u/Tundric_Dragon

So funny story... i had most of this typed out on my phone ready to go... and the app closed without saving as a draft. I was in pain.

Here we go with the end to Duality. It ended up a bit darker than I thought, but I had fun exploring this theme. Got to see some older characters and introduce new ones. Once again, posting from my phones, so ill fix links and formatting when I get home to my computer.

I hope you all enjoy! Please, tell me what you think!

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Memory Transcription Subject: Giidan, Harchen prey
Date [Standard Human Format]: October 15th, 2136

Tree branches whipped by me as I ran, bushes scratching at my scales as I tore through them. RUN, its getting closer! My chest heaved with effort and my legs burned with exhaustion, until I finally saw my salvation. A small burrow hidden under a protruding knotted root, big enough for me to get into and hidden among the blues and oranges of the undergrowth around it. I practically dove into the shelter, body overheating with the amount of effort I had put into running away.

After killing Hunter, the other predator had turned on me and was likely seeking out its next meal. For nearly half a claw now I had run through the forest in a mad dash, always putting distance between me and the beast. But after only a scratch or two of rest whenever I stopped, I could hear the heavy steps of its feet crushing the plants underneath. I would run again as it took a shot with a gun, missing everytime, but causing a nearby tree to explode with the force of whatever bullet it was using. Again, I tried to catch my breath and enter Vinosh to hide better in my burrow, I couldn't keep going like this, my legs were trembling from exhaustion.

"I think I've finally decided what I'm going to do with you when this is over, Boots." My blood freezes as it speaks, the crunch of leaves under its feet echoing in the dim forest. It hadn't even been a scratch yet! "You see, a lot of lizards back on Earth, especially the small ones, will drop their own tail when running. It wiggles around, detached from their bodies so the predator is distracted." I shuddered at that though, of my tail wiggling, separated from me. "But see, most can regrow that tail, full new limb, bones and all!" It laughs, the crunching of its boots getting unnervingly closer. It doesn't know you are here, blend, be quiet, be still like lake water. I close my nictitating lids, gazing through the blurred world and hoping it finds something else to hunt. "So once you realise that this is pointless, and that I will catch you, im going to cut off that tail of yours." It growled and I started to hug the appendage close to my body.

"I wont let you die though. No, that would be too easy for what you and those birds did. Im going to feed you, keep you alive, make sure you are healthy. Boots, we are going to see if that tail regrows." It laughs, and I hold on tight, never knowing how much I had actually cared for my tail until direct threats were being made against it. Whatever it was saying next was lost on me as I held my eternal companion, a pit of fear and loss welling in my chest as I began to imagine life without it. That was, until... "And if it does grow back at the end of it, I'm going to give the idea to the Arxur. Infinite food, infinite tail meat, all to be farmed from you pathetic chameleons." It laughed. "They would love to get a reusable source of food." The crunching stopped, or had stopped a while ago, I didnt know... but now the silence of the forest surrounded me, only my soft pants as I hid myself in the burrow, holding my tail tightly to my chest. Suddenly. A human face appeared upside down in front of me, "BOO!"

I screamed.

Its hand shot out and grabbed at some of the dirt next to me, causing me to flinch back from its missed grab, but it quickly corrected and seized me by my upper arm, effortlessly dragging my light frame out of the burrow and throwing me through the air. I failed uselessly as I soared, back impacting a tree and a sickening pop heard from my spine as I crumpled to the ground below. Deep groans came from my maw as I slowly sat up, lifting myself onto hands and knees. *everything works, now run!* I didnt get the chance. While slowly rising on trembling legs and arms, the predator's boot found my middle, kicking me hard in the ribs. My back impacted the tree once more, breath stolen from my lungs, ribs breaking from the force of the kick, and crumpled against the base of the tree again. Tears streaming from my eyes, pain radiating from my body, I could only whimper as my killer stepped up once more, boots filling my vision. "Pl-please..." I whimper.

"Please what?" Malice dripped from the voice, the beast grabbing me by the wrist and lifting me into the air. "I told you, you couldn't escape. Easiest prey I've ever tracked. Didn't even try to hide your footprints, or the trail of broken leaves and branches you left."

"Please... do-dont c-cut off my tail..." My wrist protested from holding my body weight, held aloft in the predator's grasp. I dont know why that was my request, why I spoke those words... the thought of it eating it in front of me, of being cattle just for the Arxur to continuously cut off and gorge themselves on my tail... "I-I didnt do anything to you... please.. mercy..." I give a final desperate plea, yelping as I was dropped unceremoniously onto the ground, pain radiating from my chest. I sat up as quick as I could, scooting back against the tree, tail curled up into my arms and held by trembling claws.

