#chintian

[wolven91]

You Will Be Snugged

Sqwee checked his paperwork which caused his eyes to go wide. He read it again, then a third time.

There was a human due to dock today and he was marked as their escort for the station. It was the third time Squee had met a human, to meet one was like winning the lottery, to meet three over the course of a few months was like winning the lottery three times in a row whilst getting struck by lightning.

"I got 'human duty' again..." Squee mumbled, reading the side comments offered by the upper administration.

"Haha, good luck Sqwee, 'human duty', god I couldn't handle that!" Shouted a delightfully smug voice.

"Go cough up a hairball Daw." Sqwee snapped back, more on impulse than paying attention to them. The notes on the file made mention of how the other two humans had praised Squee for his attention to their needs, his welcoming attitude and openness which 'showed humanity how welcoming chintians can be'. His application to become a guardian, had been fast tracked, all because of the human's comments.

"Again?" Asked another voice, a different colleague leant over his chair to read the confidential message. "...So this must be one of the human scattering paths? It's the only reason they keep appearing..." They murmured, talking to themselves.

"Well keep it to yourself, you now how dangerous it is for them. Information like that is valuable to the wrong people..." Squee retorted, turning off his computer to go meet his new ward. He ran his hands through his whiskers as he left the office, leaving his colleague to their discussion.

Sqwee was a rotund creature. Not because he was fat, but because his fur was 'poofy'. As a chintian, they were well known for their luxurious fur which was not just silky and thick, but deliciously soft too. Squee tried everything as he hustled towards the docking bays to get his fur in order. It was important! Especially for the humans! He had a damn fine idea as to why they liked him.

When the last two humans arrived on the scene and made it clear that they had zero respect for personal space and every intention to pick up and stroke and squeeze and pamper any chintian that got in their way. Squee discovered that most were frustrated or even angry at them for showing this kind of attention.

In the end, general opinion was to just deal with the exuberant human and move on with one's life. It was, however, always hilarious to watch someone else to have to deal with a human from a distance so you could point and laugh at them as any protest from them was ignored completely.

Sqwee had a secret, however.

He loved the way humans treated him. He adored it!

He wasn't just a clerk with a human. He wasn't a nuisance or an irritation. Humans wanted him, to help them. They seemingly universally adored his fur and gave it high praise. Sqwee loved it when they complimented his fur. He was very proud of it. He couldn't even remember the last time someone other than a human had given him, even a passing compliment.

He wasn't alone by any means. A compliment to one's fur is high praise for a chintian at least, but many were taken aback by their... enthusiasm.

So here Squee was. Stood at the bottom of the ramp and his new ward was due to step through the bulkhead at any moment. He'd do his very best for them and show them just how wonderful chintians could be. They may only be a foot tall, but chintian's had their own culture just as big as an ursidain! Bigger even!

It was the first step that was important. First impressions.

When the bulkhead did hiss, unlock and fly open with a whoosh, a new human stood there in all their glory, blinking into the station lights.

Squee assumed it was a she, and an older one at that. Her skin was exposed with no fur apart from a greying patch atop her head. Her features weren't wizened like the elderly, but there was wisdom and experience there. Oh how Squee wanted to hear her stories... But first!

The human glanced down and caught sight of the foot tall, chinchilla-like alien. Her eyes lit up, a wide smile cracked her face and she bounded forwards down the ramp.

Sqwee, aware of the likely events about to unfold, raised his arms up as if reaching out for her. When she snatched him up, he was pressed underneath her chin, folded within her arms and they both span once in a small circle until he was pulled from her and held at arm's length.

"Well you're the most adorable thing I've ever seen!" Came a kindly voice from the alien. "I sure hope you're my guide!"

He smiled softly to himself, relishing in the loving embrace and warmth the humans gave out so willingly. She spoke as if he were just an animal, and at first there had been mild insult, until the very first human had explained that they'd never met a chintian before and didn't know there were sentients smaller than a human. To be fair, aside from chintians, geckins, and sluggats there weren't any smaller races that Squee could recall.

"Look at you! You're too fluffy! Much too fluffy!"

'Yes I am.' he thought privately to himself, grinning at the praise.

[wolven91]

Humans Are Goliaths

Betty blinked at the rapid talking of the chintian below her.

They obviously had a point they were trying to get across, but despite her grasp of their language being decent thanks to the universal translator, she struggled to keep up. The foot tall chintian weren't just telling her what the issue was, they were going all around the houses getting to the damn point.

The universal translator used by all the races of the The Galactic Community, was an incredible technical marvel, especially to humanity. Betty couldn’t help but be as impressed as most other humans who adopted the technology. Not only did it render an alien species language understandable, it adjusted words to fit the concept the speaker was attempting to articulate. This did have the oddity that every now and then, an alien far removed from Betty’s hometown and slang of her area, would sometimes use a word that only someone from her home town would use in place to get an idea across. 

It truly was a marvel of what essentially amounted to an earpiece. There were subdermal implants for instant text translation as well if someone wanted it, but Betty hated the idea of an implant that was attached to the optic nerve. 

Blinking back to reality, the diminutive chintian hadn’t finished. They were literally worse than when her mother used to go on one of her long rambling stories that included an entire cast of folk that she supposedly knew according to her but realistically Betty hadn't a clue who or what she was one about.

It was about five minutes after the alien had got the human’s attention in the first moment that her patience finally ran out. Enough was enough, she swiped the blade of her hand in a diagonal stroke between her and the alien whilst raising her voice.

"Enough! What is the problem?" She asked, putting emphasis on each word.

"The material is too high up and the crane is broke, just like I said?" Piped up the pipsqueak.

Betty rolled his eyes and stomped past, in a worse mood than when they began, this was hardly real work. She was being wasted here.

"What is wrong o' grand and impressive Human?" The pipsqueak asked, trying to keep up at a trot to match Betty’s pace.

"I'm just bored. I want something to happen."

"W-what?! You wish danger to be upon us? You truly are mad! Oh! I mean? I meant no disrespect! I'm so sorry, that's not what I thought, there's no need to get violent, I just-" Betty stopped listening. They always acted as if she'd flip her lid at the drop of a hat. One action would be interpreted as something far grander or violent that she intended.

Christ, when she'd sneezed last week on her way down a hallway, the following hour they'd turned up with food and presents to 'appease her’. Humans weren’t like that! The bigger races assumed humanity was incapable whilst the small ones assumed they were inches away from going feral.

She got to the storage cupboard and found the vial of some kind of green liquid that the chintian pointed at. She grasped it with ease and offered it to the diminutive creature. They grasped it, bowed deeply and began to walk off. Betty watched for a moment before calmly following. 

Pipsqueak was struggling to open it, but wasn't asking for Betty's help.

Rolling her eyes, when the chintian pause, she reached past Pipsqueak's shoulder, ignoring the actual jump to the side and grabbed the jar. With a single twisting grab she popped the lid off and offered both back to the alien.

"I loosened it..." He defensively said.

Betty quirked an eyebrow.

"What did you just say?"

She smiled inwardly as the alien's colour drained from the inside of his ears.

She had to admit though, being feared had its perks...

[wolven91]

The Predator Café - Chapter 1

Pip scratched at his face as he watched and listened to the draconian professor, far below, as she explained in broad terms how Plasma Drives worked on a concept level before moving onto how they work practically.

The young college student glanced to his left and then to his right, rows of empty seats filled the balcony overlooking the professor's classroom. The sense of isolation once again curled around his chest. Below him, he knew there would be a full room of students, undeniable in their presence, yet completely separate from him. He didn't try to hide his sigh, there was no real danger of anyone noticing him up here. He had never wanted attention, it was against who and what he was, but this was beyond what he expected.

With the wailing of the bell, the class below erupted in a cacophony of noise as a stampede of relative titans packed their equipment and rushed from the room below.

The chintian followed suit, lazily putting away his tablet and reference texts. The lights of the room clicked off as the professor, obviously believing no-one was left in the room, closed and locked their gigantic door.

Pip sighed through his nose, walking along the balcony in the dark and left by the exit on his level.

He clicked the button for the lift and the doors opened immediately. No-one else had used it in the two hours of his lesson. As it trundled down to the ground level, so he could use the faster passages to get around, he leaned his head back against the wall.

When he had come to this college on the edge of canid space, it was meant to be an opportunity to attend a brand new, up and coming college with a wide range of options and facilities for him. It was advertised as both ‘Herbivore & Carnivore’ mixed as well as “all sizes welcome”. What he wasn't aware of was that whilst yes, this was all true, the number of herbivores at his size were in the single figures.

The lift doors opened with a chirpy 'ding', Pip pushed off the back wall and trudged towards the flat escalator. This would trundle him along at a faster pace so he could reach his dorms in only tens of minutes rather than half a day's walk.

He wasn't alone completely, he had made friends with another his size called Geegee, but the guy was a flake. He frustrated Pip in most instances as he had a tendency to either not commit or back out from most events at the last minute. The only others were the insect lot and they had preferred to keep to themselves, acting actively hostile to anyone else who tried to engage them.

He looked out the glass wall to his left as he was sped along the inside of the hollow wall of the college. Beyond the glass was a sea of legs of uncountable types. Some clothed, others furred or feathered. Some digitigrade, some not, but all of them; towering behemoths to the diminutive Pip.

At barely a foot tall, and one of only a handful at this height attending the college, his life had turned into one of a ghost, easily avoiding those bigger than him by using the systems in place, but it left him increasingly isolated. Sure, he could wander the halls amongst them, but that was a recipe for disaster. He'd either get stepped on, kicked or just outright shoved the second there were too many people for folk to see him coming. He refused to wear the stupid backpack with the flag, he had more dignity than that.

As he got back to his dorm, he enjoyed the one upside to not having that many able to use these rooms. He and the handful of others had the pick of the best rooms. Opening the door, he dropped his bag onto the floor and rolled his neck until he could hear and feel it 'pop'. Shutting the door behind him he rubbed his eyes as he walked into the bedroom and sat heavily on the bed. Looking across at the mirror on the wall opposite he gave himself a once over.

His caramel brown fur was looking a bit shabby, knots and clumps had started to accumulate due to his apathy. He couldn't bring himself to care when not even the professors even noticed he existed since he sat in the rafters for most of the classes as that's where they had placed the shorter students for safety. He strode over to the mirror to brush his fingers across his face and along his whiskers, making a point to try and straighten them at least. His ears twitched and swivelled towards a noise in the corridor.

As he was preening himself, his door burst open to reveal Geegee panting and wide eyed.

“Ignoring that I thought that was locked, you really need to knock Gee. I could have been doing anything in here...” Pip said, turning back to the mirror.

Geegee was a saurian, a Geckin to be exact. His blue scales were accented by the orange rings that dotted his hide.

“They got a Human!” he said, still out of breath.

Pip glanced back at him, ‘Humans’ were rare, rare enough that even in the Galactic Community space you’d be unlikely to see one. Out here, outside of the Community protections and on this planet? ‘Rare’ wasn’t a strong enough word to get the concept across. Pip had obviously expressed interest in seeing one at some point in the past, but he hadn't quite connected the dots yet about what GeeGee was speaking about. He remained silent whilst quirking an eyebrow at Geegee to continue.

The lizard closed the door behind him and dropped his voice to a whisper, despite them being the only two living things in this part of the building.

“At the Pred Café; they hired a real Human!”

Pip blinked in surprise, that was actually; news. He and Geegee had only been speaking about going to the Predator Café not two weeks ago. A strange concept, no doubt, but one that had secretly sent a thrill straight up Pip's spine, it was a Café like any other, but all of its staff were specifically predators that would deliberately interact with their customers, mostly herbivores or preys. All in a controlled and safe environment.

They even catered for those of Geegee and Pip's short stature.

Pip had said he wasn't opposed to the idea of going to the Café, it was just a place to go for food or a drink, 'it was only weird if you made it weird'. But in an offhand comment, Pip had mentioned that he would be far more interested if they had the more exotic predators available, such as; a Human.

The humans were a relatively new addition to the wider galaxy, but had taken it by storm. Their only struggle was there weren't enough humans to answer everyone's curiosity and requests for ambassadors. For one to turn up on this side of The Spiral that was the galaxy, was not just unique, but once in a lifetime level of rare. Apparently their own homeworld was ‘lost’, what had actually happened was one of secrecy and speculation, but the one fact that was certain was that they didn’t have a home to go back to.

They were apparently quite small for the larger entities, one of the ‘smallest’ species out there reportedly, although their species height ranged from the huge to the surprisingly small. It seemed what was a fundamental fact about humans was that what was true for one would be false to another. They were unmistakably predators based on what Pip had read; the greatest evidence being; the two eyes they had, were placed in a perfect front-facing set.

Most carnivores had eyes that were rotated forward so they could track prey back in their feral days, but these humans had almost flat faces which gave them incredibly strong vision with overlapping cones of sight. They could see far away and close up in great detail, movement caused their eyes to focus on the movement without even thinking and even if you remain perfectly still, their pattern recognition was through the roof so they could pick up your silhouette with ease. Not even staying still could protect prey from these creatures. Thankfully they had assured that they had no interest in hurting sentients. This didn't stop the rumours spread about how a large number of them joined The Galactic Community’s military overnight, not to mention those rejected from that went straight out towards sluggat territories. The sluggats species numbered in the thousands and were constantly at war. The map didn’t even distinguish the different clans, empires and groups anymore. 

After noncommittally commenting that it was; indeed interesting to Geegee, Pip eventually found himself wide awake in the dead of night on his bed. Pulling out his phone he began to idly browse the net. He knew what he wanted to look at, but there was part of him that felt he still shouldn't be looking at a predator in the way he was wanting to.

It was taboo. Preys and Preds stayed either side of a social line. A line that wasn't discussed or acknowledged, but nonetheless existed. But this taboo made it exciting, it was dangerous; it thrilled him. This was the strongest emotion he had felt in months living on this damned campus and that alone was far more valuable than the opinion of this theoretical judge that was with him at all times.

Navigating to the information page he scrolled through the details of how it all worked.

You dropped in or could book ahead, would be seated as and when a free table appeared. On each table there was a menu tablet. When a patron first sat down it would display all the current servers, predators, available to serve them. That predator would then come along and interact with the patrons. Idle chat, taking their food or drink orders, flash a bit of tooth and then go get their order.

Simple.

There were plenty of options, including those of Pip's height; a few skinks took up those options. Stereotypically vicious with very sharp wits. Pip expected they'd just all but insult him if he chose them.

On the larger side, a canid, a few taurians, even a ssypno. Predators one and all, but he saw them every day. They weren’t exciting, they were obstacles. 

Sighing, Pip scrolled all the way to the bottom of the list, various faces of common species whipped past until he hit the bottom of the page. His breath hitched for a moment and a tingle in his leg crawled its way up the side. In a category of their own, a human glared back at him.

“Nah-tah-sha” he whispered, trying the odd name out. She wasn't actually glaring, but the slight downwards tilt of her head and the smirk plastered across her mouth gave her a different look to everyone else. And the eyes... Her eyes were deep green with an abyss of black in the centre. Pip had no idea if humans could hypnotise their prey like a ssypno could, but he wouldn't be shocked if they could after he became so lost in this simple profile picture.

He fell asleep with the phone still in his hand, the soft glow still on her profile.

The next day, the last day of the working week, Pip had casually suggested to Geegee about having lunch together.

It was hit or miss if he'd show up, but as a pleasant surprise, the Geckin appeared through the doors and took a seat across from Pip overlooking the larger student body over the balcony below.

“Well, what-do-you-know, he appears!” Pip said cheerfully, casually ribbing the twitchy lizard.

“Hah, yeah, I wanted to talk to you about something...” He began, skipping any kind of preamble.

“Oh? Sure, what do you need?” Pip said, glad that Geegee was rather transparent in what he was going to talk about.

“I was wondering if you wanted to go out for dinner? Tonight?”

“Well sure, that'll be nice. We haven't done anything like that together yet, anywhere in mind?” Pip continued as casually as he could. He knew already that Natasha was apparently due to work the night shift tonight according to the Café's site.

“I hadn't really thought about it, but we could always try the Pred place, if-if you wanted to, we can go elsewhere if not..”

Mm, probably thought about it all night. Pip couldn't judge, he was in the same boat.

“Yeah, it'll be a laugh. Do we need to book or something?”

“No, it's open for the nocturnals, but if we go late for us, early for them, it should be really quiet.”

“Alright, I'll meet you out front tonight. I'll put on my favourite shirt.” Pip said happily, he'd make an effort for once. Even if it's just to stare at the Preds, it'll be nice to actually do something with someone. He hated the idea of just being sat in his room for another lonely weekend.

That evening Geegee and Pip made their way into the city-proper. There were more folk their size and it was an effort to wind their way through the crowds until they came to the street where the Café sat.

The smaller entrance was a safe distance to the side of the larger entrance. A short flight of stairs brought them roughly to the same height as other patrons, or at least their navels and deposited them into a waiting room. It was decorated in reds and whites with chrome finishes everywhere.

“This is just like a zoo, right?” Geegee asked for the third time. It seemed he was still panicking about being here. To be fair, Pip felt the same, but tried to hold his nerve. If Geegee ran for it now, he'd likely do the same.

“Sure, like a big old petting zoo, we're just getting something to eat then going home. Simple as!”

“Y-yeah, simple as...” he repeated unenthusiastically.

“Good Evening and welcome to; The Predator Café! Come on in for a bite and take a seat at Booth 'G' please!” a happy sounding voice announced from a speaker near the door. Pushing the door open and holding open for Geegee, Pip looked around the building as he moved towards the indicated booth.

The Café was bright and welcoming. The aesthetic of the waiting room continued with the rest of the building. The booths were ribbed red leather of various sizes, although grouped together by size. The tables were polished white with chrome finishing around the edges.

The Café was nearly deserted, Pip could see some patrons in the further reaches at the back, but that was the larger entity area. The Café to him was a gigantic warehouse decked out like a bright and clean diner.

Settling into the booth, Pip took a moment to enjoy a calming deep breath. Here in the booth unless someone they knew actively looked into their booth, nobody would recognise them. Geegee looked pale and kept glancing around himself.

“It's okay Gee, see? We're good. It's all just a show.”

“I know!” He snapped, before looking sheepish; “Sorry, I didn't think I'd be this nervous.”

“It's alright, I know you prefer the edges of a room rather than the centre, this is outside of your comfort zone, but imagine the story you have to tell now!” Pip exclaimed, trying to big the little Geckin up.

Geegee slid the tablet over to Pip.

Picking it up, it was just as their website said. He knew exactly where who he wanted was on their list. Scrolling all the way to the bottom, her bright blonde hair cascaded around her round face and green eyes. Once more, tingles raced up his spine; the tilt down in her head; a silent threat.

With a shaking thumb, he selected her and the tablet ceased to respond as his choice was locked in.

Time passed and Pip attempted to engage Geegee in conversation. Geegee was studying in depth AI programming. He spent most of his time existing online or attempting to create his own 'perfect' AI. He seemed to believe that he was what was missing from the galaxy and his ideas would revolutionise the AI world.

He was going into his fourth minute of none-stop technical jargon, when the cutlery on the table rattled.

“But without-...” He glanced up at Pip who was across the table from Geegee.

The lizard looked at something behind Pip and continued to tilt his head to look up. The cutlery rattled again.

And up.

Rattle.

And up.

Rattle.

Pip tried to swallow, only to find his mouth devoid of moisture. A shadow engulfed the two of them and booth included. Pip looked to his side and saw the white apron of a behemoth's uniform. Pip craned his own head back as his eyes drank in the creature blocking out the overhead lights. Her uniform was a clean red cotton material with white piping following the stitching and a white apron on her front. The skirt stopped halfway up her thighs, going up it tapered in at her waist. Her shoulders were displayed with large white frills that followed from front to back, but no sleeves covered her arms.

“Well now! Ain't you two just the cutest lil' things I ain't ever seen! I could just pick ya' up and squeeze ya'!” A warm, bubbly voice boomed from above.

Pip hadn't looked her in the face yet, he hadn't built up the confidence yet. Before Pip could register a thought let alone a response, Geegee bolted.

“W-wait! Don't you dare-” Pip exclaimed, but Geegee was long gone, all that remained was a slowly closing door of The Café's entrance.

Pip turned back slowly to the giant Human and her giant green eyes that now were giving him; her complete and undivided attention.

[wolven91]

The Predator Café - Chapter 5

The giantess's eyes blinked a couple of times as she seemed to consider how to reply to his question. Pip pulled the t-shirt she had lent him around himself as he sat down, still mere inches away from the tip of her nose.

"Well... where I'm from; it's not unusual for folk to eat a mixture of both meat and vegetables. If ya' don't supplement whatever nutrition one of them gives you ,with something from the other side, we can actually get sick eventually..."

It was as if a mountain had stated it could be toppled by something as small as a stream, the idea that anything could affect his goddess was a concept that he struggled to accept. He still listened, he had to know the important aspects about her if he was to host her at some point; he'd need to know these things.

He lost concentration for a moment at the idea of having her over. First an image of her sat on his dorm room bed, she was his height and alone with him, before the image corrected and he addressed the idea she'd have to eat from the window if she was to come over.

"-so, they probably came about because of this food scarcity, ya' know? Eat what ya' can, when ya' can." He turned back in at the end of an explanation, but he got the gist of what she was saying.

There were stories of how inhospitable their home world used to be. Apparently, people his size, prey or predator, would have had to have a human escort at all times. Whilst they had tamed their world completely, they kept feral predators as pets and couldn't promise that these pets wouldn't brutally murder visitors to the little blue green marble. Still, that wasn’t a problem anymore, not with Sol-3 being a collection of cold, dead rocks now.

Pip's stomach took this moment to remind the both of them that it hadn't had anything to eat in several hours and all the excitement had rendered him quite hungry. He'd come to the premature conclusion that she wouldn't be able to feed him, but with the revelation that the Humans were even weirder than initially thought; his body didn't want to delay any further. Pip died slightly inside as it spoke up to completely interrupt Natasha mid-sentence.

She abruptly stopped, freezing in place, as her eyes darted to his belly and back up to his face before breaking out into playful, spontaneous laughter.

