Memory transcription subject: Valek, Human Integration Program Host
Date [standardized human time]: August 28th, 2136. Midday
It didn't take long to get the girls settled. I showed Alvi to the bath at her urgent request, and Maeve was already asleep on my bed before we closed the door. With Alvi preoccupied, it was time to have a word with Dad.
The yelling got steadily louder every step down the stairs, "...inks I'm gonna stand by while we have a hungry predator in the house he has another thing coming! I'll protect this family the same way I always have and PUT A PELLET BETWEEN THAT THING'S STAR-LESS EYES! I WON'T LET IT GET A CHAN…"
I could feel my rage building, just like when we left Tarva's office, but I learned from that: I simply sat at the table and let him burn himself out. Credit to him, his tirade lasted longer than mine! Mom stood by the sink, cleaning the same plate for 10 minutes, I don't think either of us had seen Dad like this before.
Out of breath and shaking, he finally sunk into his dining chair and Mom brought him some juice.
"Maeve is staying with us."
Juice splattered across the table, "LIKE DARKNE-"
"No. You said your piece, now I'll say mine." I waited a moment for dad to settle back, "I'm not going to convince you she needs to stay. Not because I can't, but because I shouldn't brahking have to. But she is staying. And you will be civil to her, because I am asking you to. This is not your house. This is not your farm. It's Mom's; and I'm proud of her for at least trying to understand." A deep breath, I just had to get through this, then I could go to bed.
"Maeve will be staying in my room for a week or so. By then her own space should be finished, so she will move to that. Until that time, you will not darken my door. We have a whistle in the kitchen for every room, use it." Even through the gloom and across the long table, I could see my Dad turning fluorescent orange. Before he could start another rant, I stood from the table and approached my Mom's side, staying in her view.
"We have been in transit for more than a paw, so the three of us are going to bed. Don't bother us, we will come down when we are ready. Good rest to you both." I briefly groomed under my mom's eye as a well-received heartfelt thank you, and plodded back up the stairs.
Everything crashed around me at the penultimate step. The combined weight of navigating all through our transit, helping Maeve feel safe and welcome, keeping Alvi engaged and distracted, avoiding panic and rejection everywhere we went, keeping my Mom from succumbing to fear, and keeping my Dad from killing my mate.
My knees shook. My breathing shuddered. My eyesight dimmed. Deep breath. I just needed to get up this last step, through my door, and into my bed. That's only three things. I could do this.
Opening my door, remembering to lift by the handle to silence opinionated hinges, I saw Maeve curled up on the bed, and immediately felt my weight lifted. The sound of an opening door down the hall told me Alvi was done with her bath. I held my bedroom door for her, and we stepped inside.
With a small light of excitement that somehow broke through her obvious fatigue, Alvi started, "Thank you again, Valek. I didn't have much of a plan before I got here, and I really do appre-"
Just three more things. I can do this.
"It is a pleasure and a joy to have you around Alvi, and we are both incredibly thankful for you trying so hard to accept us. We know it isn't easy. C'mon, you look almost as tired as I do." I grabbed some simple bedding and a covering from my closet, and set Alvi up on the floor against the wall opposite the bed. Her bed made, I gestured a friendly welcome before passing by her.
Alvi's tongue grazed the top of my shoulder, and I stopped in place, "A-All the same: T-Thank you." And she lay down on the cot facing the wall; her eyes closed and ears flattened.
I stood in shock for a moment.
Maybe… No.
And then I, finally, crawled into bed. I nested myself against Maeve's chest, and she sleepily wrapped her arms around me and pulled me closer. Then: blessed sleep.
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Memory transcription subject: Maeve, Human Integration Test Subject
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Home Home Home But Not WRONG WRONG Move Happy Valek Good Fear Protect Fight Sit Valek Calm Fear Alone Home Yes Yes Find Home New New New Fear Sad Fear Outside New Good Sun Tree Park Good Good Home Small Pizza Cute Fear Fear Shame Home Hobbit FEAR GET AWAY FROM HIM
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Memory transcription subject: Alvi, Unemployed
Date [standardized human time]: August 28th, 2136. Late evening
My eyes opened to a nearly pitch black room; Maeve had used her Burka to block out the only window. I raised myself off the cot, rolled my stiff shoulders and neck, and saw the two on the bed. I just… couldn't understand. I saw how they held each other, and it looked like that was what they were meant, even made to do. But it still looked so… wrong. I crawled closer for a better look, but my knee hit my pack.