"Didn't do anything?" It asks again, laughing in a hollow tone. "That's it! You are bullies. How did I not see this earlier? So confident and righteous when you have the upper hand, but take that away and you all turn into sniveling cowards." It crouched down in front of me, those monstrous eyes staring right at me as if it could see straight into my soul. "I was on Earth during the attack you and yours sanctioned." It pulled out a knife, the long blade glistening with red liquid, and lifting my chin using the flat part of the blade. "My house collapsed from the shockwave of one of your bombs. I didnt get caught by any of the rubble. But my dog did." It growled at me, the translator telling me that a dog was a domesticated predator kept for companionship. "I raised her since she was a pup, for 12 years she was my companion, something that kept me steady and sane, a joy." It growled more, fury in its eyes. "I held her in my arms as she died, a slow death that i couldnt stop, i couldnt save her like she...." I could almost see the tears in its eyes, its words stopping as it gulped. "Fuck this, and fuck you Boots." It said, standing up suddenly and turning its back on me. "Fine, wish granted, I wont cut off your tail." It turned, pulling out a pistol and pointing it at me.

It didnt shoot, it just looked at me coldly, watching as I huddled to my own tail. Something changed in its eyes at that moment, fury replaced by sadistic glee. "You are." It said and threw the knife at me, the heavy blade landing in between my legs. "If you cut off your own tail. I'll leave, here and now. You'll never see me again." It held up its hand. "I swear on my predator gods. And I dont break my word." It snarled. "If you dont, I'll shoot you in the gut, let you bleed out nice and alone here in the woods, left to any local predators." I look down at the blade in front of me, revulsion and terror in my eyes as I was given an impossible choice.

"I-I..." I hesitated in reaching, in complying.. my legs had long stopped listening to my commands, my arms barely. BANG The wood by my head splintered out from the gunshot, peppering my scales with splinters.

"I wont miss again Boots, last chance." Choked sobs escaped as I picked up the knife, too afraid to say anything else, too tired to run, too pathetic to not deny him. My tail drops from the protective hold against my chest, lain out in front of me... something I had been protecting and comforting out of fear just moments ago... now I had a knife against the scales... in the short time I had come to fear for it, become aware of its importance to me.. I was now about to cut it off, inflict so much pain on myself.. Just to survive. I tremble more, hands shaking.

"N-no.. I can't." I lift my head, cheekscales stained with tears, scales deeply etched with fear and a vibrant orangem. But the small emerald green seeping in as I felt a small bit of confidence fill me. If I was going to die today, I would have a bit of courage, I wasn't going to give into the predator's demands. "I-I wont do it." The knife dropped from my paws and I clutched my tail close to me once more. Tears still streamed from my eyes, fear gripping me tightly. *I dont want to die, I dont want to die, I dont...* but I would defy this predator's last cruelty on me, even if it was the last thing I ever did.

"Damn Boots, way to grow a pair at the last minute." He laughed and raised the pistol once more. "Still wont change anything." I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the pain.

BANG

A howl of pain erupted, piercing through the dawn sky, but it wasn't my own. My eyes cracked open, looking down at my own body. Chest had turquoise bruising already showing on the scales, evidence of my broken ribs and the boot that hit me. However, no holes.. no external blood, nothing. My gaze drifts up and I gasp sharply, pain stabbing through my chest. The predator's arm was lying on the ground, weapon still held in its grasp, while the beast itself was doubled over on the ground, howling in pain and clutching its severed arm at the elbow. Red blood pooled on the ground below him and his severed arm, staining the beautiful blues. "Fuck! Fuckfuckfuck! What the fucking shit?!" It howled its string of curses into the air, completely forgetting about me.

Every instinct screamed at me to run from the injured predator, lest I become its target for retribution, but my legs refused to listen, too exhausted. I had run so much over the past few days, the only break having been when I was traveling with Hunter. I had been running before that, and after, with only that human being the one to give me a break from the madness of the world. From the exterminators in the bunker, the olgarl in this forest, to finally the crazed human who had described cutting off my tail and cooking it. When did it say it was going to eat it? Oh.. before the Arxur part.. my subconscious told me, and I knew in that moment I was going to dream about its threats. My mind racing, but my body limp, I could only sit there as the crazed and injured human thrashed around before finally sitting still and letting out a whine. Its head shot up and I flinched as it fixed me with those dirty mud eyes. "You." It growled squeezing its stump. "I dont know how, but you did this. You called your exterminator fuckshit friends to finish the job." It accused, staggering over to its fallen arm. "I ain't gonna let you go. One less of you xeno bastards. One less.." he reached down and picked the gun up, trying useless fingers off the handle.

"I wouldnt do that Chris." Came a pained voice from my behind my tree. I watched slowly as the familiar human stepped into my field of view, limping slowly around my side until it was standing in front, between me and the predator. Labored breath came from Hunter, white bandages wrapped around his thigh and shoulder, sorrowful red soaking the otherwise pristine cloth. "Ive called the UN already. Dont add actual murder to the one you already attempted." It said, pained voice clearly evident.