Pip couldn't help but join her. Her laugh was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. Morning bird song would never gold a candle to it nor would the grandest of symphonies match the butterflies it caused to flutter deep within him.

Pip swore he'd do anything he could to hear it again, but right now, perhaps addressing his rather rude stomach would be for the best.

"Wait right there sugar, I'll get ya' somethin' right away. Ma and Pa would kill me if they thought I was starvin' ya'."

Her massive bulk rolled abruptly away from him, her tree trunk legs twisting to catch her. She walked away into another room of her home that he hadn't seen yet. He heard her call back from, what he assumed, would be a kitchen.

"Anything ya' need? I got a bit of everything, just nothing too fancy.."

He replied with; "Any fruit would be nice please? Ah, thank you!"

A moment ticked by.

"Hun'?" She asked peeking her head around the door again.

"Sorry, I said any fruit would be lovely thank you?"

"Oh okay, I just didn't hear ya' love." And she disappeared again, leaving him alone on the bed.

He rubbed his eyes again as he tried to process how quickly his life had gone completely off the rails. 

So much for being a respectable Prey.

Glancing around himself now that he had a moment, he looked at the strange plush again. Gathering up his 'toga' around himself he made the hike to the pillows. In all honesty, it wasn't that far to go, it just wasn't an easy amble as the floor moved and dipped with every step.

The plushie was almost a match for his exact height and seemed to resemble a known space faring species, long ears, buck teeth and a comically rotund belly. Pushing a finger into said stomach deformed it readily.

He didn't know how to respond to finding a life-sized stuffed doll of a Prey on her bed. No judgments of course, she was perfect in every way, why would he judge her for whatever made her happy?

But what if that was it? Was it decorative? Was she just talking to him because he was the next best thing? Did she even like him? Was this real?

His mind left to its own devices without a significant source to his happiness, left him doubting everything positive that had happened to him in the last twelve hours. It was an awful trait of his, but without his goddess being present, all the dark and moody thoughts crept back in to threaten the positive ones that she had brought to him.

Pip tried to go through some breathing exercises like he'd been told to do when he began to spiral. His mental health had become such a fragile thing of late.

"Here we go darlin'! Oh, where'd ya' go?" She asked as she strolled into the room holding a bowl alongside a set of clear packages on the other hand.

Putting two fingers in his mouth, he blew hard, releasing a clear whistle that brought those eyes back to him instantly. A relieved and warm smile broke out.

"I think it's time I put a bell around ya' neck or something. I'm terrified imma' step on you or somethin'." 

'I'd willingly let you put the collar on, if it would make you happy.' Pip thought silently to himself.

She placed the bowl next to him, near the pillows and laid back down on the bed on her front. 

She placed the two other packages down next to her.

The bowl contained a pile of red pitted fruit that Pip had never seen before. They had been cut up and on review were dry on the outside with a juicy inside that left red stains along the sides of the white porcelain. Her food however, gave Pip pause.

One packet seemed to be individual lumps of a white solidified paste with green or red herbs sprinkled on top, while the other was evidently something made of meat. Multiple overlapping circles of thinly sliced blotchy red meat.

"Ah, ya seen it. Well, here's my question, if ya' don't mind answering it. Can you handle me eating meat in front of ya'? If ya' can't, I don't mind none, but I need to know now before I end up upsetting ya' in future."

She extended a finger and using a knuckle brought his head up to meet her eyes.

"I need honesty, now hun'."

Pip blinked and swallowed past the digit holding his head up. She was trying to think about him, she was concerned and conscious about how her own eating habits might affect him. Nobody had worried about that in the past; he'd been present to gangs of predators tearing into what was obviously once a living breathing creature whilst he'd been sat there with neither a care nor a glance at him or his feelings.

He felt…

He felt seen by her, like she wasn't just pretending, like he was just as tall as everyone else in the world when he was under her gaze.

"It's okay, I trust you." He whispered.

In hindsight he wondered if she'd even heard him, but she nodded and her knuckle released his chin, but her fingers gently stroked his cheek before they retreated and she grabbed the edge of the plastic wrapping. With a violent jerk and a tearing noise, a spicy rich smell emanated from the meat.

He had no desire to try it, the thought made his stomach roll like normal, but it didn't smell bad. The 'white-lump' package was opened next. Pip, not wanting to be left behind, reached into his bowl and retrieved a large chunk.

He wasn't sure just how hungry Natasha thought he was, but the small pile of diced fruit was almost as large as he was. If he were to eat all of this, he would technically be more fruit than Chintian.

'Maybe she's fattening me up...' he mused as he tentatively took a bite of a reasonably sized piece. It was sweet, incredibly sweet. His cheeks hurt from how sweet it was, but this of course, did not stop him from taking a second bite.

"What is this?" Pip asked between mouthfuls, mentally noting that he probably needed to wipe his mouth.

Natasha paused in her actions as she was about to drop a lump-wrapped-in-meat package into her maw.

"Strawberrys! My family grabbed a whole bunch of seed packets during the evacuation. They send me care packages every now an’ then." She explained before popping the red parcel into her mouth and began to chew it.

“Them there is prob’ the most valuable thing’ I got here.” She admitted with a shrug.

Pip couldn't help but stare. He was confused how they would develop to handle everything. Was there anything they couldn't eat? How were their teeth set out? It was like finding out that gravity was optional. 

He had so many questions.

“What have you got?”

“Pepperoni and cheese, or close ‘nuff”

There was a lull in the conversation as Pip watched her.

She was staring at him too as she slowly peeled slices free from one package before picking up a white lump and rolling it up in the meat with a practised dexterity.

"You're staring hun'..."

"So are you." He replied, immediately pausing to apologise for his curt response, but she giggled with her mouth full.

"Mm, I think, mm.. just a sec'."

A swallow.

"I think we need to get our curiosity out the way, what do ya' say?"

Pip paused as he finished his own mouthful.

"And how do we do that?"

She held up a finger to emphasise her idea, it was stained orange with grease. He watched her lick it clean before she continued. 

"We take it in turns to ask questions. One at a time, no judgments and full honesty. Thoughts?"

A chance to ask any question he wanted? What would she want to know? What if it was embarrassing? What if she didn't like his answer?

'Lie' a oily dark corner of his mind suggested.

Pip couldn't do that to her, not just morally, but he honestly felt like he would wither away under her gaze if he deliberately misled her.

"No judgement?" He enquired.

She blinked slowly as her head tilted to the side with a smile and her shoulders slumped as she relaxed; 

"No judgment. Honestly babe, I don't think there's anythin' ya' could say that would shock me."

"Okay, full disclosure." Pip agreed, oddly feeling like he'd just signed a dubious contract.

"Full disclosure then, do you wanna' go first?"

"Er, no. L-ladies first, please."

"Ever the gentleman, ya' lil' cutie. Okay, this one's been burnin' at me since I learnt about it. How come ya' all call yourselves 'Prey'?"

Not how he thought the questions would begin, he wasn't even sure if he was understanding her question right, so he started to explain slowly.

"Well, it's because we're not Predators? I mean, aside from Humans being weird and all that, if you're Prey, you're a Prey, if you're not, you're a Predator?"

"No! I meant, like, is that not a negative thing? Why would ya'll put ya' selves down like that?"

It took a moment for Pip's mind to jump from one train of thought to another.

"Oh! Oooh! I see what you mean! Oh, this is good that you asked, you'd look a bit odd if this came out in conversation." Pip stepped around the bowl as he began to explain, using his arms to emphasise his points. His nervousness and subconscious desire to keep the bowl between himself and Natasha was forgotten at this moment.

"So that way of thinking is considered archaic nowadays. Way back when it did have those connotations there were plenty of Predators who used it as a term of insult or to put people 'in their place'." He said, creating air quotes with his fingers before continuing.

"After the war it was re-examined and it gained a new meaning. Rather than referring to something weak, it was used as a symbol of pride; a mark of resistance and resilience and coming together. The Predators had this too, but in a different manner, they weren't to be referred to as if they were feral drooling monsters, but proud and brave creatures that could use their strength to protect those who couldn't."

Pip shrugged and made a face as he conceded; "Sure, there are those who still use the words with the old inflections and meanings behind it, but they're an old and dying breed. Racists like that always die out eventually, it's just a shame they make so much noise before they go extinct."

He didn't want to talk about the rumours and the missing folk, not yet. He wanted to impress the Human with their respectful ways for each other, not the criminal element.

"Okay, your turn." She pointed out whilst putting another lump of food into her mouth before resting her chin on her hands, staring at him. Pip felt it should be more off putting to be stared at in that way, but he just didn't feel as scared as before.

"Okay, my question, err... why the Café? You could walk into any job within reason just for the sake of being Human, take into account how you seem sharp to me, I bet there's not much you couldn't do?"

She 'hummed' and thought for a moment.

"So, I didn't know where I wanted to go or even what I wanted to do. If I’d stayed at the station; then chances are I would have ended up as a 'Robot Wellness Monitor' in one of those god-awful warehouses." Her nose crinkled at the thought, Pip assumed it wasn't a pleasant role.

"But then we weren't stuck there. The TGC just up and let us travel an’ we suddenly could go anywhere we wanted and not only just survive but thrive on alien worlds far beyond what we ever dreamed."

She had slowly drifted away to look off into the distance at this point, but her eyes came back to Pip.

"I let fate decide where I was to go." She said mysteriously, 'which fits her to a 'T'' he smirked to himself.

"I got on the first transport I could after securing this place. It only took a week of travel, I honestly thought it would take far longer so I could get to know folk and develop an idea of what I wanted to do. But I ended up sat here with some coupons that ya' government gave me to tide me over and a complete and overwhelming sense of being hopelessly lost.”

Pip tilted his head up at her; 

“Lost?”

“I was so desperate to get away I hadn't really thought about what I'd do. I didn't realise how easy it was to get a job out here was though, ya' government even offered to put me in a couple of glorified mascot suits. Eventually I just went for a walk to get some air when I saw the Café."

She laid her head on the bed on top of her hand, now she looked at him from below, he remained still as he patiently waited for her to continue.

“I thought it would be perfect to meet plenty of new people; I could get to know the staff, maybe make some friends. Turns out the first customer I got to stay and order was the best I could have hoped for. I kinda' hope he wants to be friends with me. I'd like that; it's lonely out in the stars.” She said as some of her hair fell over her face, a smile lop sided smile had grown on side of her lips..

“I think if they were smart, they'd want to be friends with you too Natasha.” Pip said at barely above a whisper.

“Your turn hun'.” Her smirk developed into a full smile. Was her face going red?

“Did you not get any friends out of the staff? I thought the Predators all stuck together?”

She gave a half-hearted smile; 

“They were nice, don't get me wrong, but they were so intense all the time. It's like they just didn't take a breath, ya' know? I doubt any of 'em would be chill to get a beer with.”

Now it was Pip's turn to smile ruefully; “Yeah, that's what a lot of Prey 'folk' say about them. It puts us all on edge. It's like you're expecting them to snap?”

A broad grin from her again; 

“I know, right!? Well, I think I want to know a bit more about you Pip.”

He swallowed as he sat down crossed legged and steeled his nerve. 

“I'm yours to discover. What would you like to know?”

“Hey that's a question!” she teased, breaking Pip's serious expression.

“Okay, so, I know what ya' look like, but I have no idea; what are ya' Pip?”

“I'm a mammal.” He offered uselessly.

She fixed him with a penetrating stare through her eyebrows.

“Okay, okay! I'm a Chintian male. I'm 20 and I'm currently trying to get through college to get a glorified engineering degree. My kind hail from a savanna-like planet called 'Cinroul'.” Pip counted his points off his fingers as if checking bullet points off a list.

”We are an extremely social species, being on our own is very unhealthy for us. Our families are typically numerous, my own currently sits at around 150 cousins or nephews at last count. I can confirm; It is pure hell when we meet for a family gathering, especially for whatever poor unsuspecting town we settle on to descend upon!” He joked.

“Honestly, what you see is what you get. I can't talk for the rest of my kind, but what am I in particular? I'm... I wasn't in the best of places the night I met you, but now? What I am is grateful you wanted to talk to me and that you let me stay over.” He finished deliberately meeting her eye. He hoped he would impress upon her the depth of his meaning.

“I'm not sure how to word my next question... How- Are Humans Predators?”

“Ooh, a good one. Yes, but also no.”

“Perfect, thanks.”

“Oh shush, I'm trying to figure out how to explain it to ya'.”

Pip licked some of the strawberry's residue off his fingertips, wholly dyed red.

“Okay, so we started as 'prey' to a degree. But we figured out how to hunt in our own way? We have characteristics of both groups. Even as kids, we play 'hide and seek', you could interpret that as children acting as both prey and predator in practice. If we see a shadow overhead, we'll look up to see what it is, is that us checking for danger? Do Predators do that?”

Pip didn't answer but conceded the point to her, it was odd for these traits to exist within someone who just 'looked' like a Predator.

“I don't get it though, your eyes are forward facing? Even without seeing your teeth, that's a pure sign of being a hunter!”

She shrugged into the bed; “I don't know what to tell ya' hun'. You'd need to talk to a biologist or somethin'. And my teeth ain't nothin' like the proper Preds. My back ones are flat.. ish.. they're for plants and all that.”

He didn't know that, he hadn't the opportunity to count her teeth yet and whilst he trusted her at this point, he still didn't feel the need to ask to see them.

“Can I touch you?” She asked quietly. 

Pip looked up as his train of thought derailed completely.

“I.. er.. you've already touched me?”

“I meant, I want to feel ya' fur, I've picked ya' up when I've needed to because ya' said I could and I had to, to fix ya' issues at those times. I want to know what ya' feel like without me holding ya' or nothin'.”

He hesitated. Impossibly, he hesitated despite this being a lingering fantasy at the back of his mind.

“Okay.”

Her arm extended from her side and her hand approached from above. Her index finger was lower than the rest as she brought her whole hand down towards him. He tensed as he felt her get close, before a soft, warm pressure touched the top of his head. It trailed down the back of his skull, past his neck and down his back. It pushed the t-shirt downwards without effort as she traced his whole spine before stopping just before his tail.

His whole body shivered.

“Can I touch your tail too?”

He felt bold, bringing the sensitive appendage round into his hands; 

“That's a second question... “

Her hand dropped onto the bed behind him. She wasn't touching him, but she was surrounding him none the less.

“Go on then hun', make it a good one.”

“W-why do you like me, Natasha? I'm glad you do, but.. we're.. we're very different. You could be friends with anyone, you know?”

He worried himself with his tail, avoiding looking at her.

“Because ya' were honest, Pip. Intentional or not, ya' can't hide what ya' feeling, I can see what ya' emotions are from just lookin' at ya' ears, ya' tail or how you scratch at ya' neck or arms.”

She sighed through her nose before continuing.

“Back home, I didn't have a great taste in guys, I trusted 'em, when I should have run. Then here's a guy who's as transparent as they come, but he's genuine. He's not human, but what does that matter? I've only known ya' a blink, but I honestly think I can trust ya' Pip. I want to trust ya'.”

“You can Natasha, I want you to know; there's not a lot I can do, but you can rely on me. I promise you...”

“I believe you honey. So why do you like me then?”

Pip smiled as he met her gaze this time.

“You treated me like I was the same as you. Like I was a Human or a Predator or-or-or someone tall.” His words failed him briefly before he picked his thought back up.

”I wasn't... I wasn't 'me' when you looked at me. I suddenly existed, Natasha, because you could see me. My life is one of being unseen by most people because that's the way of things. I don't know anyone else who makes me feel like I matter like you do when you look at me. It's not just an acknowledgement that I'm there, it's like you breathed life into my life again.”

He couldn't stop the words once they started to flow. He thought back to the grey world of his life without her. He had to express what she meant to him, honestly and completely exposed to her.

“When you're in the room, you're the whole world. I-I don't know how else to explain it.”

She was silent for a moment and a second one too. Her hand came round and gentle fingers worked their way under his arm, running down his forearm and wrist to grasp his tiny hand in her massive hand.

“Please understand; that ya' perfect Pip. Don't ever wish to be different, ya' as perfect as they come honey. I didn't know that you felt that way about ya' self babe and it's not healthy.”

“I know... but that's not.. it's not something you need to worry about. I'll be fine.”

“Friends worry about friends Pip; I'm not going to let ya' work through this on ya' own.”

He couldn't say anything, he felt a lump in the back of his throat and all she did was lay there rubbing her great fingers back and forth across his arm.

She didn't rush him or judge or make light of his struggling to get himself back together.

He didn't know how long they were there like that until he felt like he could survive meeting her gaze again. But she was still there, eyes filled with naught but care and support.

He gave a smile of his own that reached his eyes.

“I think we need to think about getting some sleep hun'. It's been a long night and while it may technically be 'morning', I think it would be better if we just lay here for a bit.” She suggested as she stopped rubbing his arm, but kept her hand directly next to him.

He lowered his arm on top of her hand as he nodded; 

“I think that would be a good idea. I kind of need noise though, do you have a television we can put on quiet?” He asked hopefully, it was one of the few ways that put him to sleep without fail.

“Of course, let me just clear this stuff.” She collected the remnants of the food packages and bowl placing on her desk before turning on the screen that was attached to the wall above the desk and flicking through the channels.

“-Now with additional benefits!”

“-ain't big enough for the two-”

“-napping of an unidentified male-”

“I aim to misbehave...”

“Oh, this one is a fine show to fall asleep to.” Natasha stated putting the remote down on the bed and clambering back onto it with Pip.

He settled himself leaning against her pillow at the top of the bed with Natasha resting her head on the pillow proper. She had removed the plushie, she had said it was a 'rabbit' that was a gift she had kept since childhood and never really wanted to be rid of it. Pip thought of the coincidence of its appearance, but didn't dwell on it.

It didn't take long before Natasha's breathing became deep and even, this gave Pip a rhythm to listen to, which slowly lulled him to sleep.

His slumber wasn't uneventful however; his dreams were ones of running, of trying to keep up with Natasha as she walked away from him along the surface of his home planet. No matter how fast he ran, he couldn't keep up with the colossus.

He woke with a jolt as a hand landed on top of him snapping him out of his distressing dream. He had slipped down from the pillow so he was flat against the mattress now. Looking to his left he saw Natasha was still sound asleep but her hand had landed on him and had gripped slightly. He placed his hands underneath himself and attempted to extract himself from her grip.

This caused an immediate response as she gripped tighter before rolling towards him. It was quite intimidating watching a wall of giant fall towards him, but she stopped and merely pulled him towards herself in her sleep.

===

Natasha rested soundly as she held her favoured 'rabbit' to herself like she did most nights.

[wolven91]

The Predator Café - Chapter 6

Pip couldn't help but doze.

Oh sure, he'd panicked something terrible at first, Natasha had grasped him in a vice-like grip and pulled at Pip until he was pressed against the outside of her t-shirt. But after a moment of taking a breath and note of what actions he could take to free himself; her grip had lessened some, only to tighten again when he took any movement to try and extract himself.

Eventually he simply accepted his 'fate' and, once he'd calmed down, she was surprisingly gentle in her unconscious state. One hand was wrapped around his body while the other roamed periodically; either covering her hand, resting atop of his head or idly scratching at his neck. It didn't take long for Pip to completely drop his notion that she may hurt him whilst lying like this, even unintentionally. She had repositioned several times, each time supporting his body first and foremost, before flopping back down. It jarred him when she fell back down, but otherwise he'd never felt so safe.

He realised that his worries of her Predator status had made its way far lower down on his mental anxiety list at some point. When did that happen?

He had to admit that in the last few hours he had started to trust her completely.

Not just the blind desire or even awe that ran through him, but actual trust and faith that this Human was safe. She was a Predator that broke all conventions which were established as the four cornerstones of his society. She was a signal that the way things were, weren't destined to 'always be'.

The social dividing line he had thought of; was no longer defined and certain. These 'titan apes', they could change the world for the chintians. They could change The Spiral in its entirety. They already had in some ways.

Pip couldn't put his finger on why he had felt so drawn to her, even objectively as a Prey. Sure, she was intimidating in the first instance, their outward characteristics screamed 'dangerous', but when they spoke? When they showed their inner thoughts? It almost made perfect sense that they were both herbivore and carnivore before she had ever told him. They had that 'other side' to their aura, not just religiously sectioned into one group or the other.

The cintian was currently laying atop her, his hands over hers, laying directly on top of her solar plexus, his feet resting against her pelvis while his head rested between... His ears warmed rapidly. The air was humid and mildly stale from being under the covers, but the heat was lovely. He was used to the warmer weather of his home planet but had previously come to the conclusion that he'd have to live in the colder, wetter climate to attend a good college. Now he was laying on a living hot stone that was soft and warm and beautiful in every way he could think of. He couldn't help but smile unashamedly to himself, a goofy grin that pulled at his cheeks in a way that hadn't happened for weeks on end.

The great bellows of her lungs were behind his head, they were impressive in of themselves; but it was her heart that dominated his thoughts.

Pip had seen forces of nature before; from the little things like hurricanes and earthquakes to the supermassive like black holes; consuming systems larger than he could comprehend.

Her heartbeat drew the same emotions from him as these incredible forces did. It was so strong, so powerful; Pip put his fingertips to his throat to feel his own pattering beat, it was humbling to feel hers shake his whole body when he held still enough to notice. It was so slow, so steady it calmed him like no breathing technique ever could.

He sighed as he closed his eyes and returned his hands to hers. The world outside just simply didn't matter while he was here with her.

===

Natasha slept deeply and soundly, unworried by the world.

She had suffered from insomnia back on the station, a mixture of anxiety and poor mental health brought on by the events of Earth’s disastrous evacuation. While the distance from what she had ended up associating with the horrid memories helped, her nightmares still stalked her across the vastness of space to wheedle their way back into her dreams shortly after she began to settle into her new life.

Initially she had left her stuffed rabbit, 'Lucky' on a shelf when she unpacked as a token of her childhood she could put away, but halfway through a sleepless first night, he had miraculously ended up in her arms by the morning. A present from her father due to her unachieved desire for a pet, Lucky had defended her valiantly from the worst of her dreams, but she had still not quite had that kind of sleep that leaves you without need for more the following morning.

She lovingly pressed ‘Lucky’ into her again as reassurance to herself he was still there. 

