shifted on its feet, making ready to attack. The human gave its undivided attention to the remaining beast and uttered a single word of power, putting the full force of human will and history behind it.
"Sit." The human commanded, pushing forward with that same invisible force of authority. The acid beast submitted, sitting back on its haunches, no longer able to resist.
"Good boy." The human said, slowly stroking the beast's flame red fur. "Good doggie."