"Fuck you, you can barely stand. Get out of my way and let me kill this asshole." It said, bringing the pistol up and waving it wildly. "I killed you once. I can do it again. Maybe Boots will leave you for dead again, just like last time." It cackled, causing my human to flinch.

"You can't stand either, put the gun down so I can get a tournequet on you, dont bleed out for this." It growled. "Last warning Chris."

For once there was no curse, no foul words or witty comebacks. The two simply staring at each other for a scant moment, Chris with pistol in hand, Hunter with that rifle on its back. In a scratch of time, four shots rang out. Nothing was quick, but it all happened too fast. Chris had lifted and fired its pistol twice, the first shot going wide and shattering a tree nearby as it stumbled with blood gushing out of its severed arm. The second shot simply clicked uselessly, not bullet fired, no bang. It was simply out of ammo from trying to shoot me earlier, by Inatala's grace it had run out of projectiles with that first shot in the standoff. Hunter had no such issues with the hidden gun it had on its ankle. At the first shot, it dropped to a knee and grabbed the small thing from the holster on its ankle. Three quick shot fired in succession, one hitting the other predator in the chest, causing the stumble, and another landing directly between its eyes. The third shot flew short, kicking up dirt as the effort from those two shots cause it to collapse.

Chris's head snapped back and its body collapsed like a puppet's strings being cut, no final words, no quips, no obscenities. The predator simply ceased to be. "Damn it Chris.." The Hunter groaned out, slowly getting to its feet and limping over to check its kill. Its banaged were more red now and i didnt think it would last much longer losing that much blood. "You okay over there Giidan?" Its visored head looked over to me and it began to limp over. There was no warmth, no friendliness in its voice this time. It was simply asking a question you would a stranger to the herd, nothing like how it had been when it first found me, first saved my life. "Damn it, why am I asking?" It groaned and settled down by a tree nearby mine, leaning back.

"How did.. how did you find us?"

"Well, you two were making a ton of noise after you left me to die. After you ran. A deaf monkey could have followed you two."

"Why? Why did you save me again?" I ask, tears welling in my eyes.

"Because I'm better than you. Because I wont leave a person in front of me to die alone. If none of you will show empathy, I will. It's what my son would have wanted." There was nothing more to be said, I hung my head in shame. I had stampeded away to save my own scales, dirt-etched the entire time. And it had somehow gotten up from being shot in the leg and then stabbed... and still saved me again. Before either of us could say anything more, the hiss of a shuttle landing nearby greeted us, and I saw zurulian medics come out of the doors, rushing to me and and hunter.

"Sorry." I finally said before passing out, head lolling to the side.

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Memory Transcription Subject: Ziaan, Harchen speaker
Date [Standard Human Format]: October 19th

I hate this, I hate every bit of this. The humans came in and took over in less than two claws worth of time. I had been quick to accept their terms of surrender when they burst into my office, saving the lives of myself and my assistant. All things considered, the loss of life had been minimal after, and besides exterminators and soldiers, no civilians had been harmed... except one. "Should we play it again Speaker?" My assistant asks, looking over the video of a debriefing of one Giidan as he lays in his hospital bed. "The humans could be telling him to lie, threatening him." The Letian offers.

I had heard of Giidan before, scriptwriter for some of the better movies that came around. His works usually made for an enjoyable watch. But now his tail never left his claws, clutched to his body like it was going to fall off. And he kept asking to see a human by the name of 'Double H.' "Alright, play it once more." I flick my tail and sit back.

Giidan sits on his hospital bed, a venlil with a blue UN band around its right arm. It has a pad in hands, ready to take notes, at this point in the debrief they had already established names and basic events. "But why were you fleeing the bunker Giidan? We have multiple videos from security cameras and soldiers that show you stampedeing in full panic towards the forest, running through soldiers who were trying to stop you and usher you to safety." He spoke, Giidan shuffling nervously. "Why would you run to the predator infested forest, and away from the bunker with your herd?"

"Be-because... the exterminators..." The harchen took a breath. "They thought were were going to lose... they knew fighting the humans was fruitless... they told the herd as much." He gulped. "Death before cattle. The bunker was divided between those who gave up, and those who wanted to wait. So the exterminators made the final decision for the herd." He closed his eyes, visibly shaking as his scales turned to orange. "Without warning they turned their flamers on the bunker. We had no other weapons, nothing to make it quick. I-I can still hear the screams. I was closest to the door, and I didn't want to die." He turned his head at this point, closing one eye so he wasn't looking at the Venlil. One tried to grab me, drag me back into the bunker. I had to kick him free from the grip he had on my other leg." He began to visibly shake. "Th-that is why I was running." The video paused here.

Everything else was about what happened in the forest, something we all knew about since both Humans involved had been wearing 'body cameras'. We had seen the view of Double H saving giidan from the Olgarl, openly eating meat in front of him, but being empathetic and helping him to safety. We had seen Chris intrude and attack Hunter, putting him in a critical state. Only to get up and bandage himself so he could go save Giidan again. It was clear that H didnt have any love for us before, but was making an effort to forgive... after being abandoned by the one he saved, it had hardened him once more. The human still wore the mask everywhere to not frighten anyone, but he never spoke to prey anymore. He would have a permanent limp from the gunshot, but would recover quickly with the help of zurulian medicine.