Natasha was unaware that Lucky had long since fallen to the floor beside the bed and happily kept watch for any monsters that could lurk beneath the bed.

===

Several hours passed as they slept with one another. Neither thinking of anything other than restful sleep and gentle dreams.

Natasha usually worked the late shift at the Café on Fridays, it wasn't unusual for her to sleep long into the Saturday without issue. Pip on the other hand had no excuse of working late for his many previous Saturdays that he’d slept away. He often found that if he had no particular reason to leave his bed, he wouldn't do so. Even to the detriment of his hunger or social life, of what social life he had available to him anyway.

The shadows drifted across the room as the two found something unidentifiable within each other, and while neither would be able to articulate what these were when they woke; they both needed what the other offered freely.

The sun was beginning to dip low by the time both were awake again. They handled the various needs that had arisen in their long rest which had accumulated in Pip currently being sat on the kitchen counter using the various pots and pan drawers to climb up, while Natasha leant against the wall waiting for the pasta and home-made sauce to cook properly.

===

“But you can't just put the whole bag of cheese on top, it would drown the flavour?” Pip tried to express to the belligerent human.

“Pip, ya' a lovely guy, but ya' dead wrong. There isn't such a thing as 'too much cheese', ya' either don't have enough or ya' ran out!” She just couldn't understand how he was so perfect in every way, but this was a deal breaker if he didn't enjoy cheese properly. And the proper amount of cheese one was to have on their food was always ‘excessive’. 

“You're going to get gout if you carry on... Wait. Do human's get gout?”

“It's not common, but yeah, this is why I try to home cook. I'll be healthy, but in return I get to feed my habit.”

“But that's not health-” Pip's response was prevented by a series of rapid heavy bangs against Natasha's front door. They conveyed a serious need for an immediate response.

Pausing to turn off the hob, Natasha left the kitchen to go and answer the door. It wasn't hard for Pip to listen to what was happening, but the moment that she opened the door a cacophony of voices started shouting various questions and demands of Natasha. A firm and cold voice that was much clearer than the rest, made itself known. 

“Miss Natasha Ward?”

“Yes?”

“You are under arrest under the suspicion of abduction.” 

“What?!”

Pip could hear the shock in her voice, but he had already launched himself off the countertop. A scuffle out in the hall came next as he rounded the corner and saw that two law enforcement officers, both draconians with bright orange scales and spines cresting their heads, were currently pressing Natasha against the wall of her hall and preparing to apply handcuffs to her.

Natasha, the two officers and a crowd that had formed outside the building on the street, went silent for a moment at the sight of Pip, before a wall of noise erupted as everyone reacted to him. 

“It's true!”

“Pippin!”

“Natasha, over here!”

“What were your plans?!”

A cascade of questions from the crowd alongside an explosion of bright flashes blinded pip and rendered him stunned with his arm up to shield his eyes. He never heard the officers directing staff from outside to come in and remove the 'victim' from the home. As he squinted the world was blocked as a woollen blanket was thrown over him before he was bodily lifted from the ground.

“Make a hole! Out of the way!” He heard from outside, Pip started to shout and thrash in an attempt to free himself. The larger predator was obviously used to handling those of a larger stature so had no issue in manhandling Pip into the back of their waiting squad car as if he were no more than a temperamental toddler. 

The door slammed shut. 

“Get him out of here!” the same voice shouted before the car lurched forwards as Pip extracted himself.

“Nat!!” He shouted into the back window as the crowd of reporters continued to take pictures of both his retreating face and the towel covered head of Natasha as she was escorted into a second squad car.

The two new officers sat in the front were Canids, the one not driving turning back with a 'reassuring' expression.

“It's alright Pippin, you're safe now, you're out of danger.”

“What are you on about!? Natasha is a friend, what is happening?” Pip argued back, he was upset confused and frustrated

The two Canids shared a look before facing front and settling into silence. Pip spluttered to try and find another thread to attack from, but his mind was paralysed with confusion. He settled into a moody silence, readying himself to give the person in charge both barrels of his opinion once he arrived at their destination.

Within 20 or so minutes they arrived at the station, an imposing building that had a flow of a multitude of people coming and going. He was marched inside still with the blanket over his shoulders like he was a traumatised survivor of something. He was finally deposited in an interview room with a promise that they would bring a drink for 'Pippin'.

Pip seethed. He hated that name, only his grandparents still used it and that was only because they found his frustration amusing. No one using 'Pippin' would get their way past his defences.

Before long a taurian made their way inside the room, they were as tall as an average Predator but often seen as ‘motherly’ by certain Prey. He wasn't dressed the same as the the officers, he gave off more of a contractor or medical professional 'vibe' to Pip.

“Well, I'm sure this has been all very scary and worrying, hasn't it dearie?” His tone and voice grated at Pip immediately, he spoke to him as if he were a child or not in full control of his mind.

“Honestly, I was fine until the police kicked down the front door; where's Natasha? What's going on?” He demanded, he was oddly confident in his words, he felt he had the right to be angry and make these kinds of demands in contrast to his usually meek self.

“It's okay dearie, it's okay. Lets breath together, okay dearie? In... and out... Woo Saaa.”

 Pip stared a hole into his forehead.

The taurian mistook his stillness for compliance. 

“Very good. Now, what's happening is that we've rescued you from that mean old Predator that kidnapped you. We now just need a statement from you and you can get home dearie.”

Pip calmed himself, he had to be careful or Natasha would suffer for his mistakes.

“Natasha and I walked back to her home because it wasn't feasible to use the walkways as the entrance had been damaged.” He paused to take a breath.

“We then fell asleep at her apartment, woke up and she was in the middle of cooking us 'breakfast', as we had risen late. Then you kicked in the door and there was a circus outside the building!”

The taurian hmm'd' and haaw'd' as he spoke whilst nodding in a deranged manner as if hishead was loose on a hinge.

“So, I'm afraid dearie-”

“Stop calling me 'dearie'.”

“So, I'm afraid Pippin...”

Touché.

“I'm afraid you're confused as to what has happened to you recently and that's okay, no one is blaming you. But if I explain what we know is the truth, then that might jog your memory?”

Pip frowned, he knew exactly what had happened over the past day, he suspected he'd never forget these memories for the rest of his days. They were too special to forget or adjust them.

“You were seen leaving an establishment and attempted to make your way home. However, the walkways were sabotaged to prevent your 'escape'. Then the human captured you and took you away against your will. after which we won't speculate what happened next after you arrived at the human's home.”

He removed her glasses and placed them on the table between the two creatures.

“You don't need to be afraid Pippin. The human may not know about how things work out here, but that does not give them free licence to hunt a living, thinking Prey. Thankfully we received an alert that a Predator had snatched a Prey and taken them away. You must be so grateful that the citizen followed her all the way back to her 'lair'.”

“That's not the way of it at all! She grabbed me because it was too far for me to run and not get washed away!”

“I thought you said you walked home with her? Why the change in story Pippin?”

“I-I misspoke, that doesn't mean she's some feral, slobbering Predator, she wouldn't harm a single hair on anyone's head!”

“Its normal to protect your captors after spending time with them Pippin. You get to the point of seeing their struggles from their point of view and as a smart young man who is good and empathetic, it's completely normal to feel the need to cover for her Pippin, but you don't have to. “ 

His jaw ached from gritting his teeth as he repeated his name over and over.

 A pause.

“What you have to do is confirm that she took you against your will.”

“Then we're going to be here for a very long time sir. Everything that happened from leaving the Café until I was snatched by the officers; was consensual.”

“That's not what she's saying Pippin.”

===

“Creatures like you disgust me, you know that right?”

The officer remained in the shadows of the cold interrogation room. Only one of his eyes were visible, reflecting light; it seemed like a glowing marble suspended in the darkness. From what Natasha could tell he was a draconian, his snout was long and thin but the teeth that encircled his jaw left no doubt he was a Predator.

Natasha remained silent. She had made several demands for a lawyer and knew better than to say anything that could be deliberately taken the wrong way until they arrived.

“You think that you can just get away with it because they're small and pathetic? They can't fight back so why not, right?”

The Human rolled her wrists to get blood back into her hands, but otherwise remained silent and still.

“He's already said that you grabbed him without his agreement. We're just waiting on formalities at this point. We're going to throw the whole book at you to make an example of you.”

“Ya’ got nothin’ then.” She couldn't help herself. The moment he started spouting lies about Pip she had to defend him. She could handle whatever they had to say about her, she'd grown up on earth, this wasn't her first interaction with moronic cops, but Pip? She doubted whether he'd ever even spoken to a cop before today.

“It's not going to get easier for you just because you remain silent. It just means you won’t be able to defend yourself lat-” he was cut off as another Predator appeared through the door. A felinoid, if Natasha's memory served her. With spots that covered a short pelt of sandy colours, she looked like a cheetah in a high-powered business suit.

“Out. Now.” There was no mistaking that this was a command, not a request. The officer grumbled but left without delay.

“Ms Ward, I am your lawyer and I need to ask if you've made any statements in my absence?“

Natasha explained in full detail as to her interactions with the officers so far and at prompting; as to how she had met Pip, how he'd returned and they'd hit it off over the course of the evening. 

She'd wanted to see him off, until they found the walkway entrance destroyed.

“Mm, there was a discrepancy in the time the cameras of the walkway go offline and when it was possible for you to have left. Your boss was certain you had worked your full shift, no leaving early. Continue.”

She went on to explain the weather was concerning her with regards to Pip, she had specifically asked him if he was okay with being carried home to ensure he was out of the storm in good time. Natasha had no knowledge of how much of a social taboo carrying one another held in this society.

Her lawyer nodded with understanding before motioning her to go on.

Natasha left no detail out. Their close moments, their questions, how she had touched him with his consent. How she woke up while curled around him in a protective 'big spoon'. All of it.

She had to trust that he would be honest as well; the officers last words repeated themselves around her mind and part of her wanted to believe he had betrayed her. Natasha was used to betrayal, she could handle it, but there was a fragile part of her that had only begun to bloom less than twelve hours ago and now risked being stomped brutally. It was easier to be betrayed than it was to let someone past her walls.

“It seems to me a case a mistaken identity Ms Ward.” The cheetah who's name she just couldn't recall despite being given it only a hour or so ago.

“Throughout the city, there has been a spate of vandalism against little folk's walkways, access points and panic tunnels. Normally petty vandalism doesn't ping on the radar so to speak, however this is following the exact same pattern as last time something like this happened...”

“Somethin’ like this?” Natasha asked.

A sigh and a scratch at her jaw, the lawyer continued.

“Roughly two years ago a series of vandalisms led to the disappearance of multiple Prey. Turns out some Predators decided to make Prey escape paths unavailable, allowing them to set traps and abduct the unfortunate Prey right off the streets.” She waited a moment before deliberately catching Natasha's gaze.

“They ate them, Ms Ward. They sold their meat on the black market and consumed the flesh of their fellow sentients. So perhaps you can understand the panic your actions, however unintentionally, has caused.” She stood up with this revelation.

“You'll be glad to know that I don't think they have a case against you. Unless the Prey you were with has said something to the contrary of your statements, your timeline is just a little too off to match you against the usual MO of this group and since to my knowledge, the Prey you were with is unharmed, there isn’t actually anything they can hold against you. Just a bunch of suspicious events with nothing to charge you with.”

With a farewell and assurances that she will work quickly the lawyer left and Natasha was escorted to an enclosed room with a bed and a hole for a toilet. ‘No sci-fi forcefields here, just metal and walls’ she thought glumly. Laying back on the bed she let her thoughts drift to Pip and wondered if he was in a cell nearby.

She hoped he was okay.

===

Pip was exhausted as he again refused to admit that Natasha had done anything even remotely cruel, evil or untoward.

He'd torn up written statements they'd asked him to sign, he'd shouted down the councillors and now was trembling as he kept his tail straight and ears up at the officer who had just finished his tirade at Pip.

“She's got you eating out of her hand while she gets ready to eat you boy! How does a Prey like you not have that survival instinct?! Where's that healthy sense of what's dangerous and what's not?! How did you even get into the same crowd as her?!”

“Is it illegal to fraternise with someone not of my ‘kind’ officer? Should I be fearful of you? Intimidated, sir?” He countered.

“To the void with it! You want to get eaten? Fine!” the officer shouted at Pip as he left the room slamming the door behind him. Pip slumped into the chair once again.

The chair was an uncomfortable thing, maybe by design or by necessity of cost saving, but with his hands were shaking and feeling light-headed, he needed to rest, which wasn’t going to happen while being forced to sit in this oversized monstrosity.

When the door unlocked, he was keyed up to fight again. He'd kept Natasha in his mind's eye to motivate him. It didn't matter what they said or did, he'd protect her as best he could. But instead of another combatant, an administrator walked in holding his belongings and advised that he was free to go and that was that.

He walked through the building in a daze before being shown the door. It was dark, whether late or early he had no idea. Nor did he have any clue how he was going to get home from here, he wasn't particularly aware of where the nearest public transport hub was until he saw a familiar grey scaled face waving to him from the other side of the street.

As he descended the steps, a crowd of reporters swamped him asking any number of questions that Pip just couldn't be bothered to reply to. When he got to Geegee, the reptile ducked into the waiting taxi and Pip ran to the other side. Climbing in and cutting off the reporters who continued to hound him asking whether he feared retaliation? How did he feel about the threats to his life? Would he trust Predators again?

As the taxi zoomed away from the crowd, he put his head in his hands and tried to uncoil the stress that permeated every inch of his body.

“You’re an idiot.” Geegee stated as a matter of fact.

“I’m not in the mood, Gee.”

“Well tough, I don’t know how you’ve got yourself in this mess, but you need to get yourself out. People are talking now, and you’ve dragged me into it all as well!” Geegee near-shouted with anger bleeding into his tone.

“…thank you for coming to get me.”

“I didn’t want to come here, the Dean himself practically told me to do it so that it was seen that you were a normal Prey, and it was the human that was the weirdo. When they found out I was your ‘closest’ and I use the term loosely, ‘friend’ they wanted me to retrieve you so you wouldn’t say anything that could upset the college!”

Pip looked at the Geckin; Geegee was furious, his entire body language shouted of someone who didn’t want to know Pip. As if being in the same car would ‘taint’ the lizard.

“She didn’t do anything wrong.” Pip said in a small, defeated voice.

“That’s..!” The Geckin started to shout before sighing and beginning again in a calmer voice. “… That’s not the point. You should know better than to go off with Predators on your own. You put yourself in danger like that. They should know better and in an ideal world we could skip off into the sunset; hand in hand, but it’s not like that and it’s still your responsibility to stack the deck in your favour so you’re as safe as possible. Don’t tempt them, it’s rule 1!”

Pip hated this. 

The whole world spoke of how Prey and Predators were equal, that there was nothing to fear, and we were all safe, barring exceptional circumstances. But this was a lie. The moment he tested those beliefs, it was taken that he was in immediate danger. Natasha was branded a threat and he was thought of as a fool.

It was a world of hypocrisy.

“So, you’re done then? You’re going to be safe and never see that human again?” Geegee asked in what was supposed to be a caring tone but had overtures of condescension.

“I need to say goodbye and apologise, but yes, I’ll… I’ll stay away. She won’t want to see me again after this anyway, I’ve ruined her reputation.”

“No you-.. Pip! Just drop her! You owe her nothing, you barely know her!”

“I barely know you! Or anyone for that matter! The most you said to me was after the moment you found out she existed. Then you shit yourself and all of a sudden, she’s not of interest anymore? She and I are… we were friends. I owe it to her at the very least to apologise and I will do so to her face. I refuse to be a coward.” Pip snapped back, frustrated that Geegee seemed to hold the delusion that they were perfect friends, and his opinion was so valued that it could sway Pip easily.

Pip and Natasha’s whirlwind of a friendship wasn’t for nothing. He’d clear his conscience and make sure she knew he never meant for any of this to happen.

The taxi pulled up to the collage as Geegee stated in a cold tone; “Fine. Do the stupid thing, I hope she kicks you across the street because then you might get a clue.” He opened the door and without glancing back, slammed it hard enough for the vehicle to rock back and forth.

Pip typed in the Café’s address for the unmanned vehicle to set off again. He had no idea where she lived, only that it was close to the Café and push come shove, he’d leave a message with the owner. He was bemused that for all the time they spent with each other, they’d never thought to exchange contact details.

His depression coiled around his guts again. He wasn’t alone again yet, but it felt like with his plan to apologise and leave her alone would render him more isolated than before. If he wasn’t an outcast before, he was now.

It was pitch black by the time the taxi settled to the entrance of the Café. Paying the fare, he got out and tried to take a breath, to see if he could get his thoughts in order and figure out what he would say or put in his message.

The street was dark, some of the lights had failed to come on. Out of curiosity he walked over to the walkway entrance and found it repaired, they’d obviously rushed the job with all the press getting involved. Pip dreaded to catch up on how the news had interpreted the whole debacle.

A quiet splash behind him caused an ear to twitch, he idly looked over his shoulder to see, far too late, a heavy boot launching into him. It took him in the side, sending the small mammal cartwheeling into the air before hitting a wall with full force and crumpling to the floor. His back legs kicked automatically to propel him forwards instinctively, he had to get to the walkway, whatever it was attacking, wouldn't be able to get him once he was safely within.

His arms attempted to keep up with his legs as he lurched forwards almost horizontally, none too quickly either as a clawed hand grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled violently. The stitching tore and ripped at the seams, deep gouges appeared in the flesh of his back as the claws missed skewering him by a fraction. He cried out in pain as he tumbled to the floor before kicking again.

He didn’t get far as the boot slammed down on his back, pressing him forcefully down into the wet concrete. His head bounced off the floor and his lights went out. 

===

Natasha was released into a storm of questions, flashes of cameras and shouts of a mixture of anger, disgust and weirdly, support.

Most of the crowd outside were journalists as she could tell. They all demanded of her questions that misconstrued her actions with Pip or outright put a deliberately bad spin on the whole event. Pushing through the first ‘wave’ she was then spat at by the other bystanders who accused her of being feral, of being ‘unfit’ to live in modern society.

The final layer of the crowd came as she stomped away and past a group that had separated themselves from the rest. She had assumed they were going to cause issue for her in some way, but thanks to their shorter stature, she felt that even if they did cause trouble; she could fight back. She’d grown up in the slums, she could handle herself and she fought dirty.

When she passed them however, they whispered rather than shouted.

“..We see you sister.”

She paused a step or two past them but didn’t turn to face them. Her silence was answered with another whisper.

“We’re glad you’re with us sister, worry not, your ‘Prey’ won't escape. When you’re ready, go to the sub-station near the park. Knock once.”

When she turned her head, the group had fled down the alleyway that they had loitered in the mouth of.

A cold chill ran itself down her spine and a horrific feeling of dread washed over her. She had to see Pip now; he’d be at the dorms.

The run there didn’t bother her, she had never been a slouch with keeping fit and with such an urgent need to see Pip she raced as fast as she could. She didn’t feel the burning in her legs until she rounded the final corner to see the multi-species dorms. Pip had discussed where he’d lived with her whilst he ate at the Café, he’d even oh-so-subtly told her how to count the windows to which one was his. At the time she thought it cute that he’d give her a way to find him if she fancied coming to see him, but now she thanked his awkwardness and blatant hope.

She counted the windows as he said and looked through to find a dark room. Using her hands to block all the outside light she could see this room was indeed used and what looked like some of his clothes, but no sign of Pip himself. She checked the next window on, it had a light on and maybe it was a different room of his dorm?

The small Geckin lizard inside very nearly hit the roof in an impressive leap of fear when Natasha’s features appeared in his window.

“I’m sorry, I’m tryin’ to find Pip, I need to apologise to ‘im, I know he’ll probably not want to see me right now and I-I-I know, that’s fine, but I just needed to say sorry and I’ll leave ‘im alone, I promise.”

The Geckin was clutching his chest and breathing heavily before looking disdainfully at the human. He walked over to the window, leaving it closed to shout; 

”He already left to go and see you. He doesn’t want to see you, but he’s too kind for his own good and wants to tell you face to face. I’ll tell him you feel the same way. Now; go!”

He wasn’t here? He’d gone to find her.

Dirt sprayed up the side of the wall splashing the Geckin’s window as Natasha pushed herself into a full sprint. Her boots gouged large divots into the grass of the dorms before she was on tarmac again and sprinting home.

She had lost precious time, the strange whispering Predators wouldn’t leave her thoughts as she forced herself to run, faster and faster. She could almost feel that she was running out of time.

 He’d be okay. He’d gone to say goodbye and then he’d be back to his world, a world being safe. She could live with that.

Reaching her home there was no sign he’d been here. No one had rung her doorbell since she had been taken away earlier that day and there were no notes or messages waiting for her. She ran towards the Café. He’d be there, he’d be waiting for her or talking with her boss maybe?

Getting on to the Café’s street, it was darker than normal. This alone was enough to ring alarm bells in Natasha’s head. She slowed her pace as she approached, just before she reached the walkway entrance Pip would have used, her boots crunched under her weight. Stopping and looking down, she saw a puddle of broken glass.

Looking up; the streetlight was smashed.

This was a tactic she herself had used as a youth. Natasha crept forwards in full alert, eventually she saw the walkway was fully repaired. She frowned though, despite everything looking new, there was already loose material gathering outside it like rubbish. With mounting suspicion and worry she picked up a familiar looking scrap of cloth and brought it into the light of the Café.

Stood outside her place of work and the location of her first meeting of her first alien friend; Pip, she had in her hands the bloody and torn remains of his favourite shirt.

[wolven91]

The Predator Café - Chapter 3

Pip couldn't concentrate on his work.

It had been roughly a week since his extraordinary adventure and his melancholy and doubt had returned like a bad smell seeping through the walls. It was as if the world outside of the Café had slowly lost its colour, rendering his time at college a grey, boring and dulled affair. He pushed his palms into his closed eyes and rubbed vigorously. He watched the swirls that played out on the back of his eyelids for a time while he remained hunched over his desk. He remained quite conflicted.