Valek opened his eye to meet me, his ears gestured greeting, and his tail contentment. “Good waking, Alvi. How long have we slept?”
I checked my pad, quickly dimming to its lowest setting, “Barely a claw.”
Valek made a deep, contented sigh, “I think I have another one or two in me. Is something on your mind?” He asked while slowly blinking.
“No… It’s nothing. It’s just… How can you look so… Happy?” I whispered through the dark, but I could see the Star in Valek’s eye as he answered.
“Because I am. Simple as that. Humans are so much more than they appear, like… The Night reflected in a pool. Beautiful and frightening, but you need only look up to see awe-some depth and wonder.” His tail flicked with his truth.
I saw him, his head on Maeve’s right arm, and her left draped over his side. Her silhouette behind him slowly rising and falling with each breath, and this kind man, wrapped in the arms of a monster.
Monster? Did I really think that? After all I’ve seen of her, after all I’ve seen of them, is she still a Monster?
“I’m sorry if the floor is a little rough,” Valek’s voice interrupted my train of thought, “There’s more bedding in the closet there, third shelf down. I’d offer to help,” he chuckled through a long sigh and melted further into their embrace, “but I'm not gonna.”
I sat for a moment. My mind was still reeling, trying to understand what was in front of me. “What convinced you?”
Valek’s eyes searched for an answer, and he spoke with greater severity, “Time is what convinced me. My Dad thinks she is the Night; a hidden predator, waiting to pounce at our moment of weakness. But I have shown her my weakness, and I have seen her own. Her smile warms me as the Sun, and her cry makes me weep as the rain. She has protected me from harm and insult, and I have protected her the same. She has shown me that we are both so much more than Predator, and Prey. We are Venlil, and Human.”
“We will change this Galaxy, and end this War. I’m sure of it.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
His optimism was infectious, if unfounded. This war would never end, the humans would be added to the Pens, just like everyone else. But maybe we could find some kind of peace here. Valek flicked his tail to get my attention,
“I could show you, if you like? Maeve’s got long arms, so there’s room for one more.”
My fur fluffed and my tail shivered. I turned around to my bed and- Hey, what are you doing?! My body refused to turn, and instead leaned forward to walk, my leg quickly moving forward to catch me. My arms pulled my body onto and across the bed, while Valek lifted Maeve’s arm for me.
What are you doing?! You can’t be in bed with a PREDATOR! What if she wakes up hungry?!
My mind screamed against me as I lay down across from Valek, and he let Maeve’s hand fall against my ribcage. My heart thrummed against my chest and my ears swiveled for escape, but Valek took my paw in his and squeezed it comfortingly. He calmly blinked in contentedness, and Maeve sleepily, lazily ran her fingers through my fur and over my skin.
The gentle brushing, along with her hot fingertips and heavy weight, brought a feeling of security, I now know, I sorely needed. My breathing slowed, my fur leveled, and my tail twitched in cautious satisfaction. Valek chuckled in his usual mischief, before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath of his own.
“Rest well, Alvi.”
“Good… Good sleep… Valek.”
---
Memory transcription subject: Maeve, Human Integration Test Subject
Date [standardized human time]: August 29th, 2136. Late morning
Why does everything hurt?
I felt heat and weight in front of me, and tried to scoop my lover against me. Valek is a lot wider than I remember… I pried my eyes open and looked above the pile of dusty fur in front of me, and saw a second, much less dusty pile of fur. Several emotions boiled to the surface, before being drowned out by the overpowering thought of ‘five more minutes’ and I sunk back into the pillow, reveling in the two weights on my arm and the ball of fur in my hand.
I thought about the week I’ve had, and how much had changed. I thought about the friends I’ve made, and how glad I am of their company. I thought about the reason I was on this planet, and how I might convince Valek’s parents, and hopefully the township, to not try to kill me. I thought about the berries I had for dinner, and quietly giggled to myself.
Valek was right, they were delicious.