Then there was Chris... the human that had actively hunted the Harchen. Both Kolia and I had sworn we wouldnt share the contents of this video with anyone, and we were being compensated for it. The human never stopped his pursuit of Giidan, calmly following the trail, shouting out threats and obscene promises to Giidan. The UN assured me again and again that this was not the standard for humans, that everyone viewed this man's actions as vile and criminal. I could understand why Giidan never let go of his tail, hugging it for comfort the entire time. I had a promise to talk to a UN general about this, to find out what they planned.

I sighed, turning off the interview. This incident had shown me two different sides to humanity... one full of hate and surrendering to those predator instincts.. the other full of the same hate, but working to lessen the harm inflicted on everyone. The only question left was which one was more common? "Come on Kolia.. let's walk Inatala’s Square, maybe we will see an artist still out." I sigh, hoping to salvage the day.

Here we go, Duality part 2! This story is really getting away from me and keeps expanding more than I thought. Im honestly surprised that i thought at the start of this that i would fit everything all in one post. Anyways, enjoy the story and be on the lookout for part 3 later.

PS: posting this from mobile. When I can get to a computer I will fix some formatting issues and post links to part 1.

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Memory Transcription Subject: Giidan, Harchen Filmmaker
Date [Standard Human Format]: October 15th, 2136.

I had thought for the briefest moments to flee again as soon as the cuffs were taken off my wrists, but the quick sight of the predator's gaze kept me rooted to the ground. "Th-thank you." I mutter, rubbing my wrists to soothe the dull ache in them. I considered my position here, lost in the forest with only a predator to lead me back to safety. It was an absurd concept, but it had killed once to keep me safe already, and it did say that there were proper prey looking for me too. Or, they *had* been looking for me before giving me up for dead... which I would have been if it wasn't for this predator here... "M-my name is Giidan." I decided to introduce myself as the predator, maybe if I could get it to see me as friendly, it wouldnt give into bloodlust. "Wh-when are we going back?"

Its head turned, reflective mask gleaming in the firelight, its eyes mercifully hidden or Im sure I would have flinched. "Good to have a name to the scales Giidan." It struggled with my name for a moment, the first syllable coming out strange like it was spoken with a heavy accent. I didn't try to correct it though, just happy he wasn't referring to me as 'meat' or 'snack'. "I'm waiting for dawn to break before we head out. Too dangerous to move in the dark. Especially since I don't know what type of animals you have here. And I can only imagine that fox-thing will be even harder to see in dark." Did it not have night vision like the other predators? Maybe because they were half prey they lost that hunting aspect? But it still said it could see me through Vinosh, deception? I groaned softly, not knowing what to think anymore, what exactly the capabilities of my predator were. "You okay over there? Here, I think I've got some food for you.." It said before digging through it's pack, my scales turning a mix of orange and pink at that.

"I-I dont eat m-meat." Was it trying to taint me? I didnt want to be a predator. Oh god this was its plan wasn't it? It has me alone in the woods, not to eat, but so it could taint me before bringing me back to my people. It was trying to say something to me, but i didn't hear it as my eyes began to water at the thought of being driven feral and attacking fellow prey. The impact of something plastic hitting my chest and falling into my lap broke me from my fear induced stupor, spiraling thoughts brought back to reality. Slowly I looking down to see what sort of revolting package now lay in my lap, only to see a package containing an assortment of colors in it, earthy browns, something black, yellows, and oranges, nothing even resembling the stick it had earlier. "What is this?"

It let out a heavy sigh. "Like I said, I know you don't eat meat. You really have to stop that shit and just listen to me." It shook its head from side to side, probably in some sort of gesture I couldn't understand. "That's trail mix. A snack made up of nuts, raisins, banana chips, blueberries, mango, and strawberries. All dried and preserved." It listed every ingredient, my translator telling me about each fruit and assuring me there was no meat in what it listed. "I didn't pack anything more because I didnt think I would be out here this long. So unless you want to take a bite out of the bush over there, that is all we got for you." It growled at me. I almost took offense to it suggesting that I eat a random bush like some mindless animal who couldn't control itself. Just because I could eat the plants here, didn't mean I was gonna bite into one at the slightest hint of hunger. Still, better not to antagonize it, so I opened the packet of food it had given me. The scent of salt, nut, and fruit immediately wafted into my nostrils and elicited a rumbling growl from my stomach. With less care than I would have liked to admit, I plucked a few morsels from the bag and popped it into my mouth.