He'd seen very little of Geegee in the last week since returning in the early morning. The cowardly lizard had the good taste to eventually appear and apologise whilst acting fairly sheepish. But after muttering a half-hearted apology, he then considered the matter closed and refused to acknowledge the excursion as if it had never happened in the first place. Furthermore, no matter how Pip tried to suggest going back, Geegee simply repeated the usual phrases one would come to expect from a die-hard herbivore that preferred to keep the pred/prey social line clearly defined.

He used words like 'unnatural' and 'untrustworthy'.

Pip leaned back in his chair and felt his spine pop. It was only just getting dark and signalled the start of another long and quiet weekend. As it was before he had explored the Café.

He considered going back, but physically shook his head to try and dislodge the thought. With the passion of the moment gone and Geegee's words ringing in his ears, Pip had kicked himself for letting himself get so enamoured with the towering Human.

When he cornered the Geckin to talk about going back, Geegee pressed that he was a friend and an ally to Pip. He would never give advice that the Geckin wouldn't take himself. He went on to point out that whatever Pip had seen or felt to make him stay as long as he did, were aspects that he just wanted to see. 'The Human' as the geckin described her, refusing to use her name, was just doing her job. She was a waitress; she was meant to be kind and even mildly flirtatious.

He ended his undermining of Pip's confidence about her by pointing out that she probably felt the same way as Geegee did, but from the other side; predators and larger predators especially, preferred their own kind and their own size. It was a fact that everyone knew and never said out loud. Pip didn't want to believe it, but the Geckin's words wouldn't stop rattling around his mind.

Pip couldn't even ask someone else their opinion on the matter either, how the hell do you explain a Predator Café? It was too new of a concept to talk to family about it and the only others that he could chat to were the insectoids. He 'humph'd' to himself. Yeah right.

The four walls of his room seemed to close in on the depressed Chintian, his kind were social; the isolation was affecting him far more than he first thought it would. He was never outwardly confident, but he had never second guessed himself in this manner before. What was worst was that he was now struggling to even finish his damn work!

Perhaps a change of environment to study?

He could take his tablet anywhere after all. He could proofread his work outside of this near-prison cell that was supposed to be a home for the next few years.

The Café was supplied as an 'innocent' suggestion from the back of his mind. His ears went flat.

No, he was just saying that to just go there, not to actually do his work. Regardless of his 'secret' desire to see Natasha again, this project did need to be finished soon.

The library?

No, the insectoids lock that down at the weekends. They seemed to be single minded in their path for further education, seemingly refusing to relax or do anything else. They will have taken up every comfortable seat and would stare at him until he left.

The canteen?

Again, the hard seats weren't comfortable and it was a cavernous room at his size, which would just highlight how he was on his own again.

...The Café..?

Damn his traitorous mind.

Arriving at the Café was a far greater hassle this time round. When he packed his bag and dressed himself for being seen in public, he hadn't realised just how dramatically the weather had changed for the worst. The rains pelted the city without mercy, the raised and covered passages allowed him to travel in relative safety from being washed away, but they weren't enclosed, so the wind whipped big, fat droplets to splash against him.

He was sodden by the time he got to the Café's street. He had to descend onto the communal pavement itself, he quickened his pace to rush to the door, hugging the wall.

Just as he reached the door; a giant, booted foot crashed into a small lake of rainwater that was collecting a foot or two away, completely covering the smaller mammal in a tidal wave. He froze in shock at the cold water, with his hand still resting on the handle of the door.

Pip stepped inside and stood in the doorway at the bottom of the stairs. He held his arms out to his sides to take note; his entire back was soaked. His jeans were damp and getting cold quickly. His bag had the good fortune of being waterproof, but he now felt ridiculous. He already had an opinion of himself that was lacking when comparing himself against Natasha, but right now he would be downright pathetic.

He closed his eyes and tilted his head back. Taking a deep 'cleansing' breath, he successfully resisted the urge to scream at the top of his lungs.

Each boot 'squelched' with every stomp up the stairs, leaving small puddles that he hoped wouldn't be too much of a problem for whoever had to deal with his wake. Once again, a Friday night proved to be a quiet night for the Café as the waiting room was once again empty.

The welcoming voice from before once again greeted him brightly and directed him to a different booth this time. It wasn't Natasha's voice as he had initially suspected when he thought back, but no matter. He had it all planned out; he would set himself up to study, get a coffee every so often to pay his way and have a pleasant chat with her because he was completely casual and it was just a friendly happenstance that they'd bumped into each other again.

As he situated himself, the damp clothes made it difficult to settle himself in. Whilst they were getting warmer now that Pip was indoors, they remained uncomfortable. The jeans became constricting and his flannel shirt just felt warm and humid.

Picking up the tablet he thumbed his way to the bottom of the list like before, but paused when he got to the end without seeing her. Frowning he flicked back through before carefully going through each server individually.

She wasn't there and she wasn't out on the floor already either. He made a point to face the direction of the kitchens and counter this time and hadn't seen her at all.

His heart sank to his boots before selecting a server at random. He didn't even know or care as to who was coming. It didn't matter.

He opened his tablet and selected the coursework that he needed to review. He glumly sat there staring at the same sentence until his server cleared their throat.

“S-sorry, I was miles away.” Pip said, putting his tablet down and picking up the Café's before turning to the server. He flinched at the sight of him. It was another large one, this time an avian of sorts who clicked his large sharp beak before extending the crest on the top of his head in an extravagant display. A deep part of Pip hated everything about his actions and Pip had none of the desire that existed when Natasha had 'threatened' him.

“Welcome to the Predator Café, can I interest you in a bite?” The server said in a tone only one step away from 'bored-senseless'. This helped alleviate Pip’s worries as it took the edge out of the implied danger.

“Just a latte please. Can I order food later?” He asked, selecting his option on the tablet as well for confirmation.

“Sure thing dude.” Came the voice as he stomped away, the cutlery clattered slightly. Pip absently returned it to its rightful place.

Pip slumped down in his seat again. The Café was as quiet as it was before, maybe less so even, but he had lost interest in the place at this point. He was hopeless; why did he think this was a good idea?

He tried to get comfortable, still dripping and complete his work. He'd have dinner and go home to bed, tomorrow was shaping up to be a 'stay-in-bed' day.

After a few minutes, Pip's ears twitched as he overheard a conversation by the counter.

“Foose, what are you still doing here darlin'? Get goin', I owe you one for covering for me.”

“No problem, Nat, you just got one 'Herb' in Booth H to look after.”

Pip near broke his neck looking up the second he recognised the accent. She strode over to him, his tiny latte on an oversized tray, wearing a fanged smile that touched her eyes when she saw him. He went from the lowest of the low, to the highest high, even with the fear and anxiety that her teeth put within him.

She couldn't have been more beautiful than at this moment.

“Well now! Long time no see, stranger!” She said with an amused grin, which faltered for some catastrophic reason. The loss of her smile hit Pip quite heavily.

“I'll.. I'll be taking over from Foose, the server you selected; I hope you don't mind none. If you want a different server... You can reselect?” She explained and asked, seemingly distracted, but still staring intently at Pip.

He still reacted as he did the week before; his heart rate soared and he felt alive again, but he couldn't enjoy it whilst she had this concerned look.

“No, I'm more than happy with yourself Natasha, the pleasure's all mine. A-are you okay?” Pip asked, trying to be debonair in front of this Goddess.

“I have to ask sugar; why are you dripping wet?” she asked, tilting her head to the side, melting the poor mammal further.

“Oh.. yeah, I.. Well, I got splashed. It was all accidental.” He wasn't actually sure if it was accidental, either it was and the person didn't even know he existed or it wasn't and he ran the risk of encountering bigots. He didn't know which was worse, an attack on his pride or his person.

“You're soaked through, give me a sec' hun'.” She requested as the giant spun away and grabbed a clean towel from the kitchen.

“Here you go.” She said, gently unravelling the cloth more than twice Pip's size in front of him.

Pip dabbed at his face, but he wasn't going to really do more. He could live with his discomfort if it meant he could just talk with Natasha again.

She clicked her tongue with a 'tsk' and a disapproving look.

“Do you mind if I help ya' hun'? I think ya' missed a bit.” She said in a caring tone. Pip would have agreed to let her step on him if he thought that was what would make her happy.

“Of course!” He said automatically, not thinking of what she meant by the phrase.

===

Natasha had been running late that day. Her alarm had 'updated' itself to the station that she had come from's time, thanks to her connecting back home to speak with her parents. This, however, had left her wondering why she had so much free time today.

Until her heart stopped when she realised that she was definitely late to her job.

Thankfully, she had the staff member who's shift she was taking over from number. A fella that looked like an exotic parrot who went by 'Foose'. A good guy, but this was clearly just a paycheck to him. No shame or nothin', and she wasn't judging, but she had taken great pride in the compliments she was getting for her work; if he put a little extra into his day-to-day interactions, he could draw in way more money.

When she collected the drinks order, she took a peek at the customer to see a familiar face. One that she'd actually missed, her first proper customer. After having such a wonderful time just chatting about nothing and helping the lil' cutie with all his choices, he not only taught her where stuff was on the menu, but he seemed to open the floodgates of patrons not running from her. She'd only had about seven or eight make a runner when she approached since, the ones that stayed easily outstripping those few.

'Pip' as he called himself looked forlorn right up until he looked up and saw her approach. The little guy looked like he was about to burst and if nothing else, having someone so happy to see you, made Natasha's night.

As she approached though, she noticed that he didn't look as well-groomed as he did before. His fur was matted and noticeably damp. His clothes stuck to his body and he had left tiny puddles under the table. Oh my god, his feet don't touch the floor. Adorable.

Focus!

She gave 'the spiel' about how he could have any other server off the menu, but she wasn't exactly surprised when he dreamily confirmed he was happy to keep her. She couldn't stop looking at him, he was all smiles and doe eyes, but he was dishevelled and soaked from ear to tail.

When she offered him a tea towel to dry himself, he had sorted out his face, leaving his shirt to remain dripping.

Natasha was in unfamiliar territory here, he was being what her family had dubbed an 'aggressive guest', one that was hell-bent on being as little trouble as possible, that they refused themselves any comfort offered, because it would require the host to do work.

How you deal with these types, was to not ask and simply provide. She knew how to dry him off, but she needed his permission.

“Of course!” came his chipper reply.

Smiling to herself she reached out and plucked the sentient chipmunk from his seat.

She grasped him round the waist with her right hand, before depositing him onto his back across her left wrist. Her right hand snatched the towel and she brought it across the prone creature's front. She'd handled pets before at bath-time, she wasn't making the mistake of thinking him a dumb animal, she wouldn't dare insult him like that, but his size made it easy to simply move him and subject him to what needed to be done. She drug the towel down his tiny jeans, attempting to wick as much excess moisture as she could from his clothes before doing the same on the second leg.

She shuffled the towel until she had a dry section and tipped Pip against herself so she could get at his back, again, dragging the towel across the wet flannel shirt she could already see he was significantly drier. Finally, she worked on his tail, a thin pipe cleaner looking thing, she made certain not to squeeze it too hard or bend it in any way. She had no idea how flexible this thing was.

She returned him to his upward facing position as she gave her work a look over before giving him a nod and placing him back down just beside his booth. He stood still a moment before slumping backwards onto the booth's cushioned bench.

“There we go, ya' look much better now. So, how've ya' been Pip, aside from nearly drownin'?”

===

When Pip agreed to her help, he didn't expect the next thing to happen was for his life to flash before his eyes.

A freight train sized hand appeared suddenly and reached for him at great speed. In a flinch and a blink, he was squeezed in the middle, just below his ribs, by a set of pythons on either side. He left his stomach behind when he was pulled up and out of the booth as three more gigantically thick snakes wrapped around his legs holding him steady as he was reeled in towards her chest.

He was going to die; no other outcome was likely.

He didn't have time to panic about being squeezed to death, however, as the human effortlessly dropped him a short height, into her waiting grasp. His rear was cupped in her hand with his legs dangling either side of her palm, her fingers curled up and over to press into his belt line holding him securely in place. He didn't have time to worry about sensibilities as he could see the bus-sized towel drop towards him in the hand she'd used to grab him, but in putting up his hands in some semi-conscious attempt to stop her, meant that she just started to squeeze at his arms first with the mildly rough material.

He couldn't see her, or anything else for that matter, at this point. It heightened the physical feedback to a whole new level thanks to the adrenaline being dumped into his veins. He could feel her body heat through the towel as one arm was squeezed and pulled gently.

Then the other arm, a completely unstoppable force, was manipulating his body as if he were nothing. Then the towel pressed into his chest and pulled downwards. The buttons on his shirt dug in slightly, but he focused more on the soft flesh and the heat it was flooding into his back.

Then it was his leg's turn. One of the strongest muscle groups in his body, he regularly used the free gym and focused mainly on the treadmill, and yet; she pulled and pushed and squeezed and bent it without registering his full effort to retrieve the appendage back from her.

Then he was rolled suddenly onto his front, he threw an arm out in an attempt to stop him from falling, but he quickly hit a soft, yielding wall. Despite his current situation leaving his mind blank, he was not unaware of the fact that he was currently being pressed into Natasha's chest.

The towel returned to continue its assault, dragging itself down his back before grabbing at his tail.

Pip froze.

His tail was sensitive. It was just a bundle of nerves that when his species was still feral, they groomed one another's to strengthen trust and bonding. She was mercilessly grooming him in a manner no other chintain had experienced. Maybe ever?

And then? It was over. He had a solid floor under his feet and zero ability to stand.

The only thing that stopped him from falling flat into the booth was the table that his arm landed on, giving a level of stability.

He heard his name, bringing him back to reality.

“-aside from nearly drownin'?” She said with an expectant smirk across her beautiful, incredible face.

“I.. er.. I.. pardon?” He asked, slurring his words terribly.

“Ooh, ya' eyes are all dilated hun', are you okay? Oh god, have I screwed up? I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to- I thought-” Her hands were nearly, but not quite touching him as if he was about to shatter.

He reached out and grasped a giant finger to try and forestall her.

“I'm fine, you're fine. I just.. I just didn't expect that... that's all. Thank you, Natasha, thank you for helping me.” he continued, trying to focus so his mind would stop being so fuzzy.

Taking a few minutes to calm down and shuffle his legs back under the table, he asked for some water to help calm him down. She left in a hurry and relented from blasting him with peppermint over and over. He needed her to go away for a moment so he could adjust his trousers properly. He had no idea if she saw his body's reaction to all this, but it was best to at least have some shame.

She returned and crouched down next to the booth, depositing the glass of water in front of him, but leaving a tentative hand on the floor inches from his leg.

“You're okay, it wasn't normal, just so you don't go grabbing anyone else, but I gave you permission and I feel significantly drier. Don't feel like you can't touch me, it was nice Natasha.” He said honestly.

She seemed to relax after a time and they began to converse as they had a week before. Although there was a sense of familiarity between the two now. Whatever barrier that was there before, was now gone; shattered completely.

Pip ended up staying well into the night and into the following morning. He had to share Natasha with other patrons as they came and went, but he used this time to get on with his work. It went quickly and he found several errors that should have been obvious before now.

“I should get going.” Pip said with a yawn. He'd worked all night and could feel that it was the start of a new day already.

“Well, this time I can see ya' out cutie. My shift's actually over now.” Natasha said with a tired tilt to her voice, but still warm nonetheless.

“See me out? You squeezing through my entrance or are you going to grab me again?”

She gave him a withering look, but the smirk betrayed any 'offence' she was suffering.

“I'll see you outside, you use the proper entrance. I'm not losing my job because we got brazen after getting away with a faux-par once. If my boss had seen that, he'd have me out by my ear!”

Pip chuckled as he got up and started to walk towards his exit.

“Don't leave without saying goodbye!”

“Wouldn't dream of it hun'.”

He practically skipped down the stairs back towards the outside world.

As he got to the door though, he realised the rain hadn't let up at all. Opening the door, he used an arm to shield his eyes from the fat droplets once more and looked around for Natasha. He found her not by her door, but at the remains of what was the entrance to the smaller entity's travel ways. At some point, something big and heavy had landed on top of it, completely crushing and blocking the only entrance in the area that Pip could think of.

“Well.. this is going to be a long walk...” he said, not relishing the idea of a hike that'll take him all day.

“Can you get a cab?” She suggested, looking from him to the mangled metal tunnels.

“Not cheaply and the buses don't start for several hours.” Pip said defeatedly.

“What were you meant to do today?”

“Nothing, I was going to have a lazy day.”

“Come to mine then, you can sleep until the buses start again at least.”

“...what?”

[wolven91]

The Predator Café - Chapter 7

(Trigger Warning: Violence, Injury)

Panic, rage, fear and white-hot fury swirled within Natasha's chest.

The outside world began to fade out until all that was within her sight was that remnant of clothing that was unmistakably her friend's as the edges of her vision became a black halo around this tenuous link to Pip.

She could hear naught but the roar of her heartbeat as she began to hyperventilate.

The next thing she was aware of was being inside the Café, standing in front of her boss. She watched herself as if from above near the ceiling; she demanded if he'd seen Pip enter, he was denying this and shaking his head. She could see herself asking if he was certain. The man confirmed that the smaller Prey entrance hadn't been opened since the lunch time rush.

She 'blinked' and was already halfway home in a full sprint.

Their voice, crystal clear, repeated in her head. '...your 'Prey' won't escape...'; her blood boiled and her jaw ached from clenching her teeth.

Bursting into her home she stalked from one dark room to the other, pacing in impotent rage and fear.

She stopped at the kitchen, the cold pasta still sat in a pot on the hob. Her mind cleared instantly; Pip was in danger and she had to protect him. She was getting him back, there was no doubt in her mind for a single second that she'd get him back or she'd pull their god-damned spines out.

She'd have to be smart about this.

The police were as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike. If she rang them, they'd turn it into a hostage situation that would leave Pip in even greater danger. Her lawyer had even said that they'd never retrieved any of the previous victims alive...

“...fucking ghouls ate the evidence...” she realised with horror.

Her lawyer though? She was capable; she could call in the cavalry while Natasha bought them time on the inside. Natasha had never been one to sit on the sidelines when someone else was in trouble; especially one of her own. She'd learnt over a long childhood in the slums that sometimes one had to take things into their own hands; to stack the deck in their favour.

Their whispering came back to haunt her from the darkness that surrounded her; 'When you’re ready, go to the sub-station near the park. Knock once.'

“When I'm ready? Oh I'll get ready boys. I'll be good ‘n ready...”

===

Pip woke in a cloying darkness that made it hard to breathe.

When he did try to take a deep breath, pain lanced through his side causing him to flinch which only hurt the mammal further. He tried to remain still and take damp shallow gulps of air as he came to realise that he was contained within a sack of some kind.

He assumed he was on the floor as it was hard and cold beneath him. He thought it would be better for whoever had him to believe he was still unconscious so made a point to remain as still as possible while he tried to listen for voices or a clue as to what was around him.

Panic bubbled just below the surface, it threatened to rise up and drown him if not for the mantra that he repeated to himself that just had to keep calm and he would find an opportunity to escape. His entire childhood had been training him through established methods of how to keep safe in a world that wasn't a Prey's.

Many of them were pointless now; stay in lit areas, stay in communication with people, arm yourself. His best hope now was to find a chance to get distance between his captors and either hide where they couldn't reach him or out run them.

A nasally voice, moving closer to where he lay, broke the silence.

“Do we know if she's coming?”

A gruff voice replied a moment later.

“She'll be coming, sooner rather than later. I don't know much about these Humans but they don't look like the kind to give up on Prey.” A mirthless chuckle escaped the gruff voice. “If I haven't missed my mark, I'm willing to bet she'd chase this meat for forever.”

The nasally voice seemed unconvinced and to Pip struck him as a minion rather than a mastermind.

“Yeah, but what if.. what if she-”

“Shut up.” The gruff voice stated flatly.

“If she does anything stupid then we'll have to react to it. This may be your first time dealing with this, but this is how we recruited before. If these humans are what we think they are, it'll be easier to get them to join Predators like us than anyone else.”

“But boss, they aren't exactly discrete, she's taller than you even?”

Pip had used the term 'feral' before in jest or flippancy, but the growl that came from the gruff voice triggered a primitive part of his brain, it was a deep seated fear that ran through his body.

If he didn't get free, he was going to die.

His thoughts were interrupted by a third voice, this one came from further away as if they weren't in the same room as the other ones that had spoken so far.

“Hey boss! She's coming! She's.. got a pipe?”

“You two, go hide in the other room. You two with me, when she gets in, stand either side of her. I don't care what's she's armed herself with, if she fucks around we'll show her that we're the real Predators here, not this 'equals' nonsense...”

===

Natasha marched with confidence towards the substation that sat just outside the limits of a public park. It was a small structure, no larger than her front room and without a second floor she questioned whether it would be able to hold any more than the group of three that had told her about it in the first place.

There was something she didn't know. Either this wasn't their base or there was something she wasn't seeing yet.

It didn't matter; this was her single lifeline connecting her to Pip, there weren't any other options.

She had prepared herself as best she could, it had taken longer than she had wanted it to, but without a timeline she had hoped they had meant they'd keep Pip 'safe' until she could make it. Hey lawyer had assured her that she would inform the police, but begged her not to do anything rash.

Walking up to the substation door, she knocked a single time and stepped back away from it. A weird 'secret knock', but who in their right mind would knock on a door once? She shrugged to herself, it didn't matter; she just had to get inside.

The door unlocked from within as a bolt slid free.

“Come in, Sister.” A familiar voice said from the shadows, this was definitely the place. She steeled herself as she stepped into the 'lion's den'.

Inside a creature that resembled a Weasel hoped down off a crate that had served as its perch to look out of the small grime encrusted window. Normally Natasha would do her best to recall their correct designations and species names, but it didn't even register. She was appraising him; weighing him up as to how quickly he moved, how heavy he was, did he look like he could handle himself? Her time in the slums had given her enough experience to gauge how dangerous a person actually was.

This was a creature that looked like they used; speed, claws and teeth to win their fights. It gave her a toothy grin which faltered immediately as he noticed her expression and flinched from looking at her directly in the eye. He gestured lamely to the metal bat that she gripped in the middle with one hand while avoiding her gaze.

“You- you can't bring that in here... you can't be armed.”

“Ya’ think I'm gonna’ go into a room of Predators unarmed? Do ya’ think I'm stupid?” She snapped back at him, she'd expected to be challenged, but with just a bat she'd be able to talk her way through. Bluff that they wanted her here, not the other way round.