I stretched my legs in an effort to remind the complaining muscles of their purpose, though my activity prompted similar stretches and yawns from what was then apparent to be two venlil in front of me, to my immense delight. I brought my free arm to my nearer companion, brushing the wool I found there, while my trapped hand found purchase on an errant ear, yawns turning to happy murrs with the effort. The nearer was the first to rise, and I could recognize Valek’s coloring; as he rose, I could see Alvi’s grey-and-darker-grey striped pattern in front of me, though I snapped my eyes shut as she opened hers. I felt Alvi tense atop my arm and I let my hand fall limp; her’s however, did not.
I felt a tense grip on my upper forearm, as her body seized and her claws dug into my skin. I couldn’t hide a whimper as each one broke through skin, and I felt Valek’s weight whip around.
“Alvi! Let go! Alvi! You’re hurting her! Alvi!” I could feel Valek’s paw pry her from my arm before I jerked it to my chest, nursing the wound. But I couldn’t stop my tears from coming.
“Ah Speh, I need the kit. Alvi, stay here, just don’t move, ok? I’ll be right back, ok Maeve? I’ll be right back!” A soft patter, a screaming door, and Valek’s pawsteps faded down the corridor. I clenched my eyes shut, from pain and from escaping tears. I felt Alvi’s weight shift toward me on the bed,
“Maeve… I… I didn’t mean to. Oh, stars, Maeve I’m so sorry…” I could feel her weight getting closer, and I instinctively backed across the bed, my back to the wall. I couldn’t stop my sobbing from the cascade of emotions; I knew Alvi just reacted, it’s not her fault, it’s not anyone’s fault. But what I knew and what I felt didn’t always agree, despite my best efforts.
“I-I know, Alvi. I’ll be ok, but it still hurts.” I heard rapid pawsteps returning, a door slamming shut, and a rigid vessel snapping open.
“Ok, Maeve, I’m back.” There was panic in his voice, but an assurance that helped to calm me, “It doesn’t look too deep, so the stitching gel should do it. I don’t know the human pain response, so I don’t know what this will feel like.”
I took several steading breaths, before, “Ok. Ok. I’m ready. Don’t tell me when it happens.”
“Alright, Maeve, I need you to bring your arm out. Alvi!”
A terrified Beep from across the room, “W-What?”
“I need you to sit on her hand. Put your whole weight on it.” Valek directed while he positioned himself just above my elbow. A moment later I felt heat on my hand, pinning it to the bed. My breathing quickened in anxious preparation for whatever this might be.
Please don’t be needles.
I heard the snap of a lid popping, I felt a painful warmth on the wound, followed quickly by a freezing chill. A silent wail escaped me as my skin felt like it crystallized. Then, nothing. All pain was gone.
Rattling, rustling, crinkling and crackling before I felt a bandage applied to the wound. Valek, then Alvi, lifted themselves from my arm, but I reached back out to Alvi, "Alvi, wait! Please stay. Please."
Alvi shuddered through terrified sobs, "But I hurt you! I can't be around you, what if I hurt you again?" Her weight left the bed, and Valek crawled closer to me.
"Then I will forgive you again, and I will ask you to stay again. You're my friend, and I won't abandon you for something as small as this."
Valek chuckled beside me, brushing the tears from my eyes, "She called you her friend, Alvi! No getting rid of her now!" And I joined Valek's laughter.
"Wh…What does he mean, Maeve?"
"I mean," Valek answered through his slowing laughter, "that humans make very strong bonds. Maeve has made the decision to be as loyal and supportive to you as any Venlil would their own family. She has welcomed you into her herd."
“Wh-What?!” I could hear her concern shift to confusion, and… hope?
“Yeah!” Valek replied, jovially, “C’mon up, we want you here! It’s alright! Hey Maeve, can you sit up? Against the wall, like we used to do.” Following his command, and hoping my blush wasn’t obvious, I braced myself against the wall, sitting mostly cross-legged. “Alvi?” I felt an additional weight across the bed. “You sit right here across from her.” I felt a weight move to just in front of me, not even arm’s length, while another weight moved behind the first, giving the impression of a large human sitting in front of me.
“Ok, Alvi, you close your eyes… and Maeve, you open yours.”
I opened my eyes to a dark room. It was as dark as when I went to sleep, and the lack of change was disorienting my internal clock. Alvi sat in front of me on her rump, legs splayed. Her fur was shorter, more rabbit-like while Valek’s was more shaggy. They both featured wooly curls on their crown, neck, and chest, though Alvi had the tighter curls of the two. Her belly, inner arms and legs were a lighter mocha color, which quickly shifted to a dark grey on her back. It was difficult through the darkness, but I could just make out her striped pattern of solid dark-grey on her crown, appearing to move to her back. Alvi was of a somewhat smaller build, her crown came up to Valek’s snout while sitting.