"This... is really good..." The crunch of the hard nuts faded as I swallowed do the first bits. "Th-thank you." A grunt was the only thing I got in reply, leaving me to inspect my bounty. There were a few different nuts mixed in here, a few salty and one very sweet. Each filled me with a shiver of delight as I crunched down. Nut dishes had always been a staple and popular food on Fahl, Odan being particularly popular even among alien visitors. Something in them just seemed to resonate and fill a need nothing else could, I knew of more than one gojid couple who always came during harvests to pick up Odan spread and whole nuts to take back to the Cradle. I had to stop when the taste of the fruits hit my tongue, exotic like not other, my words failing to describe the taste. I knew I shouldn't like this, it was food from a predator after all, but these berries... the chip that I assumed was the 'banana'. If I survived this, I needed to figure out how to get more. I quickly finished the trail mix and handed him the refuse, watching as he put it back into the bag. With nothing else to do until Nhaali rose, I tried to strike up a conversation with the predator, only to realise i never got its name. "Um.. Mister..." I didnt want to call it predator again, so I just left it at that. "Have you always been a soldier? Or did you do something else? Y-your hunting prowess saved me from the Olgarl.. thank you." I never thanked it for that, even when it chided me earlier.

It turned its whole body to face me now, leaning forward with its arms on its legs, gaze under that mask boring into me, making me shrink back. "Call me double H. My friends do, and you wouldn't like my name. My parents had terrible sense when they named me." It gives a small painted laugh at that, again shaking its head for some reason. "I was a musician before I joined the UN. Played the guitar. Even taught my son.." It went silent for a moment. "After Earth was bombed, I couldn't play anymore. Joined up to come make a difference... to try and stop any more tragedy." It took a deep breath. "The Ogarl thing? That was just a lucky shot." It explained. "I saw you appear as the fox-thing... Ogarl was stalking you. That rifle over there is very precise when you have time to set up..." It pointed to the rifle against the tree. "In the two seconds I had between you appearing and it attacking, I just pointed and fired." My scales went cold and Grey as it told me that my survival had been a fluke, a random shot made in haste. "I did what I had to do to save you. I had to make an effort at the very least, and im glad it worked out." It sat up now and tilted his head to the sky. "What about you? What did you do before this mess?"

I was frozen for a moment, the scene suddenly replaying in my mind vividly. The Ogarl pouncing at me as I lost control and surrendered to fear, only for its head to cease existing and the wet sensation of green blood on my scales, then nothing. I shook my head, squeezing my eyes shut to banish the vision. "I-I help make films." I took a breath and slowly opened my eyes. "While I dont direct, I do choreography and script writing. Make sure that the actors are in the right places, say the right things, and do the right actions." The human had its mask pointed at me, showing i had ita full attention. "Actually, I helped make the last..... oh." I balked. My last project had been The Externinators: Reunion Burn. "N-nothing big. H-humans probably wouldn't like it anyways." This earned a laugh from it, to which my scales took on a deep purple hue. "Can we move now?" I asked, desperate to change the subject as the sky started to burn in the orange of dawn.

"Fine, fine. Keep your secrets lizard dude." It said with that gravely laugh, getting up from its stool and stretching. Its joints let out a horrendous popping sound that surely must have broken something. "Shame, would have loved to see an alien film." It said before starting to put out the fire and pack up its things in the small bag it had with it. "Alright, I figure it should only be a couple hours hike back to town. I'll drop you off with your people and this whole thing will be over. Just gotta avoid those Ogarl things and we are good to go." It reached down a paw to me, waiting for... something. "Grab it so I can help you up." It said plainly when I looked at it in confusion. Hesitantly, I reach up and put my paw into its, only for it to grab me firmly and pull up, hoisting me into the air and off my seat. My legs scrambled in the air, my voice letting out the most undignified fear yelp I have ever done. oh Inatala, this is it! It finally stopped pretending! "Shit, sorry Giidan, you are lighter than I thought." It said and quickly lowered me down to let my feet tough the ground, letting go of my paw.

"Y-yes! Light, no meat... very thin, not good meal." I chirp out in a panic, dirt-etched once more and my tail curled firmly around my leg. It sighed, mumbling something under its breath and mercifully moved away from me.