“But.. you..”

A voice called out from deeper within the structure, further away than what should be possible.

“Let her in, she's one of us...”

She gave the weasel a withering stare as she tapped the bat against her hip impatiently.

He ducked his head and retreated to the end of a grey electrical console. It dominated the single room that was the substation, but when he and Natasha rounded the far corner, a metal bulkhead jutting out of the ground was swung open presenting a ladder down into what Natasha assumed was the sewers.

This was not going to plan; she had no interest in going below ground, especially with what looked like a manhole cover that could be sealed closed between her and the rest of the world.

“Ya’ live in the sewers...?” She said disdainfully as she grabbed the ladder and began to descend before anyone could question her resolve. As she reached the bottom of the ladder, a serious voice, which gave her the impression of the ringleader, greeted her.

“Welcome sister. Yes, we may technically live in the sewers for now, it won't be long before we bring our vision of the galaxy to the wider city and world above. We and now you, are not alone with our desires-”

Natasha tuned him out as he continued to drone on, seemingly loving the sound of his own voice and getting high off his own horseshit. She noted that he was a Canid, black and brown colourings with a body that spoke of time at the gym, but he was small, shorter than normal canids. A runt? Either side of her sat two more, totalling four so far, one a felinoid that looked like she'd seen better days with the scraggly pelt of tawny fur and bald spots in her hide. Her partner on the other side of the room; a draconian, was thin with black for the majority of his scales but with blotches of deep red in a chaotic pattern across his visible flesh.

Natasha continued to observe the room as the ringleader went on about a 'new world order' by talking about how it was 'better in the old days'. She could sincerely feel her brain cells dying as he continued to regurgitate words that must've sounded impressive to him but imparted no actual meaning to anyone paying attention.

The room was a definitely part of the sewer system, but it appeared unused based off the floor and walls being clean of any sign of previous water or sewage, it was however, littered with the signs of usage by people; bottles and empty food packages lined the walls along with various boxes and half burnt candles scattered about haphazardly. The room itself was wide and open, the ceiling was however, almost too close for comfort to Natasha, but she gauged that she would be the tallest here by at least a head; only she would have to worry about hitting head against the humming strip lights. The end of the room, behind the ringleader's chair, had a divot in the floor for sluicing liquids away and a tunnel that cut across the room, leading deeper into the sewer system, it made the room into a 'T' shape, preventing Natasha from seeing around the corners into either direction of the tunnel.

She was in look, these lot looked like dregs, deformed and stunted. Was that their reasoning for eating people? They didn’t have the strengths of their brethren so they attacked anyone weaker?

The canid who was currently sitting at the opposite end of the room to the entrance ladder was occupying an aged leather chair that had somehow been brought down into the space. Saying that the only other visible seating in the room were several crates, it struck Natasha that this canid thought himself above those who followed him. The crates that served as seats were reinforced as such as they were each surrounded by empty bottles of beer or cans. What was interesting is that there were more available and visibly used seats than members present.

'Maybe 6 of them?' Natasha thought to herself as she realised the ringleader was winding his speech up as he was now standing with arms wide as if addressing a grand cheering crowd rather than skulking in the goddamned sewer.

Her bat 'tinked' against the cement floor as she dropped her grip from the middle of it, to the handle end and she flatly began.

“Wow...” struggling and failing to pretend any longer.

The sickly canid brought his gaze from the ceiling down to her, lowering his arms down to his sides lamely. Her lack of applause was disheartening to the man. He genuinely thought he'd improved his delivery of that speech.

“Jin, give us some privacy.” He shouted past her; the metal portal she had climbed through closed with a slam and grating lock.

'So much for their plan; my turn.' She smiled to herself, she hadn't been relying on any back up if she was honest with herself. It was always going to be her versus whatever unfortunately bastard that thought they could take her Pip.

“You fella’s took something from me. I want it back.” She demanded with a stony glare. The canid held his hands up in a placating gesture.

“Peace Sister, we only grabbed it so you could enjoy it without anyone suspecting you and so we could all meet. We're glad their meddling didn't get you arrested properly before you could enjoy its succulent flesh.”

The felinoid piped up in a tone that Natasha assumed she meant in a supporting manner. 

“It smells so sweet, I can understand why you chose it. I can't wait to sink my teeth into it properly...”

Natasha gripped the bat harder, her knuckles turning white.

“I will not 'share' Him in any way, shape or form. Not with y’all or anyone else, do ya’ understand me?”

The canid gave the human an award winning smile as he tried to reassure her.

“Oh you must understand, until we have enough to go around, we all must all share our prey. We each can support each other, we are a fami-”

“Show me him now.” Natasha cut off the canid. She needed to know he was alive. As long as he was alive she would help him live a life even if he wasn't whole.

“You're right, you're right! Of course, we've taken your food from your mouth and are trying to negotiate while you have no evidence we're sincere. Granc! Bring it out here now!”

From one of the blind-corner tunnels, another runt of a canid appeared with a lumpy sack in one hand. Like the felinoid, this one had mange and looked thin or sickly. He handed off the sack to the ringleader who reached in the bag.

A heartbreaking squeak came from within as he grasped and pulled Pip out in one harsh movement. Natasha's ache from her jaw came back, she could feel her bottom left eyelid begin to twitch with the effort of keeping her face neutral.

Pip looked scared and hurt. The Canid held him by the back of his neck, Pip had grabbed the larger creature's fingers in an attempt to ease the pressure on his body. He had dried blood over his face and he wasn't breathing correctly, as if he couldn't draw in a full breath. His fur was bedraggled and damp, he looked awful, but he was alive and awake; that was enough for Natasha. As he blinked in the sudden change of light, his eyes focused on Natasha and his face showed shock, surprise and fear.

Whether fear for himself, fear 'for' her or fear 'of' her, Natasha couldn't tell.

It didn't matter, he was alive and she was keeping it that way.

“Hand him over.” She demanded again.

“No, we've been more than welcoming to you and we've only received hostility in return. It's time you decide to join us or not.”

“As I said before; He. Is. Mine. I will not be sharing him with anyone, let alone pretend Predators such as y’all.”

This got a reaction from them, the two who had been sat either side of Natasha stood and came closer to her, well within range.

Good. Get cocky, get in close.

“Pretenders?!” The ringleader said incredulously.

“Oh, ya’ disagree? Ya’ll not predators, none of ya’ are! And yet ya’ think ya’ll good enough to take what's mine?! Ya’ bottom feeders! Ya’ll haven’t brought down anything that could actually give ya’ a run for ya’ money. At best, ya’ll opportunistic scavengers and ya’ done fucked with the wrong human.”

As the canid breathed in to retort, Natasha didn't wait to hear any more drivel from him.

She grasped the opposite end of her bat in her spare hand and drove the handle into the ribs of the black and red draconian as hard as she could, utilising her whole body to add force into the jab. The dull 'crack' echoed through the room from the bipedal lizard’s torso as he crumpled like a puppet with its strings cut. She let go of the business end of the bat to swing it in a full circuit, so the felinoid received the full brunt of force that swept the bat from down by her feet right up and into her jaw. Her head snapped backwards in a whiplash inducing motion before falling away and clutching at her face, the scream that came from it was more raw emotion than anything coherent.

At a glance the draconian had fared little better as he remained on the floor trying and failing to gulp air that simply wouldn't come.

The spare runt canid came from the front as he grabbed at the bat with both hands, Natasha was pushed back a moment before moving her arms in a violent jerking motion to push the bat squarely into his snarl, breaking his front teeth. He was stunned for a moment allowing Natasha to follow up with a second strike with the middle of the bat with little resistance. The front of his muzzle crumpled slightly as the majority of his front teeth disappeared when they broke in half and blood burst from the ends of his nostrils.

As she pulled the bat clear of his hands, she swung the handle to hit him in the face in a short pivot, it was then that Natasha was blind sided as she was tackled to the floor by a green blur. 

The green blur slashed at her face where her cheek immediately began to burn and ache. The new geckin, previously hidden around the other blind corner, reared back, jaws agape to clamp down on her exposed neck. He was small, but still sharp. As he lunged downwards, the act was arrested by the spiked choker she had donned before her arriving at the substation, preventing him from being able to close his jaws around her throat completely.

Normally she would only wear the spiked collar when going to a concert or other event where she could dress as dramatically as she liked, but she had feared that without something to defend her neck and wrists, she may have been vulnerable to this exact attack. The 'camo' geckin tried to close his teeth around her and pull, but the metal and leather left his attack ineffective and more damaging to himself than Natasha.

As he straddled her, she drove a knee up into his crotch as hard as she could before grabbing the creature and rolling to the side, dragging him beneath her in a reversal. She proceeded to pound into his face with both of her fists; her adrenaline allowing her to wail away into his jaw, cheeks and eye sockets. It wasn't until a kick to her ribs from a new assailant, forced her to roll away with a wince into a low crouch and her fists raised to defend herself.

The Ringleader stalked around his fallen compatriots, the geckin wasn’t moving.

“You idiot! Do you not understand?! We're the only ones in this city that appreciate your desire! You're denying yourself it's flesh!”

Natasha was beyond words at this point, her rage fuelled her onwards; the slight movements of her Pip in the corner of her vision willed her to tear this dog’s head off. 

She reached back to retrieve her 'back-up plans' from her back pockets. Slipping the pair 4-ringed brass knuckles over each of her own she stalked forwards towards the enraged alien.

The wild haymaker he threw out was easily redirected; it was trying to disembowel her, but Natasha gave back a quick jab into his chest rather than a grander response. He was shorter than the average canid by a significant margin, but no less dangerous, to underestimate him would be to defeat herself. He took a step back before pushing forward again, he then threw out a series of clawed slashes that did no more than bounce off Natasha's guard as she allowed his assault uninterrupted. The spiked bracelets that donned her wrists, jabbed and gouged at his own forearms weakening his attack as he could simply flail at her. His assault was feral; strong and violent, but without finesse. He’d been used to being the larger one in past conflicts, his self-assurance was evident in his lack of form or skill.

Her initial plan was to allow him to punch himself out, with his inability to end the fight by numbers or taking advantage of an exposed neck, he could only batter himself against her stalwart defence. He had a moment of inspiration however by throwing out a punch into Natasha’s gut slipping through her guard. She doubled over in a moment before twisting at the hip and using her elbow to slam into the canid’s face. He flinched and stepped backwards blinking away stars as his sensitive muzzle burst in a small geyser of blood.

Natasha’s ‘rope-a-dope’ plan was thrown into disarray however when, as the two circled each other, Pip appeared from behind the Ringleader and drove a screwdriver into the flesh of his calf with a rebel yell. Crying out and collapsing to one knee the canid successfully aimed a sweeping backhand that launched Pip deeper into the room away from the brawl.

Natasha saw red at Pip being struck; defence gave way to pure, livid hatred.

Before the canid could prepare himself, he was attacked by a true ‘Predator', one that dredged an icy dread from deep within him; a feeling he was not aware that he could ever experience, one of a Prey.

The metal covered knuckled came up in a south-paw upper punch that snapped his jaw closed and put the former Predator on his back. Natasha pounced upon him to batter solely into his head and whilst the sieged creature attempted to bring his arms up to defend himself, Natasha simply pulled his arm out of the way to land an uninterrupted hit square into whatever was in the way between her and the floor.

This continued for a time, a cathartic, raged filled therapy for Natasha as she paid him back for the upset and harm he had caused for both the Human and her Pip.

It was only when the creature had stopped moving that the drive to hit it drained from Natasha and a sudden overwhelming need to find and protect Pip returned.

Natasha got off the still breathing but bloodied meat that now laid thoroughly tenderised and scrambled over on all fours to the caramel furred mammal that remained still in a heap. She gingerly picked him up; he was still breathing but limp in her arms. She rushed over to the ladder out and turned the handle that would open the hatch once more, it had been locked from the inside.

When she unlocked it fully, the hatch was opened immediately by the collection of law enforcement officers that had crowded around the entrance to the subterranean lair. They however flinched back at the sight of the haggard and still enraged Human crawling from the depth with her face covered in blood. Whether this was her’s, Pip's or anyone else's, none of them knew, but they retreated to allow her to pass and leave the substation. The officers then climbed down the ladder to arrest the occupants within, they had heard the violence from within and expected the worst. Aside from a variety of heavily injured occupants, they were all still alive, albeit some only just.

===

 As Pip came back to the waking world, his environment had changed significantly for the better.

Beneath him was a soft mattress that supported his body gently, while the bed itself had his upper half slightly raised. The pillows beneath his neck and head were softer than his own back at his dorm, he thought mildly as he opened his eyes and began to blink the burring away.

Before his vision returned he felt a weight over his shins, heavier than the thin sheet that covered the majority of his body. Hovering over him was a fellow Prey dressed in the uniform of a nurse. Her whiskers twitched as she smirked down at him as she adjusted a bag with clear liquid inside that was connected to his arm via a tube.

“Welcome back Mr Warin, so you are aware; you've been asleep for the best part of two days, but should make a full recovery shortly.”

He blinked and croaked in response from his incredibly dry throat. He tried to swallow to refresh himself as the nurse, satisfied with her work, walked around the bottom of the bed where he suddenly noticed the form of Natasha.

The medical ward he was in was obviously designed for creatures smaller than Natasha; the items, fixtures and beds were all a more ‘normal’ size to Pip’s perspective. However, even slouched as she was, Natasha took up an alarming amount of space, practically overtaking the bottom of his bed where the top half of her slept.

‘She must be sat on the floor while hunched over the bed’ Pip thought to himself.

“We moved the other patients once she refused to leave. The others were distressed despite it being on the news.”

“She refused… What... what was on the news?”

“Her rescue of you Mr Warin? Whatever the misunderstanding was the day before, word is she single handedly removed the beginning of another feral Predator ring. The reporters had followed the parade of police and reported it live. When she appeared like an angel of death, but carrying you; people didn’t know what to think.” The nurse shook her head.

“Tokens of praise and apology have been arriving whilst you’ve both been here. They are starting to take up too much room. I would have raised a complaint if not for the fact that everyone is still hesitant to stay in a room with a human…” The nurse continued, gesturing towards the entrance to the room where a pile of gifts, flowers and tokens of various sizes had overtaken one wall.

“Now you’re awake, I doubt there will be any need for you to stay much longer. You were suffering more from sleep deprivation rather than anything physically wrong, aside from some nasty bumps. We have however stitched up the claw marks on your back, although it is likely they will scar, and your fur may not return.”

Pip thanked the nurse before she retreated from the room to follow up on her other patients. Looking down at the blonde beauty, he recalled what he had seen down in the sewers.

He had described her before as a force of nature, when he had laid on top of her chest and listened to her heartbeat. Now he knew this description was too understated. She had been truly terrifying, her speed went beyond what was right for a creature at her size to be able to move.

He had felt the impacts of her hits, the reverberations of the strikes had made him wince with each blow. When she had been taken to the floor and the Saurian that had been hidden away tore at her neck, Pip had feared the worst.

But nothing could stop her, she was a tidal wave of anger, of something primal... feral, even...

Pip winced at his own thought, that he'd put her in the same category as those brutes.

Placing a small hand into her hair he stroked it through the silken mess. She looked tired, the three gouges in her cheek looked deep and were held closed by white stitches. If he had scars on his back, those would absolutely scar and all because he got into a mess he should have avoided.

His heart broke at the idea he had led her to harm.

A wordless groan of being pulled from sleep escaped her throat.

"Morning beautiful..." Pip whispered.

"Pip? Pip!" She exclaimed, waking up fully and rocking the bed in her attempt to straighten up.

"Ya’ awake! Oh I'm so sorry Pip! It's all my fault, if I'd just left ya’ alone ya’ wouldn't have been taken or threatened and everyone-"

The cascade of apologies and worry that spilled forth surprised him, he was expecting to be the one that was to apologise not for his saviour to best him to the punch, so to speak.

"...Natasha." He said simply, stalling her mid-sentence. 

"Sorry." She said meekly.

It didn't suit her. 

Pip hated the idea of her not being herself, but he wanted her to say her piece, it was important to her so it was important to him.

"I don’t believe there's anything for you to apologise for, but if you disagree, I accept your apology and want nothing more than to hear nothing else on the matter..."

Her shoulders slumped, as if he had single handedly removed the weight of the world off her shoulders.

“...its me who should be apologising."

"No, thats not-"

"Let me finish... please." He quietly begged.

She fell silent and waited for him.

"I knew better, you didn't." He began with a sigh. "There are... expectations of what is ‘normal’ of you and me, of a Predator and a Prey. But you weren't aware of these and shouldn't be and won’t be held accountable for them. I was, and I deliberately ignored them so I could selfishly spend time with someone I found exciting... Even when I knew and was duly warned, that it would all end in tears.”

He closed his eyes in confused shame.

"I came back and encouraged you because I found you attractive Natasha, I thought you were the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen, even though I knew it was more than likely that nothing good could have come from us spending time with each other. This whole mess is because I didn’t do what I was supposed to…” He couldn’t look at her right now, he had to tell her the truth, to make her understand that she was free from blame, and he wouldn’t hold anything against her when she defended her social standing by leaving him behind. Especially after he had intentionally undermined hers for his lust.

Humans were new to the whole mess; how could anyone blame them? Not him, he would never blame her.

“What a crock.” Natasha stated flatly, Pip snapped his head up in confusion. “Do I not get a say? Ya’ think I didn’t know what people might say when we waltzed off together? Don’t be making assumptions that I’m jus’ some wallflower who ain’t gonna’ say nothin’. Ya’ people got some ‘expectations’, just like everybody else in this universe. Ya’ think I haven’t had to clash with ‘expectations’ before?”

She ‘huffed’ and shuffled closer to the top of the bed before reaching out a hand to hold his chin between her large fingers.

“If I didn’t want to see ya’, I wouldn’t see ya’. If ya’ want to see me, I want ya’ to come see me. And there ain’t nothing anyone else is gonna’ say or do that’s gonna’ change this.”

She released him after making her point and looked away.

“…’Expectations’ my ass. Thought I got away from all that nonsense...” She mumbled to the empty ward.

“So… we’re, okay?” Pip asked, he was stunned she would not only disregard any issue but made him feel slightly put out for attempting to assume the responsibility over the matter.

“I’m frustrated Hun’, but all this has done is tell me that I need to get ya’ home and teach you properly; just how much ya’ mean to me, ya’ daft thing.” She said with a smile as she gazed back to him, putting an elbow on his bed whilst resting her chin in her hand. Her other hand came round and gently ran over his body over the thin covers.

“I think we need to start addressing things directly, no more beatin’ round the bush. Sound good?”

“Sounds good.” Squeaked Pip.

She leaned forwards, her face now dominated his vision. The soft closing of her eyes prompted Pip to do the same as his arms reached up to cup her face as her fingers curled around the back of his head with her nails scratching through his fur. Her lips touched his and whilst her bottom lip gently pressed against his own, her top lip brushed and pressed against his nose due to the difference in their sizes.

His world was one of softness and peppermint. This is what ‘heaven’ had to be like.

===

The journey back to his dorm was uneventful, but while he packed a bag for a stay away at Natasha’s Geegee was beside himself at the idea that Pip ‘hadn’t learnt his lesson’. Pip rolled his eyes and ignored him.

He understood his opinion, it took a verbal slap from Natasha for Pip to also give up on the social contract himself, he’d just wait for the geckin to come round and begin talking to Pip again. He vowed to be there for him when or if he did.

Once they got back to Natasha’s, Pip’s things were placed on the desk while Natasha whisked him off his feet and landed on the bed; laying on top of him and assaulting him again with wet kisses, some pecks and others lingered. He returned the favour; Natasha could feel the small wet pecks across her skin as he tried to match her ferocity.

“Hun’, I hope ya’ ready; because I’ve been waiting to eat ya’ up whole since ya’ walked into my Café.”

[wolven91]

The Predator Café - Chapter 4

The rain continued to sizzle around the two as Pip stared up in disbelief at the Human.

“I mean it, it’s not like ya' a danger to me, no offence hun', and you’re sweet; I can't leave ya' like this. From what I can see ya’ve been having a rough time and this is just the icing on the cake. Come to mine; get some rest and I can either drop ya' off at your home or ya' can make your own way back when the public transport is up and running again.”

Pip blinked; did she have no concept of what she was offering?

Preds don’t suggest what she's suggesting. They wouldn’t even have that as a possible idea because they themselves would put themselves in a dangerous position. If someone saw a predator actually taking prey back home, they could very easily be accused of taking advantage or even kidnapping them? Pred and prey relationships outside of a work or education environment were rare to the point of unheard of.

It wasn't like Pip was worried she was feral. No one was ‘feral’ any more; it was a term used to refer to creatures that were enslaved to their base desires or what the wider community was before they had intelligence or sentience.

But there were rumours, loads of rumours in the prey circles, and certainly still; the odd person that went missing. It was only two years ago when an entire kidnapping ring in the next city over was infiltrated and broken up by the authorities. No one had come out and said what was happening to the victims or where they were going, but none of the victims ever reappeared.

A tragedy the city still remembered with a moment of silence on the anniversary morning.

Pip recoiled at the notion. No, Natasha was too sweet, too caring for her to be a risk like that. She just didn’t care about the expectations of others because she was a Human. Humans were new to the whole social quagmire; they readily admitted that they had no sentient analogue to the smaller entities of the galaxy and it seems because of this they didn't have the inbuilt prejudice of the predator/prey dynamics.

That and a very selfish and dark part of Pip's own psyche put forward that he was getting exactly what he wanted.

He was the one who sought her out.

He was the one that came back to the Café.

He was the one who couldn't seem to shake this growing need to have his heart race.

This would be a thrill that would scratch the itch that the Café had created, the ultimate risk; going to a predator’s lair.

“Sure, I’d really appreciate that, but only if, you’re sure..?” Pip asked, still offering her a chance to back out. His mental gymnastics agreed that by offering her a chance to back out, he was absolving himself of blame. His own personal desire to spend more time with the giant was free from guilt. 

Theoretically.

Natasha beamed at him, the water droplets starting to run their way down her face.