Valek sat behind Alvi, his legs framing hers, and his paws gently holding hers against her side. “Oh, Valek, this isn’t necessary, we should wait-”
“No, no. I’m ready Maeve. I want to try.” Alvi stuttered unconvincingly through a shuddering breath.
“... Ok, Alvi. We can try again. My eyes are open now.”
Alvi opened her eyes, but avoided looking at me directly. I tried to keep my sight on her paws, allowing her to be the first to make contact. Alvi shifted her head, and I could see the focus of her vision slowly scan the room to land on my face. Immediately her fur fluffed and her tail started thrashing; though she didn't faint, which was an improvement. I could see her paws clench onto the thicker fur of her belly, her whole body seizing up while she studied my face. It was several moments before I could see her tail slow, and her grip relax, several more before she released a held breath and gasped it back. Valek was whispering encouragement in her ear, the show of care bringing my blush to the surface, accompanied by reminders of how much I love this man.
Her tail flicked, and I could hear her ears flap against Valek’s behind her, “Ok, Maeve, you can look at me now…”
I raised my eyes to meet hers. She was looking at me with her good side, which I noticed was the opposite of Valek’s; did the Venlil have left- and right-handedness? Her pupil was a wide oval in the darkness, ringed by a black iris, only visible in the gloom because of the ring of white on its outer border, like an eclipse corona, though inverted to point inward. When my eyes met hers, she locked up entirely; her body, fur and tail were all stock still, as if waiting for a predator to move on; save for her ears, which were swiveling madly. Valek whispered something in her ear, but she didn’t react. He shook her from her stunning.
“WhyDoYourEyesMoveLikeThat? It'sLikeThey’reAlwaysHuntingLookingSearching ForTheirNextPrey. PleaseDon'tLetItBeMe. ILikeBeingAliveAndILikeBeingYourFriend.” Her question breathlessly spilled out with such force, it took a moment for the translator to parse her meaning into my mind. Valek continued to encourage her and reminded her to breathe.
“These are called saccadic movements. We do not control them, and they improve our eyesight.” I spent the next several minutes teaching Alvi about how our eyes function, that the place where the bundle of optic nerves meets the eye creates a blind spot in our sight. That our mind compensates for this blindspot and others with these saccades, which our mind then interprets as a cohesive image. I describe how we see color, and how it can change from human to human. I was talking about optical illusions when Alvi started to visibly calm down. I was ranting about eye color when Valek let her go, and she leaned forward to me, bringing a paw to my face.
“Oh! Hello, Alvi. Feeling a little better? Oh!” Alvi brought her paw to my lips, and pushed my lips open to reveal my teeth. I didn’t interrupt her investigation.
“You… don’t have fangs? But your eyes mean you’re predators? What are you??”
Valek and I giggled at our shared memory of his own realization, and I offered Alvi the same answer. “The universe is filled with more than predator and prey. There are uncountable subdivisions of everything that you could possibly name in life, and humans are one of those subdivisions. We use the word Omnivore, meaning all-eater, because we have traits of both, as you would call them, Predator and Prey. And many of these traits developed for reasons counter to what your sciences understand.”
Without the adrenaline of the past half-hour, I became keenly aware of the yawning pit that was my digestive tract. “Talking about food though is making me hungry; how long were we asleep?"
Valek checked his pad, "We've been asleep for over 3 claws. I think it's around 14 hours, by your clock."
"Fourteen hours??” I groaned, along with my gut, causing the pair in front of me to tilt their heads in confusion; Valek’s ears went up, Alvi’s went down, and I giggled in response, “Good lord, that's why I'm so hungry…”
Valek climbed off the bed, and helped Alvi with the same, “The family tries to keep a soup pot ready, let's head downstairs for First Meal.” I grabbed my burka and veil, “No, Maeve. I don’t care about the contract, I won’t have you hiding yourself while you live with me. My parents will have to deal. But… uh… let me down first, so I can introduce you and, uh, hide the gun…”
Valek’s tail feigned an encouraging wave, but his ears did not agree; Alvi and I were not shy about our reservations. But! No one wants to see a hangry human, so it’s time for breakfast!