"Follow me Giidan." It spoke softly and trudged on.

~~~~Advance 3 hours~~~~

My lungs burned for air, legs exhausted as we stopped and I sprawled on the ground. This was our second stop, both times for me, the human wasn't even breathing hard! "Ho-how are you not tired?" I ask, caat a look over him with my preferred eye. Even the Arxur couldn't go this long! What type of super-predator were these humans that they seemed to just be able to move forever? It was chewing on a pink substance it called 'gum', drinking from a canteen before throwing me a bottle filled with water. I greedily drank the offered liquid, too tired to even think about the situation anymore.

"We can't keep taking breaks like this. I heard you guys had shit for stamina, but I didn't think it was this bad." It shook its head in what i had come to recognize as disappointment. "I've let the others know we are on our way back and to exect us in a few hours. Everyone wants you back so we can figure out what happened in the bunker." It said, the mask pointed directly at me again, this one much more intense. I sucked in a deep breath, freezing at the mention of the bunker. At this point, orange was becoming my natural color, though this time it wasn't because of the human. "I-I didn't do anything. I swear... we all thou-"

My head whipped to the side almost like the human's did, a snapping branch to the side demanding my attention and cutting off my sentence. A human wearing a vest and black pelts stepped into our makeshift rest spot. "Well shit, and here I thought I wouldnt catch the two of ya before you got back to camp." It growled, the thick snarl they called a 'smile' plastered on its face. "Seems like ol' Double H is living up to his name." There was something off about this smile, something that made my scales itch and my desire to herd up flare strongly. I slowly began to move away from this new predator, back to the one that I was familiar with. *The predator you know....* "Aww, look at it, all scared and already moving back to the *Hunter* it knows." It smiled and I looked up in confusion... hunter i knew? Was.. was the predator it saved me a hunter? Like the Arxur? I had been deceived.. I knew it. The world started to blur as my breaths became more labored, fear setting in, eyes watering as I began to cry. From one predator to another, from one death to another. *What did I do to deserve this?*

"Jesus, Chris, what the fuck?" The hunter said, growling at the newcomer, a rival to steal its prey from it. "He's already had a rough day, why the fuck are you purposely telling him my name just to fuck with him?" It stepped forward, putting itself between me and the other. " Actually, why the hell are you even out here? After what you did, you were supposed to stay in camp." The reflective mask it was was focused solely on the new human. There was a palpable tension in the air as they stared each other down, no one moving. Chris, I gather from what Hunter called it, (or maybe Jesus?) Was smaller than double H, had thinner arms, and was less imposing in almost every way. The light skin and wiry tuft of fur on top of its head, showing the youth of the human, only seemed to scream weak about it. Those eyes held a malice though, cruelty, HUNGER. It was an Arxur in human skin, a predator wanting to consume me, body and soul, keeping me alive just to watch it devour me. I couldn't stop myself from shaking, trying to enter Vinosh but too overwhelmed to keep more than a part of my scales blended. "Go back to camp Chris. I don't want you here. We will get back on our own."

"Mr. Hunt, I only assure you I want what is best." It said, stepping closer with its arms spread, palms facing us. "It doesn't matter to me that it is a civilian, one that was running from a burning bunker. Fled through an active battlefield.. to hide in a forest." It approached, words dripping with a calm malice, every breath laced with venom. "It *must* know something. And unlike their exterminators, *I* value the truth." Something was wrong, every instinct was screaming at me to run, to get away from the Arxur bearing down on me. "So I'm going to stay with it, make sure we learn everything there is to know. After all, we don't want to make any mistakes with the ones who literally DECIMATED US." It growled the last words through clenched teeth, lips bared to expose the white fangs (as small as they were) in a clear threat display. I was only kept in place by the steady paw of Double H on my shoulder, his body between me and Chris.

"Chris, im warning you, you dont want to play this game. Get back to camp and I'll put in a good word so you dont get court marshalled for disobeying a direct order."

"Always so quick to show kindness, to show empathy to everyone who don't deserve it, aren't you?" Chris mocked, stepping closer now. "Why the fuck are you here Hunter? Why aren't you working with me? Didn't you come to this planet for vengeance?" It yelled, the not-Arxur focusing fully on my human. "Remind me how your son died?" "Dont you fuck-" "Thirteen year old Frankie Hunt, burned alive in a bomb shelter in Phoenix Arizona. A Harchen Exterminator the one responsible for taking all 72 lives inside." The air stilled as Chris spoke over Double H in a fit of rage, silencing everyone and revealing the past. "Aspiring guitar player-" this time he was cut off as my human lunged forward with a anquished yell, fist prepared for a hit. The pack it had been carrying was dropped at my feet, contents spilling over the ground.

A gunshot rang out, the loud Crack causing me to flinch down and drop to the orange dirt, the smell of iron and a pained grunt filling my nostrils and ears. I looked up to see Double H stumble towards Chris, only for the latter tackle it to the ground, easily knocking it off balance. "Everyone always said you got angry about your Son, but for you to not notice my gun was drawn?" It laughed, pinning Double H's back to the ground. "It always sickened me how nice you are to the lizards. Why are you going out of your way to help these fuckers?" It growled and turned its head to me, locking me with those soulless brown eyes. "I'm going to-" its moment of innatention, its eyes focused on me and not the one it had pinned to the ground, left it open just long enough to take a hit to the face. The impact of that fist on its skull rang out, shocking me out of the small stupor I was in. "Son of a-"

"Giidan! Grab the rifle! I need your help!" Double H shouted at me, pain in its voice as it struggled to get up, the other predator still reeling from the blow. The two began to struggle, wrestling and hitting each other not five tails from me. The rifle lay with the scattered contents of the pack at my feet, a glance down telling me exactly where it was. I could even use my wide angle vision to watch them fight and reach for the weapon at the same time. I shook like a leaf in a windstorm, reaching through the contents of the pack, stopping as I saw a small back of brown squares, my translator revealing the words as 'beef jerky'... meat... innocent prey cut up and dried for later consumption. Time seemed to stop... was i really considering saving this predator's life? he saved yours I knew the rifle was powerful, it could kill even when shot in haste... surely it would kill Chris.. I shuddered at the thought of taking a life... even a predator... I wasn't an exterminator.

A loud scream of pain tore me from my mind, vision refocusing, a flash of steel and a gush of red. With one more thrust, a yelp of pain, Chris buried the knife into Hunter's shoulder. "Giidan..." It grunted, visored head turned to watch me, mid reach for the weapon... the other predator snapping its head to me and snarling, laughing. It gave another punch to Hunter's middle and stood up, running its hands through the tuft of fur on its head. I did the only thing I could do.

I ran.

Reptileinwool: I just learned of this lovely human delicacy that I could not resist sharing. Its a wonderful little treat that involves layers and layers of some of the finest things that would be considered food fit for rulers on their own, and the humans just put them all together! I simply must share this knowledge! It's called a turducken.

*poster laughs maniacly at the no doubt chaos translators will start once they parse out that word.*

ooc: yes, this is a shitpost, but i want to see what you all think would happen when the NoP universe learns of the abomination that is the turducken. Enjoy!

Hey there, back with a random bonus chapter of Fahl Days. This one had no plan, just came to me and I started writing! Unfortunately, with what I have planned for the rest of this story, and the amount of time I have left today to write, I decided to split this one up into 2 parts. And the name for the chapter was picked before the decision to split into 2, so interesting coincidence there. Anyways, enjoy!

Memory Transcription Subject: Giidan, Harchen Filmmaker

Date [Standard Human Format]: October 14th, 2136

*There is no hiding, the bunkers aren't safe, run, run, run, run, RUN, RUN, RUN!* A flash of silver nearby. *RUN!* A deep voiced shout. *IT'S RIGHT BEHIND ME, RUN RUN RUN!* An explosion echoed in the distance, unintelligible should from silver and blue nearby. *Dont stop, run!* blue and brown came into view, the smell of leaves and trees. *Into the forest! GO, RUN! Jump!* a *thing* appeared, grasping at air. *Dont stop, escape!*