Pip glanced back at the crumpled and warped metal that used to be an entrance to the protected passageways as he started to work on the problem of getting to her home. It looked like someone had fallen directly onto it from above. He flicked an ear to remove a drip that had started dribble inside.

"So how do you want to do this? I mean, I can sprint for a bit, but I can jog much furthe-" The rest of his statement devolved into a primal yell as a hand; as tall as his legs were long, wrapped itself around his middle. It hooked and gripped just under his arms and removed him from the wet ground with no more ceremony than a metal can being plucked from the street.

Wind and gravity buffeted the smaller mammal as Natasha retrieved him and brought him up to her midsection as she straightened up. He tried to steady himself, placing a hand against her wrist and her knuckle. Looking around, he was higher than he'd been before without the aid of a vehicle or building and the screen of a window.

Pip blinked and tried to catch his breath, her fast movements and seemingly effortless ability to do with him as she pleased was startling, he couldn't help but let out a nervous 'heh', he felt the telltale rush of being so close to a predator again, not only that; held by it.

"Right, lets-" but a gust of wind stole Natasha's words and brought a wave of rain across both of them and whilst Pip used his arm to protect himself within her grip, even Natasha brought her head low and scrunched up her features to endure the weather.

"This is only getting worse; we need to get moving! Pip, are you okay?" She partially shouted over the gale, finally bringing him up even further upwards to look at him, resting her free hand against his back protectively. Pip grasped at her fingers to steady himself, he was rapidly getting damp, but the water had already left the Human's skin shiny and wet.

Her eyes showed only worry, "You're already soaked! Let's get you out of here." She stated without allowing him a chance to respond. Her free hand came up from his back and became a windbreak. The ambient heat and protection it offered from the now, fully fledged storm was wonderful, but Pip felt himself lurch forwards as her collar approached at a quick pace.

===

Natasha was very conscious that the weather was turning from bad to worse in rapid order. The wind and rain were threatening to push her at one point; so what must her precious Pip be feeling? 

Precious? She checked her thoughts at that moment.

He was a customer that she had met twice, both times talking for hours on end. He was cute, adorable even, but when had he changed from a customer to something she felt such a need to protect?

She had grasped him only once he'd agreed to come along, she didn't want to act until she had his permission like before. They would get somewhere dry and, for him at least; safe. She had no idea who would crush the little ones' walkway entrance and would love to get her hands on them, but she had no interest in letting him walk or travel anywhere unaccompanied.

He needed her; she could see how he doubted himself, his nervousness about everything. She could at least help him in this moment, give him the support he needed, even if he didn't know he wanted it yet.

She needed to physically do things slowly, consciously monitor her movements, so as not to scare the poor dear, but with how the weather had turned so ugly so quickly, he had looked like a drowned rat in moments.

Maybe not a drowned rat, was that insensitive? 

She had no idea, all she had to do was pass a 30 question multiple choice test to be allowed to explore the stars, they never covered social norms or what was and wasn't considered offensive.

Either way, she had to hold him against herself so she would walk with purpose and protect him as much as possible. She had an umbrella that she had arrived with, she considered using it, but in this kind of weather it would have been torn inside out in moments. Better to just endure the rain; she didn't live that far from the Café, she just had to get her charge out of the rain and they could both dry off.

Her uniform was soaked through by the time she was half way home. It was a frilly nightmare, an antithesis to what she would normally wear, she preferred the darker palette. She gave Pip a reassuring double squeeze to make sure he was still with her, tucked carefully between her chin in the hollow of her collar bone. He had squirmed a bit, but otherwise it was just a tickle of fur against her bare skin.

The position she initially put him in was one born of instinctual protection; she hoped her own body heat would help stave off any danger to him, her friends had rabbits as a child, wet fur and the cold could be fatal.

Her squeezes were returned in the form of a tiny hand pinching her lightly twice. She couldn't help but smile.

"Glad to know you're still with me. We're almost there darlin', just hang on tight and it'll be over in a sec'."

There was no hope he'd hear the words she spoke from her lips, but maybe he'd make out what she was saying from being pressed against the side of her throat. Maybe he could sense her tone, he was skittish at the best of times; a calm but firm voice could give him some stability.

She felt a quake from him then after a second or so's delay; a light double-pinch again. Her heart broke for the poor thing, this all stemmed from one idiot's destruction and now he's quaking in fear! Those walkways were there to give him protection, safety and reassurance. With it being taken away without warning; how would it leave him?

She had hoped the aliens would be living in a utopia. Somewhere that respect for one's equals and their equipment, would be commonplace.

So much for that idea apparently.

Thankfully her home was in sight now, quickening her pace she switched hands for which was supporting her passenger. Instead of the one curled around his legs, her other hand pressed him against herself so he wouldn't slip and fall. With her free hand she grabbed her key card from the apron's pockets and unlocked the communal front door.

Her apartment was a ground floor one, but raised by a short set of steps so passers-by couldn't stare in without actually climbing the outside window sills. It was a three room affair; the bathroom, a kitchen and a living room/bedroom combo. It was larger than anything she could have afforded back home, the overcrowding had almost rendered entire cities into slums. It seemed out here space and accommodations weren't an issue.

Putting down the key, freeing her hand, she pulled Pip away from herself in the warmth and dry of her home.

He was a bedraggled mess, fur wet and matted, he was panting heavily and looked, for lack of a better word; terrible. The journey must have been harrowing...

===

The short journey to her lair was one that he doubted he'd forget easily.

Finding himself slammed against her damp, but warm skin; Pip had the air driven from his lungs at first. His world shook in a regular beat that rattled his teeth. The rhythmic earthquakes he felt, he realised in short order with wide eyes, they were her footsteps.

The howling wind and driving rain was mostly blocked from reaching him, but the waters that ran in rivulets down her neck and shoulders, still washed over him. Each droplet, smelling faintly of her, soaked his front.

When he attempted to push away from her, the soft wall that was her fingers resting on his back and head were firm and unyielding. He could shuffle his legs, but he was pinned securely against her.

When his all-encapsulating world squeezed him twice his body reacted by dumping a gallon of adrenaline into his bloodstream, he could feel his heartbeat in his ears. The knowledge that she was just checking he was still alive did little to calm his fluttering heart once the realisation penetrated his thought process.

He did all he could to reply by using his whole hand to grip her collarbone and squeezed it twice.

The booming voice of an otherworldly goddess then erupted through his body. Pressed against her the way he was, the rumbling thunderstorm of her voice vibrated his entire ribcage. He was defeated with just the proximity of her talking to him with soothing words.

This was what the religious must feel when their deity speaks to them or maybe a demon.

He was completely undone by her and it felt disastrously decadent.

He tried to suppress the shudder that rolled over him. It wasn't fear this time, but desire.

When she compressed him against herself, once again, the air was forced from his lungs as his ribs were squeezed from behind; only this time it didn't relent. He vaguely felt her hand disappear from his legs and the rain start hitting them again, but his focus was on attempting to draw breath.

Panic set in when he failed to inhale, even by a fraction.

She was crushing him.

Whether this was by intent or by accident didn't cross his mind as he tried to scramble from beneath the pressure, but he could barely move an inch. At most his legs bent at the knees and swung uselessly in the air.

This was why folk like him didn't mix with folk like her! He was going to suffocate because he had done something to offend or she had him where she wanted him, oh stars, please save-

And then it was over.

She released the pressure and pulled him away from herself to leave him gulping in lungfuls of breath as he laid in an exhausted heap in her hands.

"Aww hun', we need to get you into something dry and get you some rest proper. You look awful darlin'."

The familiar peppermint wind offered nothing but soothing words carried by her unique accent, but Pip's heart was still tap dancing against his chest to appreciate the subconscious shiver that ran up and down his spine.

He was carried deeper into her 'lair', he kept his eyes closed as he tried to take calming breaths to soothe his anxiety. His mind was a paradox; his instincts screamed at him to take cover and hide, but that new part, that thrill seeking part, was blissing in the current sea of chemicals and hormones within him.

Pip felt Natasha begin to move, he could sense a large space around him as he travelled. He couldn't consider more before his stomach was left behind again as he felt himself descend. Her hands slipped from beneath him and he was left, laid on a soft giving material.

"Hey, Pip? You okay honey?"

"Y... yeah, j-just, I just need to er... get m-my bearings." The stutter he had suppressed since he was a youth had come back. Maybe his thrill-seeking side was finally quenched?

"I'm just leaving you on the bed, okay? I'm gonna' get ya' a towel to dry ya' off and something else you can put around ya'self while your clothes dry..."

"Okay.. sounds great..." He absently responded, not really paying attention as he calmed himself down rubbing his hands over his face.

It took a moment for him to compute her words. His eyes opened and saw a ceiling miles away from him. Looking to his right he saw a dark blue bedspread go on for a distance with matching pillows and a cartoonish stuffed prey plushie leaning against the pillows.

Turning his head to the left revealed an equal distance of bedding following the wall it sat against. It ended with the corner of the room and a desk that was sitting under a window to the side of the great landscape of bed. The rest of the room was decorated with various memorabilia from another world. Posters that showed titles in alien script with exciting scenes that could only be adverts for shows and entertainment. A few he pegged as band or tour posters, but each had a dark theme and gave an intimidating vibe.

Pip heard material moving and tilted his head to look toward Natasha.

Natasha was facing away from him and undressed. Her uniform was in a crumpled heap on the floor at her feet. The matching black lingerie stood in stark contrast to her creamy skin.

She was beautiful. He had never looked at another in the way he viewed her at this moment. She was exotic and powerful and forbidden.

He could feel the insides of his ears turning bright red. He felt that his thoughts were pushing past the limits of innocent desire and into the darker lands of lust.

As Natasha turned, he flinched back down, pressing his head into the bed so he was looking upward with an intense stare.

'Subtle' he thought to himself.

He heard footsteps, she picked something up from the back of the oversized desk chair, a quiet sniff, before more material moved.

"There we go, we wouldn't want to shock your gentleman-ly sensibilities now, do we sugar?"

"Oh.. I don't think I would have minded." He understated, still staring upwards.

"Now ya' just trying to charm me, my Pa warned me about silver tongues such as yourself!" She said from above him with a chuckle.

Pip wasn't sure what a silver tongue was, but he could guess. He hadn't had much experience flirting, but he could at least hold a conversation.

"Right, lets get you out of those wet clothes!"

Pip looked up now and saw Natasha in a way he hadn't considered before. She was in her lounge wear. Grey baggy jogging bottoms covered her legs, her midriff was exposed to the world revealing that she had an 'innie' belly button. The top was black and seemed to be advertising a band, but the font was distorted and so spindly, Pip had no hope of deciphering their name. Her blonde hair was loose and cascaded in complete freedom now. She held a towel in one hand that could have covered Pip's entire dorm room if she had stuffed it through a window.

"Honestly, I'm fine. Really, I'll just stay out of your way until everything starts up again." Pip said, sitting up and attempting to placate her.

Her eyes rolled around before locking on to him again. He was reminded that he was not in a viable position to negotiate, those eyes always cut through the thrill seeker and punched straight into the prey within him.

She was bigger than he.

She was stronger than he.

She was a predator and his was in her lair.

"Pip, ya' as cute as a button, but I've got the feeling that ya' the kinda of guy who's gonna' put himself last e'rytime he can. Ya' soaking wet and are gonna' catch your death of cold."

She took a purposeful step forward.

"Now are you going to be good and listen to me or are you gonna' act like a brat?"

He swallowed and nodded his head in silence. A perfectly manicured finger extended out and gently pushed his jaw up to close his mouth with a 'clop'.

“Good boy. Now, I'm not gonna' peek on ya', but you need to get outta' those clothes so I can dry 'em. Here; I'll hold this here towel up, so you know I can't peek or nothin'.”

With that, she did as described and held the towel in a great curtain, blocking her from his sight and him from hers. Not wanting to upset her, he began to strip. It felt odd to be wearing boots on the material, it was already dampened from where he lay so he removed those first. The shirt came next, it was getting cold anyway so he felt better to remove it. The jeans were harder, the damp material clung to him. He didn't like to wear them at the best of times, but they were the fashion at the moment thanks to the Human's widespread use of them.

He paused at his underwear, before adding those to the soggy pile.

“I .. er.. Natasha? I'm undressed...” He said quietly.

“Oh, the temptation, how does a lass like lil' ol' me resist?” She said with a mischievous air, still hidden behind the towel.

“I'mma' close my eyes, and lower the towel near ya'. Dry ya' self off as best ya' can, then I'll pass ya' somethin' to wrap ya' self up in.”

“Okay...”

The towel lowered slowly, and began to pool on the bed. He waddled over, the plush and giving mattress beneath him removing any grace he had. Using the coarse towel, he wiped himself off carefully. He didn't want a repeat of his unorthodox 'drying' at the Café.

Once he felt he was genuinely dry, he held up the towel to cover himself and said; 

“I think I'm dry miss.”

“Oh ya' so polite when ya' nervous. Here, this should be light enough for ya', just wrap ya' self up in it and it can be ya' toga for the time being. I'mma go put your clothes onto the heater for a spell.”

A bundle of dark grey material landed on the bed. She didn't move from the improv curtain so Pip stumbled over to it. It was a piece of her clothing, he suspected a t shirt or top, but it was thin enough and small enough to allow him to cover his modesty with relative ease.

“Are ya' decent hun'?” she enquired.

“I'm covered, you're okay to look again.” As he tried to move the clothing to cover his chest as well. He wasn't muscular like some of his kind, but he always felt he kept himself lean.

The towel dropped to the floor and Natasha's face returned, smiling warmly at her guest. She leant down and engulfed his clothes in her hand before walking away and placing them on an oversized wall heater.

“They should be done by the time ya' ready to leave. But until then, we'll need to burn some time.” She pointed out as she crossed the room and clambered onto the bed from the bottom end, nearest the desk. Pip immediately saw that there wasn't enough space for the both of them on the bed if he stayed in the middle, so began to scramble up the bed towards the strange plush. The makeshift clothing made this difficult, so he only got so far before she bodily fell onto the bed to the side of him, causing him to trip as the mattress distorted underneath the smaller mammal.

“I don't know if ya' gonna' find this offensive or not, but I gotta' say Pip, you are the cutest thing I ever did see...” She was speaking softly now, possibly because her face was mere inches away from him, but it was as effective as her shouting at him.

“It's not offensive, if you think I'm cute; I'll take that as a compliment!” He replied, trying to sooth her as best he could. He wasn't lying, he felt simple happiness bloom within him at the mere thought of her appreciating him, cute or not.

“Well, my ma' always said to offer guests food and rest when they came over so I have to ask ya'; can I get ya' anything honey?” The giantess asked in a gentle voice, one that promised comfort without judgement.

Pip smiled at her naïveté.

“I'm sorry to say, but I'm a prey, a herbivore, you won't have anything I can eat.” It was sweet, but showed she had the same blind spots as every predator.

Natasha frowned for a moment. 

“No, I have plenty of fruit, probably some nuts or even lettuce in the fridge, if that's what ya' into?”

Pip was shocked at this revelation. “Oh, do you have prey over often then?”

“No, ya' my first guest since I left Earth. Why? What's the big deal?”

“I thought... I thought Humans were predators? That you ate meat?” Pip was thoroughly confused; did he have this all wrong?

Natasha chuckled to herself with a confused look on her face.

“I can eat meat, vegetables or fruit if I wanted to, we're omnivores, not just one or the other?”

Pip was confused, he'd never heard of something so strange. You either ate one or the other, there wasn't such a thing as being able to consume both, she'd used a term for it that Pip had never heard of before.

“What's an 'omnivore'?”

[wolven91]

The Predator Café - Chapter 2

When Natasha finally got the opportunity to explore the wider galaxy, she didn't want to just follow others. She didn't mind going someplace someone else had, before her, but she wanted it to be for her own reasons.

She stewed and contemplated. Hummed and hawed. Her calculations and considerations were varied and numerous. In the end, she got a nice big poster of The Spiral, the whole galaxy in one picture and threw a dart.

It landed upon the Shin'fa System on the North West side of The Spiral. Looking it up, it was advertised as an 'up-and-coming' system. Meaning they were currently trying to pull as much tourism and new blood from outside, in. There was a moment of hesitation, this system was in the chintian territory, but outside of The Galactic Community space. She should be safe, but there were no hard promises. 

For the first time in her life, Natasha was in a unique position. It wasn't that she was rich and could simply buy her way anywhere, but that the wider community in space, found humans to be quite fascinating and whenever she enquired about the possible costs or requirements she would need to adhere to when considering moving to a system, the overly friendly voice on the other end of the line ensured her that they could fast-track her application with minimal issue. They offered her immediate work within the government itself if she was willing to make public appearances.

She screwed her nose up at that and decided to see what options she had when she got there.

Turns out, a lot. 

So many, she was once again stumped with how to proceed and when she found that her trusty dart was still stuck in a wall way back on on a station deep within The Galactic Community space, Natasha decided to go for a job that was familiar, yet new.

When her name was called, she put her game face on, her best winning smile and checked herself in the mirror one last time. Working at the “Predator Café” was an odd experience so far, the uniform one reminiscent of a French maid's outfit, yet red. The whole place had a feel of a stereotypical American diner from the olden-days.

Her instructions was; to greet the customers, take their order whilst giving small talk. Make them feel welcome, put on a bit of a show and deliver their orders. When Natasha had asked what counted as a 'show', the manager, a god-damned-actual-dinosaur, had explained that a hunting display would be fine, or anything that would normally indicate that she was a predator. Flash her frills, flush her colouring, puff up her feathers; “The usual” he said as if this was completely normal and an odd question.

Natasha had never failed to give anything but her all in every previous job she had. Like hell was she going to not try her best now when she was possibly his planet's first introduction to Humanity. Despite not knowing whether she was supposed to pound on her chest like a Gorilla?

In the end she went for a wide smile and a friendly demeanour. If anyone complained, she'd point out that Humans chased their 'prey' back in the day. She wasn't sure if running the customers around was a good idea, but she would let the manager cross that bridge if it had to come to that.

Blonde hair, loose and down, meticulously in place for that 'I-didn't-try' effect. Her green eyes highlighted with just enough make-up to set off her features and compliment her skin. Lipstick checked and applied, nothing too bold, she wanted to compliment, not scream. When she went to explore the nightlife, then, she'd go bold.

Grabbing her order pad and checking her table details, she saw it was booth 'G', the 'tiny' section. 

Oh boy.

It seemed in The Spiral, it wasn't uncommon for sentience to develop in creatures great and small. It was fascinating to see how creatures half her size or even smaller had adapted entire cities to fit their needs whilst catering to those much larger, not to mention the other way, how there were several species that dwarfed her. 

There were undercurrents that she could only guess at mind you, whether they were treated differently was vocally refuted, but she had come from the centre of The Spiral, humans weren't perfect either and suspected that there may be more to it than a hunky-dorey space utopia.

Thankfully, this wasn't her first interaction with a tiny, nor her second. But since starting; both of her only customers so far had run for the door practically screaming, she had a bad feeling history would repeat itself.

No!

She would go at this with her head held up high. Cheerful. Helpful. Show that 'southern hospitality' that is world famous!

Walking through the Café she plastered a full smile across her face and made sure it reached her eyes. Folk knows when you're faking, so you have to fake the real thing or don't even try. As she approached the table, she could see a small dino-like tiny facing her, with something fluffy and brown facing away.

The tiny dino, reviewing her memories about what they were actually called drawing a blank, was grey scaled, with white stripes across his snout and head with even spaces between. She suspected it went all the way down his back as his tail sported the same stripes. The tiny jacket that looked like a miniature wind-breaker was rather cute on him, but he had the tell-tale look of sheer panic that her previous potential customers had as well.

Coming to the table, she launched into her warmest greeting, trying to smile as broadly as she could. She worried she was going to look manic.

The Geckin! Geckin was what he was! The Geckin's friend was for lack of a better word; a chipmunk, she had no clue what they were supposed to be called. It sported a red chequered shirt and what looked like jeans that made it look simply adorable, but the brown toffee coloured fur was highlighted by the alternating black and white stripes that ran vertically down his back, starting at his hairline and ending at his tail.

The chipmunk hadn't looked at her face directly yet, seemingly avoiding her eyes.

But before she got any further from, what she thought was a safe compliment, the Geckin bolted. They had incredible speed, she had to admit that, but seeing the thin tail disappear through the entrance door, Natasha's heart plummeted to her boots.

The fluffy one hissed something at the retreating lizard, but could see he wasn't coming back. The remaining patron, oh so slowly, turned back and up at Natasha, seeing her face for the first time.

Credit where credit was due, the little chipmunk hadn't run yet, but the kindest thing to do, would be to offer them an 'out'.

===

Her eyes bore into his. They were so green, so intense. He was prey, she was without doubt a predator and she had him where she wanted him.

These thoughts tumbled through Pip's head in a repeating swirl of panicked anxiety. That was, until he paid attention for a moment and saw a slight tremble in her features. His species had social traits, they were good at reading features and whilst she naturally had the appearance of a very dangerous creature, he could see that she was upset.

Her voice washed over him like a warm, heavy blanket; 

“If you want to follow your friend hun', I understand. O-or I can get you 'nother server if you like?”

Her words were steady and came across as genuine and honest.

“That's the third customer that's run, so honestly, I'd rather you be comfy and happy than be forced to stay like.” She continued, holding her notepad against herself.

“I-i-t's fine. I'll stay.” Pip said, before quickly adding; “If that's okay?” He didn't want her to think he was defying her. If he had missed his mark, he didn't want an angry fist showing him her displeasure.

The giantess seemed pleased by his choice thankfully as she beamed at him again, showing off a set of a deadly looking teeth that could cut through flesh in a single bite. He had a flash of an image in his mind, of his arm between them. He blinked and cleared his throat grasping at the tablet in front of himself. It now showed a selection of various items and drinks, what he'd do for a damn list that he could pick from.

“I'm s-sorry, I didn't actually look, I'll have.. Er..”

“It's okay hun', I've no other customers right now. You can take your time?” she coaxed, while he wasn't looking at her, he could almost believe that she was a kindly young waitress, just helping a guy out.

“Do you have any suggestions? I'm, er.. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to- or.. what I should have?” He was falling over his words, he didn't normally stutter but the proximity to this, this Huntress, was causing him to regress to his anxiety-ridden younger years.

“Well sure honey, let me have a lil' looksie.” Her voice called out, before the shadow got darker, and he noticed her lean alarmingly close. In his hope that he would just be given an option that he would agree to, she instead was attempting to view his tablet to see where he was on the menu. The booth now had a roof made of her; her hair cascaded over him, what he had initially assumed was coarse or heavy locks of hair, was actually like silk; smooth and floated over him.

He went still.

Her hair smelled of watermelon and blanketed him all around. He could feel it tickling his back through his shirt, it brushed against his face and along his whiskers, pooling in his lap as she got closer. He glanced up and could see the perfectly smooth skin of his chin, which sloped into her neck, before disappearing into her uniform. He blinked as he noticed the space between the buttons of her uniform's shirt was slack enough that he could see within. A black lacy bra greeted him alongside the largest... He screwed his eyes shut and deliberately faced forwards.

If she caught him, then she would absolutely kill him.

“Ah, here we go, I'd say a 'Honeycomb Hot Chocolate' will set you up good and proper.”

“Is it good?”

“Oh! Honey, it's delicious. And! I'll have you know I make it myself. I usually have one, 'round this time, but with you here I need to be ready, 'case you need lil' ol' me.”

“You can still have one, I don't mind.”

“Well, ain't you a gentleman. If you're sure, I'll bring it along and we can chat properly sweet-thing!”

Wait. What? No, he meant- but she was gone. His cutlery bounced as she walked away at a speed that would make his eyes water. He let out a breath that he didn't realise he'd been holding and ran a smoothing hand through the fur on his head. This whole adventure was going to make him moult.

And the human! By all the gods, she was... was. Gods she was perfect.

This wasn't right. She was so different from himself, ignoring that social ostracising she would get by even talking with him outside of being forced to; being a predator and all, she was an entirely different category of organism. The size difference alone would make everything impossible. He wanted to dislike her, he wanted to fear her enough to run or have a desire to distance himself and yet it just excited him.

It was against the whole order of things and he loved it.

He was still terrified and she was still an unknown entity in all this, nothing could get him to ignore the instincts within himself that still screamed every time her eyes locked on to his.

After a few minutes, his cutlery started to dance again.

“Heeere we go, one extra special Honeycomb Hot Chocolate, just the way I make it.” a familiar sing-song voice said. A huge hand took over the booth as she placed a large, oversized mug of what appeared to be a hot chocolate with cream on top.

“Don't tell anyone, but I gave you a large without chargin' you.” She said with a wink that blew him away.

“When its the graveyard shift like this, it's worth bribing folk to stay and chat, y'know?” She asked tilting her head as she took a sip from a cup that Pip could have probably stood in with somewhat ease.

“Y-yeah, I used to work at the library. It wasn't so bad because I had my pick of the books, but it was always nice when a nocturnal showed up.” Pip agreed, trying to add to the conversation.

“Aww, I can just imagine you in glasses, being a librarian. I didn't think you could get any cuter hun'.”

Pip smiled as he reached into his pocket and from a thin protective leather pouch, produced his reading glasses, before putting them on.

The squeal that came from the behemoth was incredibly surprising and unlike anything his could have expected.

“No way, they're adorable!” She exclaimed as she leant down to look at him on his level. Her whole head was the same height as Pip when stood up, her face this close was a shock, again, but her eyes were simply taking in his spectacles.

“They really suit you hun'.” She whispered, a wind of peppermint washed over Pip, it was warm and humid and again, that forbidden excitement, ran up his spine, raising the fur so it stood up on end.

“Thank you, should I try something to eat? I skipped dinner because we- I was coming here.”

“I can offer some suggestions to you hun', just a sec.” She said straightening up. She placed her own mug down on the table, it dominated the space forcing Pip to snatch up the tablet at the last moment and hold it against himself.

She moved round the booth so she was more behind Pip now. A row of 4 fingers grasped the faux red leather of the booth, denting it completely from the effortless pressure. Where Pip sat in the centre of the bench, he barely creased the material. Another hand appeared on the other side, supported by the backrest as she used a perfectly manicured finger to tap the tablet that was still pressed to his chest.

“Let's have a look then.” A voice said from behind him, that peppermint blowing past him again.

He raised the tablet again, and selected food options. He had to grip the tablet tight as the finger swipe upwards so the options and their pictures scrolled past.

“Ooh, I know it's real plain, but if you're not planning on staying up, the cheese toasty is real good. I'll make sure to load it up too, I won't be cheap or nothin' with the cheese.”

She couldn't see that he wasn't looking at the menu, his eyes were shut closed as he suppressed the flight instinct that was screeching at him.

It was a hunter.

It was right. Behind. Him.

Why wasn't he running!?

…

Because he loved the way it felt.

He was alive! It was dangerous and stupid and it felt like nothing like the last few weeks and months of being invisible.

“Hun? You okay?” A concerned voice asked from over his shoulder, the hand that was pointing on the menu, briefly touched his shoulder.

“Cheese. Ah, yes, the cheese thing please. I'd like the cheese. I mean, I like cheese.. stop saying cheese...” he ended with a mumble, putting his hands over his eyes in embarrassment.

The giant waitress giggled in a friendly manner, before affirming that she'd be right back.

The night went on like this, the two of them bantering at times, Pip stumbling and stuttering in others. Eventually, Pip wasn't her only customer as she warned him that she had to go handle other duties so couldn't stand around any longer, but warmly said she genuinely hoped he'd be back.

When Pip shut and locked his door back home, he practically fell into his bed. It was late, or early, depending on how one would look at it. He was strung out; his body was exhausted from all the adrenaline it had pumped into him. When he closed his eyes, he could see streaks of light as his wired mind tried to climb back down into the calm of his home.

His clothes smelt of peppermint and he was almost certain he kept getting wafts of watermelon. His fur tingled in the memory of her proximity and actual touch at one point. He had actually touched a colossal being. Laying under the covers, his arms behind his head a goofy smile over his features, he tried to submit everything to memory, even what was under the uniform's blouse. He was a red-blooded male, it wasn't deliberate, but to pretend he didn't see it to himself was foolish.

His dreams that night wasn't well remembered, but familiar scents surrounded him and encapsulated him.

When the sun rose the next day, a weekend, he came to the conclusion he'd have to go see her again.

But how would he do it, without seeming desperate or creepy?

[wolven91]

The Eyes Are On The Front

Wesk snarled as he dabbed at the openly bleeding wound across his forehead. The shrapnel had obviously done damage to his face and eye. No matter what he did, the canid just couldn't see out of it.

At least he'd retrieved the human from the slaver camp. This was meant to have been a silent break in, snatch and run. So much for that plan...

Wesk had cased the tiny outpost for several days. All their comings and goings. Knowing where the guards were, how they patrolled, which ones took their job seriously and which ones liked to sit on the hidden chair behind the depleted uranium rod holders.

Chained avians, damaged chintians by the crate load. All more than enough evidence with recordings to count as a payday per head for each slaver Wesk removed with his high powered rifle.

It was only when the human appeared through Wesk's scope that his plans had changed so suddenly. The canid recalled blinking several times just to confirm the bounty hunter was indeed, seeing, what he was seeing.

Gone from merely picking them off one by one, now there was a hostage to rescue. One that Wesk had successfully pulled off, if not messily.

The human, a grubby but still feisty thing, was glancing around the den that Wesk had been using as a base. It was embedded into the side of the cliff that overlooked the outpost nestled and hidden in the valley.

Wesk held what amounted to a medical stapler to his forehead and pinched the flesh closed.

"They're coming..." The human quietly warned.

Wesk dropped the stapler and nearly bowled the tiny creature over as he tried to focus through his scope.

But he couldn't see through it. Aberrations in his vision caused it to swim and blind him to the magnified images of his scope.

"Dammit, I can't see! We jave to run." Wesk decoded and span away from the rifle to quickly grab his bug out bag.

The crack of gunfire caused the canid to throw himself down onto all fours and spin round, fully expecting to launch himself at a threat.

Only it was the human that had shouldered the deployed rifle and was now peering through its scope with her finger on the trigger.

It was far too large for her and was not calibrated for one if her kind!

"Hey! You're giving away our pos-"

"One down."

The canid blinked as he watched the human breathe out and squeeze the trigger again. The whole device lurched into her shoulder which took the blow.

"Second down."

"But you need... you need a predator's eyes for that. You're a.."

"Eyes on the front mate. My eyes are on the front."

[wolven91]

The Artist's Eye

"Why does it look so strange?" Asked the noble, tilting his head one way, then the other.

"I believe it's wider than it should be. I have a summer home that has those buildings in the background there..." A scaled, clawed hand points at the backdrop of the portrait. "The buildings are far thinner in real life. Everything is wider than it should be." Claimed the second noble, another male whose tongue briefly flicked out from between his scaled lips and lapped at the blue liquid in his delicate glass.

The pair of them continued to observe the giant portrait painting of an ursidain general. It was unheard of, and completely novel. A painting! With oils and hand-crafted hues and paints. If one leaned in, and observed the collection from the side, one could even see the uneven strokes and application of the paints against a canvas. The subject didn't matter, the ursidain was practically unheard of, but his commissioned painted was on loan to the ssypno people for a gallery event, featuring a human artist.

His style was unknown, his methods unorthodox to the point of being unheard of outside of ancient texts that describe using chintian fur brushes.

"Wider? I would say this would be the wrong portrait to observe if we are wanting to check if the human's eye adds inches to the subjects girth!" Tittered the noble, gesturing at the rotund ursidain. Unbeknownst to them, the general had been delighted at his portrait and only at the promise he could have another done, did he relinquish possession of his painting.

The two nobles approached another painting, this one of a member of House Sa'vurn. 'The Promised Daughter', one 'Desh Sa'vurn', the people's favourite.

The two nobles joined a third, a female who was coiled directly in front of it.

"Her eyes are rather alive, don't you think?" The noble asked openly, drawing the two male's attention. It was true, Desh's eyes followed them. One of the males felt judged, as if the people's favourite Sa'vurn had found him wanting, whilst the other found them angry, as she were posed to strike him.

"If you observe each of his subjects, they are all observed in one fashion or another, but it is their eyes where he has put in more detail than other artists." The noble observed.

"Why? I would know more of the subject if her body posture made sense. Her shoulders are back, but her tail coiled? Her hood is flared yet not a dot of heat."

"Of course there's no heat, it is an oil painting." The lady sighed, pointing out the obvious. "We are observing what the human sees."

"No heat? Boring." Moaned the judged male.

"Fascinating I say. We are stripped down to our most basic parts. There is no lying when standing in in front of his easel. He ignores or is blind to our attempts to show our heat, to radiate what we want others to perceive." Extrapolated the lady noble, referencing how almost every single ssypno in the gallery was displaying as much heat as they could in their hoods, to show that they were successful and didn't need to conserve their heat. She frowned as she reached out, only to stop herself from touching the canvas.

"I do wonder why do many portions are left so dark?"

"I can answer that my lady." Came a lyrical voice from behind. The trio of ssypno turned at once and met the eye of an esquinine. He didn't flinch, or close one eyes, but met their gazes without fear in turn.

"I have been privy to the human's art from the beginning, he rented my loft when he arrived on our home world." Explained the long-faced empath.  "The portions that are dark to you, are actually a sea of different colours, but more in the hues of purples and dark blues. I'm afraid these are colours outside of your visual range."

The trio of large serpants turned back to the art and squinted, as if trying to force their vision to focus and draw forth a colour they'd never seen.

"It is one thing to know one has limited visual colours, it is another to stand before what we know is there and be unable to see it." The female noble lamented.

"Ugh, annoying. Why would he paint a ssypno with colours a ssypno can't see? Insulting."

"He paints for his own enjoyment; it just so happens that others consider this art worth money. Amazing than an artist is more creative when they aren't starving." Noted the esquinine before bowing curtly and leaving the ssypno behind. The esquinine meandered through and over the tails that trailed behind the various gallery patrons before slipping into a side down and strutting down a quiet hallway.

He came to a door, pressed his thumb to the reader then stepped inside.

The human was sat watching the screens.

"How's it going?" He asked, nervously nibbling on a nail. The esquinine stepped over and gently slapped the top of the human's hand, reminding him to stop with the nervous habit.

"Well. They still don't quite 'get' it, but then they are the upper crust. Dry and tasteless." Observed the empath, who turned to watch the screens as a crowd of ssypno tried to force their own world view onto art made by a wholly different species with a very different life to them.

"It's fun seeing ignorance get exposed over and over though..." Considered the esqunine, resting his head against a finger.

"Just because I see the world differently..." Mumbled the human, mildly frustrated.

"Galaxy, and I would be quick to point out they love to remind you, that you are smell blind. I think its rather justified to remind them that they are blind to a whole world of colours, no matter how rich they are." Pointed out the alien with a cold tone to the nobles.

"Body mods are a thing." Supplied the young man, considering how they could choose to have different eyes with their money.

"And admit they aren't perfect? They'd have an ice bath first." Came the esquinine's reply, without missing a beat, taking the human by surprise.

The human grinned and couldn't help but smile at the curt and cutting remarks of his closest ally, cheering him up immediately.

[wolven91]

Wrong Address

The ursidain team were professional.

They'd done a thousand of these types of operations. They'd picked up every single species known to the universe, from the tiny chintians to even the mighty ursidains. They didn't discriminate, just because their goal was a fellow ursidain. In their eyes, it was just a job. Just another task.

Not even the fact that their objective was a human daunted them. Humans were easier to handle, it was getting past the security teams that was the hurdle.

Still, they'd used this method before and it worked well.

"Nearly there." Grumbled 'Cutter'.

Cutter wasn't his real name, it was just his job to make sure they got in and out of areas without issue. Literally using a cutter that sliced a hole in floors, walls and even one time; ceilings so that the team could get places where they weren't wanted. That was the method they were using; the human was guarded, but not above them. Roof top access was locked off despite it being one of the tallest structures on the station, but that didn't stop the team from cutting a hole straight through the roof.

"Guards?" Asked 'Top'. The leader and shot caller, turning to another ursidain, 'Tech', who was listening to communications.

"No alarms. No one barking in the building or on the station." Grumbled the eyes and ears of the team.

"Blunt. You ready?"

"Aye Top." Grunted 'Blunt'. Her role was the bagman. Thanks to having her sharp claws removed to allow easy snatching of the target without fear of cutting the target in half, all she had to do was rush in, grab the target and get out.

"I'm there." Cutter hissed, grabbing the device which completed its task without fanfare and latched onto the section of ceiling it had removed to prevent it from moving.

At most, anyone actively looking up, might see a hairline fracture appear as a perfect, large circle, but aside from that and a fine sprinkle of dust; it was a nearly perfect way to get into a location without another noticing. Especially not a canid guard that was bored and behind several walls and a locked door.

"Blunt."

The snatcher with the codename 'Blunt' slipped in, followed by Top, Cutter and finally Tech. The hole was left uncovered, as Cutter immediately crouched to begin cutting a new hole in the floor, to drop down and disappear into the rooms below. Tech was still scanning the various bands by spinning the dials on his hip mounted scanner. It was all in an attempt to locate any sort of detection of four ursidains dropping into an apartment that contained one of the most lucrative subjects to kidnap and sell in the known galaxy.

"Still clear." Tech whispered, knowing this was the most dangerous moment to be found.

"Guys?" Blunt asked, far too loudly, drawing everyone's attention. Both Tech and Cutter looked up to see Top and Blunt both standing perfectly still, frozen in place. The cutting device continued to spin, quietly slicing into the floor of the apartment. The pause wasn't right, Blunt goes and grabs the target, Top gives back up, Tech listens and Cutter secures the exit. They've done this a thousa- Then the other two saw what had stopped the other half of their team.

The snatch team had dropped into the apartment on one side of the apartment, closest to the exit. This normally would allow them to cut off any exit should the target get past the other two. Deeper into the apartment, was the human.

The human was perched on the shoulders of a canid, holding a large white pillow aloft, frozen in the moment just before the brought it down on a second canid, who had their clawed hand up, warding the oncoming blow away. All three were staring at the ursidain team.

The sound of crunching pulled the four ursidain's attention to the right, where from the kitchen, a third canid was using his knuckles to push his head left, then right, the crunching coming from his neck. The fourth canid merely placed a large plate of a delicious smelling disk of foodstuffs. None of the four ursidains knew what the item was, only that it was foreign and looked delicious.

Unfortunately, none of the team would ever try the cheese covered item, as the canid team merely straightened and glowered at the snatcher team. The human was lifted and placed on the floor, where two more canids appeared from the bedroom, took stock of the situation, and used their bodies to push the human further back, now behind two separate lines of canid guards.

Guards that weren't meant to be in the apartment.

"Wrong apartment." Top offered, gesturing with his arms wide. One of the canids tilted their heads and pointed glared at Top's hip, where a selection of wrist straps and canisters hung there, ready to be deployed should the target need putting to sleep.

To the human, the door to his bedroom closed after he was gently ushered in. The door swung closed slowly, gently locking in place as the latch closed. It was closed with such care, that it was as if the canid guard was attempting to close it without waking him, despite him being wide awake and shocked into uncertain apathy to the appearance of four giant space-bears.

Then there was a roaring bark as something shattered behind the door. There was a pained roar before a moment later the whole wall shook as something heavy landed against it.

A grunt, followed by a pained grunt of someone beyond the door rang out before something heavy and wooden, shattered with the sound of a tree being felled.

The bedroom wall shook again, paint and plaster splintering, a spiderweb of cracks appearing as one.

This cacophony of muted violence continued for a few minutes until it went quiet, and the door reopened, the canid guard who had closed it, appearing around the edge of the door.

"Can I see?" Asked the man. The canid sighed and pushed the door open to reveal four downed ursidains and two of the canids sporting busted noses, freely bleeding. The human's apartment was demolished and his painstakingly hand-crafted pizza, destroyed, now a weaved mess in the formerly nice carpet.

"Dang it." He mumbled, gazing down at it.

The ursidain team, still alive but dazed and prone, received an annoyed kick from one of the bleeding canids in retaliation for the human's distress.

[wolven91]

Drifting - Part 1

Geckins and chintians are very good mechanics.

Watching either species work, it would be easy to assume that all either of the one-foot-tall species had to do was glance at an engine and they'd be able to say 'oh, that's how that works'.  That wasn't true of course, but their knack for mechanics and ability to build, repair and design machines was unparalleled amongst the stars.

The one thing both species did better than any of the larger species of the galaxy was mechs. To the humans, the moment they glimpsed a hulking walking machine, all their science fiction dreams came true in one moment. As to why it was the diminutive species that invented machines that made the taller and larger species have to look up, no one wanted to really say out loud. The geckins almost proudly wore the chip on their shoulder about their size thanks to the far larger ssypno struggling to convert the geckin people into a vassal state before seemingly giving up. The chintians on the other hand always had their eye on their neighbours; the canids. Neither species had a good introduction in the Galactic Community and had paid for their membership in blood.

 The design of their machines however, differed depending on who made them.

Chintians piloted their mechs via the use of artificial intelligence, two separated minds working in tandem with one another. Talking, communicating and planning their goals together. The geckins however, used direct connection with the machines themselves. There wasn't an intelligence within the machine like the chintians, but the pilots often reported that the machines had a personality beyond their own.

The short comings of the chintian design was the delay in between seeing and reacting to something, not to mention the separation between mech and pilot. The issues with geckin design was the draining aspect of piloting their mechs on the pilot itself. Geckin pilots were often geckins who appeared sickly, tired or gaunt. As if they were being drained of their very life force.

But, for the time being, these mechs were not heavily used in fighting. At least not officially. The Galactic Community government had no mechs in their standing army, regardless of what reports from separatist forces suggested. The GC merely pointed out soldiers of fortune were a thing and they could utilise whatever hardware they had access to.

It was when Casper had been practically dumped in Geckin territory with his meagre belongings that he shortly afterwards discovered all of this. The fact that they greeted him atop walkers that put them at his height was not lost on him. The fact he reacted with unconcealed amazement and awe meant that Casper, very quickly, became a celebrity on the Geck home world, his reaction and gushing about the walkers broadcast over and over to all corners of the planet.

It was a mere three weeks later, when Casper was in his quite opulent home a top a tower in the main city, surrounded by a good thirty geckins that they discovered yet more things they liked about humans.

"What's this one say?" Asked a yellow geckin, Casper had given up trying to remember all their names and they simply didn't care. Most seemingly just shouted 'oi, you' and the geckin they were talking to looked round. The young man looked round and observed the DVD that the geckin had pulled out of the pile. Casper had merely seen what was happening on the horizon the other month and swept his had across his shelves of DVDs and tossed them all into a bug out bag along with his books and anything else to hand.

To this day he couldn't say why he'd saved the media, he hadn't thought about it. He just did.

"That one is... Ha... Casper the friendly ghost." He replied with a grin, the translators not having his written language yet meant anything written had to be translated for them.

"You have a story written about you?!" A green geckin exclaimed, jumping from the shelves onto Casper's back. One had to get used to geckins clambering all over oneself if they were staying in geckin space. He could feel no less than three geckins in the various pockets of his cargo pants, fully asleep enjoying the heat of his legs through the material.

"No, just a coincidence. He's about a dead human." That immediately lost any interest in the tale.

"What about this one? Looks like a Tax Two?" Asked a red geckin, holding up a different case.

"Oh, Pacific Rim. Giant monsters attack and the only way to beat them back is giant mechs. What's a Tax Two?"

Casper's question was initially ignored as a surge of multiple-coloured scales across many different creatures ran towards the one holding the approved DVD. It was amazing to the man how quickly they had reinvented a device capable of reading the DVD correctly, but again; it was a species of engineers.

As they settled, Casper's lap becoming buried in the geckins and the rest of the oversized furniture, at least to them, was likewise covered.

"Oh and a Tax Two is a heavy loader. Manipulators instead of weapons. Good for tearing vegetation out and clearing areas, although I bet it could knock out an ursidain if you gave it a swing."

"Huh... I think you'll like this one then..." Casper promised, shuffling down into the seat, content to be a climbing frame for the various blighters for the time being.

"Huh... I wonder how well humans mesh with a suit that big..." asked one of thr geckins turning to fix Casper with a look that was not one Casper had seen before.