~~~~Advance 5 hours~~~~

I lay panting in a bush, its blue leaves surrounding my scales blended into the surroundings to hide me from view. My lungs pleaded for air and drank greedily as I lay there with the stampede state releasing its grasp from my mind and freeing my thoughts once more. I turned in my bush, claws clutching at the leaves and drawing them in close, tears in my eyes. "I'm a coward..." My voice came hoarse and weak, spent from my mad stampede from the bunker into the forest. I had run as far as I could, and then some more, going as fast as I could and weaved through the trees to escape the town, the bunker, the predators.

The humans had landed not even a day ago, sweeping aside our planetary defense force and touching down with their transport ships, likely to capture as many of us for cattle as they could. I, along with the rest of my coworkers, evacuated to the bunker with the town, met by the exterminators meant to guide and protect us. For hours we hid in the bunker, praying to Inatala that we would be safe, remain hidden. But then we made the discovery... a horrible one... a strong wind came and blew the door open. After trying to quickly close it in the panic, thinking the humans had shown up, the exterminator didnt find any predators waiting for us outside. Instead they found the lock on the door was broken, and the door couldn't be secured. The sounds of a ship flying overhead, and the humans landing in town... chaos and madness let loose.

I shook my head and clamped my mouth shut, wrenching my eye close to shut out the memory. I ran, like a coward, and now I was deep in the forest, deeper than I had ever been, probably deeper than anyone had ever been. My scales were a vibrant orange, perfect for hiding in the dirt at my feat, the fear chemicals still coursing through my veins. I knew I couldn't stay exposed like this, I had to control my nerves and remember my childhood, the lessons from my parents. Slowly I entered a state of *Vinosh*, scales matching to my surroundings as I calmed my breathing and my nictitating membrane slid over my eyes, changing hue just like my scales. To anything that may have been watching me, I would simply vanish from sight. For me, the world became slightly dulled as I beheld the world through the membrane, movements slow so I could keep *Vinosh* as i crawled away from my bush.