For a brief moment, he felt as if the geckin only saw an important cog that needed to be fit somewhere, not a human.

[r/WolvensStories]

[Ko-Fi]

[wolven91]

Bears In Space

The marauders had thought this would be an easy take. A tiny craft, slinking through the system, using the shadows of the planets to hide. Perfect to go undetected, if not that the raiding party was doing the very same.

The danger on this tiny craft was the ursidain guardian. A powerhouse in her own right, she'd fight tooth and claw for her human ward. But handle her and the human would be easy pickings. They'd caught the craft unawares, deliberately using a small craft of their own to sneak up submerged in the civilian craft's engine wake. Only a pilot who had used the same tactic would know what to look for. At most they'd think their engine was doing something strange, not that a raiding party was mere moments away from boarding them.

The fight for control was intense, but short.

Three of the marauders had been killed. One had their top half separated from their bottom in one, seemingly effortless, pull by the thirteen-foot-tall guardian. Ursidains could tear bulkheads from walls if angered enough, one draconian spine wasn't much of a problem.

The second's, an esquinine, head was limp against their shoulder at an odd angle, the wild swing that had connected had obviously broken their neck with ease. So much for their 'powers'. It didn't take a telepath to know that the ursidain would have killed each and every one of them at a moments notice.

The third and final casualty was an idiot taurian. He had lost their footing rushing the ursidain and had ended up on their back, firing upwards. The ursidain had merely stepped on them. An average ursidain weighed easily over a metric ton. She hadn't even needed to stomp; the fool's ribcage had snapped like thin dry twigs.

The remaining three team members had simply fired round after electrified round at the raging creature. Ursidains were hardly, but not invincible. A thin pelt and flesh prevented rounds from penetrating deeper. A fused ribcage protected their organs, muscles and tendons with naturally occurring carbon, strengthening their power and force. Realistically, the only thing ursidains naturally feared was deep water. Pressure was their enemy, so not even vacuum scared them thanks to their ridiculous biology.

But she eventually went down. The remaining three raiders were smart, staying away from her swipes and keeping their backs to a sealed door in the small cargo bay.

"Don't kill her." Ordered the lead. The human was nowhere to be found, the place reeked of them, but being so small, like a chintian or geckin, they could hide in places the other races couldn't go, there was no point in searching, so they kept their attention on the entrance to the cargo bay. No, the ursidain had to be kept alive so they could use her to pressure the human into giving up. Humans were soft. Weak. One cut and they bleed out, they didn't even have thick flesh or a protective pelt. They could be tricked.

"Human! This has already been a failure of a raid. Not even you are worth the loss of three of my finest." An obvious lie. Those three were wastes of space and with their departure from his crew, the reward for the human would be divided only three times instead of six. Realistically, the felinoid could have given the human a cut of their reward as thanks and still come out with more credits.

"I'll just kill your friend here and blow up the ship. You're not worth this effort."

"You realise you won't get away with this... right?" The ursidain rumbled from her knelt position, head rising. The three remaining pirates turned their attention to her.

"Oh no? An empty system, no signals going out, no relays even if there was and the witnesses about to be taken care of. Go on, how am I not going to get away with this?"

The ursidain grinned.

"You weren't paying attention to the-"

A deafening roar stole her words as a hurricane materialised in the cargo bay. A terrible force tore all four of the creatures from their place on the metal floor as the fury and might of the vacuum of space grabbed a hold of them. The ursidain knew what to look for as she tumbled head over heels towards the black. A human in a space suit, holding the emergency venting lever down. She caught eyes with her ward as she sailed past and out of the doors.

The raiding team screamed as they went, but nobody heard them, there's no sound in space and the moment they were clear of the air rushing out of the cargo bay, all sound cut off for them too. By the time their bodies collided with their own craft, two of the three were pretty much dead. They had attempted to hold their breaths and their lungs had exploded. The third only survived as they had no air in their lungs, but even then, a mere thirty seconds after entering the black, they too passed.

Their last vision was the ursidain, floating by with them. At least they got one of the pair.

The human on the other hand knew they had a few minutes. Using everything their guardian had taught them, they ensured that their own harness was attached to the miles long cord that kept them latched onto their craft. Then, they leapt from their ship.

The only thing they could hear was their own laboured breathing. 'Never get off the boat' was engrained on anyone who left the safety of a station or planet, the panic and fear of the void was real. Too many things could go wrong if one went floating out into the void. The human ignored the other lazily spinning corpses nearby, the heads-up display on their helmet highlighted the ursidain. They slowed their approach and immediately latched a hook onto the ursidain's belt. Checking it twice, the human began to reel in the tether.

Ursidains were hardy. The sheer strength of their chests and muscles, meant that for a time, vacuum would not kill them. Deep water was deadly, able to crush them as it worked against their strengths, but it meant in the event pirates boarded a ship without vacuum suits? It was better to just vent the whole ship into space while the ursidain distracted them. Just so long as they get picked up well within quarter of an hour... after that...

When the cargo bay sealed and repressurised, the human was watching their HUD for the green 'Pressurised' label before unlatching the helmet and throwing it aside.

When their hands shook the ursidain, nothing happened. They shook the giant again and they still remained unmoving.

It wasn't until the human slapped the ursidain with a desperate panicked shout that the guardian awoke with an 'ow!'.

"I thought you were dead!"

"So you slap dead people?!"

"You were MESSING with me!?"

"I thought you'd find it funny!"

"You're mental!"

"You're rubbing off on me then!"

Discord / KoFi

[wolven91]

Human Guardian - One Size Fits All

Jon's radio crackled to life on his hip.

"Jon, can you get across to the 'Emmalis' sector please. We have an urgent escort request." Came dispatch's dispassionate and clinical tone.

The human grunted as he lifted with his knees to put the box that he was running inventory on, back onto the shelf where it belonged. With it safely secured he grabbed for the radio and thumbed the button for him to speak.

"Jon confirms, heading to Emmalis now."

"Acknowledged" Came the immediate reply.

He returned the radio to his hip and began a swift march to the part of the station which hosted the shorter alien delegates. It had been a busy week, it felt like every race had turned up all at once and realistically it wasn't far off the mark to say that. It was the first time since the circus when Jon had first passed the Guardian Initiative selection process that it had been this busy.

Apparently there was a summit of some kind coming up and with the impressive range of creatures appearing on station, both great and small, Jon ,like his colleagues was being run ragged. Most Guardian work wasn't actually being dedicated to a single person. At least, not for a Guardian who stayed on one station. Jon's role was to just being a helpful, welcoming presence. If there was a job to do that helped the station, he was there for it.

He smiled, nodded, waved or gave short cheerful banter to the other aliens he passed on his way. Most wore the similar blue and yellow jumpsuits of Guardians, or the grey and white of maintenance. These corridors being off limits to other creatures that weren't part of the station's staff. Plenty of vulnerable points in these sections, unwise to let crowds of people into the access corridors.

The access corridors ran to every corner of the station, regardless of who's sector it was or which race occupied those quarters. Staff would always be able to reach a delegate or guest in rapid time compared to those who had to use the more formal and fancy public walkways. The warren of tunnels weren't a secret, but like the 'Disneyland' of old, they weren't readily acknowledged by station as a whole. It was easier to just be as unobtrusive as one could be while playing host to the other races.

As Jon reached the 'Emmalis' sector, the half of the station that hosted much smaller races than the majority, he slipped on his 'Escort Harness' and showed his security card to the reader.

As he waited for approval and when his harness secured, he grabbed at his radio and thumbed the button again.

"Jon at Emmalis Sector, Subdoor 'Itty bitty'."

"Acknowledged. Stop calling it 'Itty Bitty', it's the 'Ikit Bitaris' entrance." Came a different voice from the radio, but none-the-less as formal as the last.

The light flicked from red to green and the bulkhead's bolt snapped open allowing Jon to walk through the door and into the 'airlock' checkpoint. A glass booth with a canid guard sat at a desk gave him a courtesy glance before allowing him to step forward.

"Mornin' Jon." The guard drawled. "You got a delegate needing to get to the council room early, 'parently it's urgent."

Jon nodded and shrugged.

"That's fine, are they ready to go?"

"Yeah, 'got their whiskers in a twist so don't wait around."

Jon stepped through the now open sliding door to see a pair of chintians waiting together on a raised platform. Chintians were one foot tall, furred or even spined mammalians. They reminded Jon of meerkats or perhaps chinchillas? Or some demented mixer of the two. The human gave a mental shrug. All the races could be compared to old Earth fauna, but you'd think yourself mad as none of them ever fit the mould 'perfectly'. There was always too many differences to say, 'you are a bipedal X'. Christ the taurians looked like cows and bulls but were carnivorous! Ever seen a cow with a set of teeth that would be better suited to a shark? It causes the mind to lurch.

The two chintians had delegate badges pinned to their belts and turned to the human as he passed through the checkpoint. As Jon stepped up, he turned his back on the delegate and stood still. This was all protocol, they had done this before and so had he.

The two chintians clambered up onto the various hand and foot holds of the harness that Jon wore and settled themselves.

Jon waited a moment before stepping away from the platform, at first taking practised care not to go too fast or jostle the harness that had countless loops sewn into the fabric allowing for easy grabbing and carrying of the smaller races, but there was still a knack to not jostling passengers. They simply hung on and Jon, or any escort, would carry them to their destination. This way, the smaller species didn't need to worry about being hit or accidently kicked by the larger or perhaps unobservant others.

Too many diplomatic incidents had happened and all parties involved considered this an acceptable resolution.

"We need to go fast! We must be there fast!`` Came the voice of one of the chintians, over his left shoulder. He felt the weight shift as the creature clambered up the harness with ease.

"Do you consent to running? Do you understand the risks and dangers of this action?" Jon asked, hoping they'd agree.

"Yes yes! Speed is needed!" the voice confirmed.

Jon began to sprint. Avoiding the busier paths, he kept to the edges of the corridors which were usually left empty for exactly the reason Jon was using them. Go-fors, messengers, assistants. They could always been seen scuttling from one location to the others, whilst those not on a time crunch could meander in the middle of the corridors.

He made good time to the centre of the station. From afar, the giant central council room looked like a crown jewel of the station. It was truly gigantic and often would have fog or clouds develop inside due to the sheer size of it.

He crouched and dropped off the delegate who thumbed a tip for Jon, but said nothing as he scuttled away from view and into a room.

Jon shrugged and mentally asked himself what he needed to do next and how to get there the quickest.

He was interrupted as his radio crackled to life again, he grabbed at it before the voice finished speaking.

"Jon? You done with that Escort?" Came the voice of a priority dispatcher, distinct as they were more like 'Account Managers', dealing with those who pay extra for services and their role was to ensure the higher paying guests were served in the right manner.

"Yeah, he's arrived."

"You got a 'Ursidain' request, a request by name this time. You've made an impression with folk."

Jon's face scrunched in puzzlement. He wasn't aware anyone even knew him. Although the name tag's all over his uniform would not lend him any anonymity.

"Got an idea as to what it is?" Jon asked as he jogged towards an access corridor to take the shortest route to the ursidain quarters. It shouldn't take long, he'd just circumvent the Council Hall.

"It's an ursidain called Fon, she sounded a bit distressed? Does it ring any bells?"

The realisation hit Jon like a bucket of cold water.

"Ah, yeah, I dealt with her last week. She's got hefty anxiety. It's likely I'm going to be 'booked' for the rest of the day."

"Cool, no problems, I'll ready 'double pay' if you're engaged through a break or the end of your shift."

Jon wrapped up the conversation and eventually made it to the ursidain quarters.

His next role was almost certainly going to be a 'Support' role. Even some of the larger species on the station had a habit of being nervous like everyone else. On a confined, diplomatic station, it was better to devote resources to calming them down then let them work themselves up.

Jon had met this 'Fon' a couple of weeks back, a mature giantess of a teddy bear, but one with pretty severe anxiety. As it turned out however, having Jon nearby, simply holding her paw or rather being held in her paws, was enough to keep her calm. He'd made the error at the end of his work to try and reassure her that everything was fine, she hadn't been a nuisance and if she needed him; he wouldn't mind.

Jon never thought for a second that she'd actually ask for him, let alone pay through the nose for him specifically to come help her. She must have serious cash to be able to not only request him by name, but double pay due to a person request is paid for by the person who made the request.

Exiting the next checkpoint, he didn't have a chance to even look round before a massive thick paw appeared and snatched him from his own raised platform, the environment now designed for creatures far larger than a human. He was immediately pressed into a sea of thick and soft brown fur. He had to tilt his head backwards just to give himself the space to breathe as a second giant paw began to rapidly stroke his hair again and again as a deluge of words poured from a frantic, motherly voice far above the trapped human.

"Oh I'm so glad you're here! I was so worried! The speech is coming up and I don't know if it'll go well and I suddenly got a feeling that something had already gone wrong! And then I thought about you and was worried the feeling was to do with you! It was-"

"I'm fine! It's okay! Take a breath!" Jon cut in; his voice strained as his ribs creaked from the pressure of being squeezed into the matronly Fon.

Two giant bellows beneath the fur and flesh that Jon was still being pressed into began to inflate, it was humbling to feel such massive biological machine work as he was pressed into it.

The bellows deflated in a loud sigh above him.

"I'm sorry Jon. Do you need me to put you down? I-I-I can go without you if you're busy?"

Jon mentally kicked himself for not taking the opportunity to escape, but he was a resolute professional. He was one of the very first human guardians and he was glad to be the one that showed the aliens that whatever they can do; humans can too.

"No, I've nothing else to do today." He lied. "When your call came in I was twiddling my thumbs, you know?"

The pressure increased again as he was swung from side to side by the giant bear-like alien.

"Oh I'm so glad! You could sit on my lap while the speech is given! Oh that would help so so much! Thank you thank you!"

He was pulled from the chest and brought up to a familiar face, that had puckered its lips before planting them firmly against his face. The 'light' suction nearly pulled his entire head in between those lips before they disconnected with a dramatic 'mwah' and he was returned to a galactic sized bear hug and it felt like they were moving again. He rubbed the wetness from his face as the voice spoke up again, vibrating him as it rumbled through the giant's body.

"I'll get some snacks, and a blanket and we'll make it all cosy in my delegate booth!"

Jon tilted his head at that. The delegates, especially the ursidain ones,did always get the nicest food after all.

[wolven91]

NSFW-ish - Poker

It's an odd thing being bored in a universe of science fiction.

Humanity and humans in general, had this concept that with the advancement of technology, there would always be a distraction. Thousands of films and shows from back on Earth, portrayed holodecks and endless entertainment. When humanity was shown the building sized printers, able to create entire machines within themselves, it was as if they promised unending entertainment and unlimited toys.

Yet, like many before and after him, when Harvey found himself within that idealised future, he found that it was actually; incredibly simple to become bored.

Endless entertainment wasn't free. The printers had to be paid for. Not to mention the toys exist even after one has had their fun. Even with the ample space provided by the station, filling a home with junk was a quick way to find oneself living as a pack rat.

Not to mention that when the options are easily within reach, they are suddenly; no longer desirable. It was the idea of endless entertainment that was fun. The reality was different and caused people to fall into the paradox of choice.

So instead of forcing himself to go play zero G sports or hire and wait for a holodeck that was monitored at all times, Harvey sat in the communal area, listening to the other aliens' lament that; they too; were bored. Harvey had gained a small, select group of friends that had helped him during his first few days amongst the stars and the group had become a surprisingly tight knit team in rapid order.

Despite taurians, ursidains, and felinoids not often getting along, Harvey found that the five of them played off each other and the various differences gave way to their similarities. Right now, they were all similarly bored.

Harvey couldn't stand it. Yet everything else was effort! He had to learn everything that they suggested or knew that the suggestion was what one of the group wanted to do, but not what any of the rest of them wanted. The ursidain would suggest eating. The female taurian would suggest weightlifting, but the male would suggest writing poetry. God forbid whatever the felinoid could come up with. The tamest thing they'd ever suggested was taking drugs and having an orgy. What the human wouldn't give for a simple pack of..

Harvey's eyes lit up and caused the small group to blink in surprise as he ran from the room with a hurried 'back in a minute!', leaving his chair rattling in his haste.

The smaller printer as blessedly unused when Harvey arrived, so his return was literally only a few minutes later. He was still shuffling the two decks together. It had cost him roughly three minutes of labour to pay for the materials, despite it being larger than he needed. A human standard deck of cards would be too small for the larger aliens to hold with ease. It felt like he had a geriatric-friendly set with how large the cards and pictures were.

The computer had listened carefully at his description, but hadn't quite got the image correct for the Jacks, Queens and Kings. They oddly had a striking similarity to Harvey when he considered them before shrugging and continuing to shuffle the comically oversized cards.

"Right! Ladies, gentlemen, and other demographics. We're going to play Poker!" The human announced to the group as he re-entered and sat at the table. It was still gaoling to have to sit on a booster seat, but with the chintians involved, it was less infantizing and more a necessity.

The group weren't dumb by any stretch and with some explaining and a few practice rounds, the male taurian, Baarum, won the first game that Harvey hadn't deliberately thrown. This was followed by a win by Emralse, the felinoid who won the next two rounds. The female taurian, Rias, bellowed in victory as she slammed her hand flat against the table displaying a winning hand when it was her go. Bringing up the rear, Mulls, the ursidain eventually won one after convincing the group he was just playing for fun. Turns out the ursidain had a fantastic poker-face and his victories came after convincing the whole tale, including Harvey that they knew what his tells were; only to which them up later.

It took three hours before the felinoid asked about the history and different version of poker as she idly fiddled with her cards. Harvey had noted she liked to keep high cards or cards that she had multiple of on her left-hand side of her fanned cards.

When he explained they usually bet chips and money, the group agreed that next time they'd fabricate some of these chips for fun.

That was when Harvey made the error of explaining strip poker.

The trouble with this was not the mere fact that strip poker meant that someone was going to eventually go down to their bare flesh. The issue was that the hangups humanity had about nudity and public spaces was not mirrored by the rest of the races.

Oh sure, most if not all the races generally wore clothes. In a work environment it was wise to protect oneself, but it also allowed modesty and a level of camouflage when the office flirt deliberately dropped all her paperwork in front of Harvey's desk and deliberately bent over.

So, when Harvey mentioned this version of the game, the whole group agreed and abandoned the current hand.

"Guys, we're still in the communal room." Harvey pointed out, gesturing to the handful of observers as well as those who were elsewhere, dotted about the large room.

"It's fine. It's public and if someone has a complaint we'll listen." Replied Emralse, a felinoid who was well versed on the station's specific decency laws. Each station was different and out of all the races, felinoids were the likeliest to go about buck naked.

Although as the cards were shuffled and redealt, Harvey had to admit that even 'naked' with the fur that covered most things, one of the aliens without clothes on was hard-pressed to be called 'naked' in the same sense a human was.

Still, Harvey played his hand and did well. It was Baarum, who lost the first hand, and a single glove was removed and placed carefully into the centre of the table.

What followed was a quiet, intense series of games that each of the remaining players were fully invested in.

Little by little, each of the players lost clothes and bartered others. Rias was the first to lose her top. Harvey had to blink and stare so hard at his cards he thought they'd catch fire only to avoid staring at the bare chest mere inches from his elbow. The taurian didn't seem to care, instead grumbling that she had been certain that no one would have had the card that led to her loss.

The next loss was Emralse's, but Harvey wasn't sure if this was deliberate or not. Halfway through the round, it was noted that Harvey was quiet and had changed shade. The team even worrying that he was ill or upset. That was when Baarum, as smug as could be, pointed out how humans considered the female form to be taboo.

Rias glanced down at herself, then back up to Harvey before grinning wildly, seemingly thrilled to find out she had such an effect on the human. Harvey had to admit that they were lovely, blantately larger than his own head, but tried to avoid staring at them, even when Rias would deliberatly bounce in her seat during victories.

But that was followed rapidly by Emralse folding, but unlike normal, refusing to show her hand and doffed her own top, revealing her own breasts. Whether this was a genuine loss or if the felinoid was merely refusing to be out done by a taurian, Harvey wasn't sure. Either way, the man now had a women either side, each one shameless as the game progressed.

When Harvey lost his shirt, the two women at the table openly stared, whilst Mells and Baarum averted their eyes. There was a brief moment where Harvey considered crossing him arms before steeling himself once more. It was nice to be desired.

The game continued.

Out of all the players, it was not Baarum who Harvey expected to be rendered naked by a series of crushing losses.

The demure taurian's final item of clothing? A single, pink silk head band that covered what Harvey understood to be Baarum's horn stumps.

"You really don't have to remove that." Harvey pointed out, as the next hand was dealt. The human was well aware that in taurian society, the covering of the male's removed horns was a requirement by every single one of them. Harvey wasn't sure if it was religious and society, but felt it unfair to force the fellow male in a position of shame.

Baarum seemed to consider it before glancing over to the nearly naked ursidain, fellow taurian, human and felinoid before hooked a thumb beneath the slip of material and pulling it away with a single, fluid movement. Baarum kept his eyes closed and back straight as he gently folded the material and placed it into the centre of the table. Opening his eyes, the taurian reached for his drink and downed it in one.

The two black circles that framed either corner of his forehead were not as dramatic as Harvey expected, but the hush in the communal room was heavy and Rias's ears had gone a bright red.

"I respect it." Harvey said as he retrieved his cards and checked the hand.

In the end, Mulls won the final hand, removing Harvey's underwear and dragging the now entire pile of clothes towards himself.

"Well! It was a pleasure playing with you all! I'm thrilled to have won." The ursidain declared, holding the various items between two claws and inspecting his 'winnings'.

"Can I have my sash back please?" Asked Baarum quietly, and with a nod from Mulls, retrieved the sash and reapplied it. He didn't seem to care that everything else was on display; only about hiding the stumps.

"Can I get my underwear?" Asked Harvey, reaching over for his boxers only to find them snatched away by the ursidain.

"Not a chance! No one would buy a taurian sash, but genuine human underwear? By my father's belly, tomorrow night drinks are on me!"

The group cheered whilst Harvey had to pick his jaw up off the floor.

[r/WolvensStories]

[AO3]

[Ko-Fi]