Taking in my surrounds, I quickly realized that I had no clue where I was, and without my holopad, I had no access to GPS functions nor the ability to call anyone... if they were even alive. A choked sob escaped my throat as I forced down the thoughts of my friends either dead or cattle, and I kept moving. I knew I hadn't ran the whole time while in my stampede, nothing could move for that long, not even predators, but I had gotten far by stopping then running again and again. Worse still, I didnt know what direction I had come from. This was the worst situation, a nightmare scenario of the worst kind possible. I was lost in a forest away from the herd, infested with wild predators, and sapient predators invading the city. Knowing that staying here was simply giving myself up as a meal, I stayed low and began to crawl in a random direction, hoping to get lucky and find some semblance of civilization that hadn't fallen yet.

~~~~Advance 4 hours~~~~

Every limb ached with exertion now, my only thoughts this entire time having been to keep moving. Thirst and hunger gnawed away at me while fear kept me from searching for water. I had managed to grab leafy blues to munch on as I moved, but it was hardly a satisfying meal and more one borne of desperation. Keeping *Vinosh* also meant I couldn't move quickly or eat for long, and I wasn't willing to drop it and expose myself. With Nhaali setting soon and its light slowly fading from the sky, I knew I had to find a place to hide so I could sleep. A deep rumbling growl from the trees made my blood freeze, my head slowly turning as the predator stalked down. *"Olgarl... no.."*

The large canid beast crawled down the tree, its three eyes firmly locked onto me. Twin tail lashed behind it, wagging as it sighted its helpless prey before it. My form came back into view as *Vinosh* failed and my dirt-etched scales betrayed my wild fear. Not that it mattered, Olgarl saw into a different spectrum of light entirely, making our shifting scales useless when trying to hide from the beasts. With how exhausted I was, there was no more running, I could only freeze in place as it approached. Midnight black fur came closer and closer, mouth parting to expose white fangs and a yellow tongue, dripping with saliva. Its purple eyes dominated my world, shutting out everything but my end, this beast that would claim me as its meal. Satisfied with its inspection, the predator pounced, leaping through the air with its mouth open to bite into my neck and finish me. A thunderous crack sounded, the Ogarl's head exploded, and I was coated with blue blood. "Wh-what?" Came my own voice before the ground hit me, vision going dark.

Memory Transcription Subject: Giidan, Harchen survivor

Date [Standard Human Format]: October 15th, 2136

Consciousness came slowly as I felt the warmth of fire seep into my scales, deep voices being translated nearby. "[How] did you find him?" Voice one asked, seemingly too come through a device of some sort. "I saw some sort of six-legged fox thing climbing down a tree, that pitch black fur standing out against all the blue and brown here. The situation seemed odd, because it looked like it was staring down a shrub and growling at it. Then the xeno just... materialized out of thin air, bright fricken orange." Voice two replied, much closer. "Harchen, not xeno. You know better than that, Dave. What would your so-" "Fuck you." "Right, sorry. Crossed a line. Anyways, what happened after that?" Dave sighed, "I took the shot. Fox thing jumped at the *Harchen* so I nailed the bastard in the head." "...Dont you only have a .50 cal?" "What of it?" Realisation suddenly came to me, the voices were human. Predators. I had been captured by predators, panic filling me as i sat up before the sound of metal rattling sounding out... "Seems like it woke up, ill contact you later."

The radio shut off, my mind finally taking in my surroundings. We were in a small clearing in the forest, the a fire in middle not more than [15 feet] away from me. I tried to stand, but my feet yanked together painfully as I tried to left myself. Looking down, I saw metal cuffs around my ankles, and another set around my wrists. Neither were painful or tight, but they restricted my movement, especially since I hadn't noticed them at first. "Relax there Xeno, I ain't gonna hurt you. No matter how much you deserve it." The beast spoke that last part full of venom and hatred. I shrunk in on myself, breathing rapidly as I tried to enter *Vinosh* again. "I can see the cuffs still you idiot. That wont work. In fact..." The human leaned closer, "Now that I know what im looking for, I can kinda see you. Like looking for a ghillie suit. Huh." It spoke and my mind filled with horror, they was like the Olgarl?! They could see us?

"Wh-why am I still alive? Why di-didn't you e-eat me?" I managed to get out, seeing no way out since it could see through *Vinosh* and I was chained up. My vision grew blurry as tears swelled up. I couldn't even die properly, now I was going to become cattle. The predator sighed and reached into a large backpack that was next to it, pulling out a reflective mask that he soon strapped to its head.

"There, is that better you Xeno dumbass? I swear it all about eat this, eat that, predator prey nonsense with you fuckwits." It grumbled, mask still pointed at me. "The only thing I am eating is my own rations that I brought from home. I'm not going to touch a single scale on you. Also, a simple thank you would be nice, I did save your damned life, from something that *did* want to eat you." It turned and went back to the fire, apparently done with talking to me. I couldn't find words as the beast spoke, even when it put on the mask. I watched as it pulled something else out of the pack, a brown stick of some sort in a clear plastic wrapper. As quickly as it was unwrapped, it brought it up to its mouth under the mask... I could hear it bite it and chew, even with its back turned to me. I gagged and put the thought from my mind of what poor prey that had been, mumbling softly. "What did you say?" It asked, turning back to face me, done with its meal apparently.

"P-please let me g-go. I-I'm sure I t-taste terrible." I finally pleaded out, louder to him. Maybe, maybe since its appetite was filled, it wouldnt see value in keeping me. "I'll tell everyone how cruel, how savage you are... that you only let me go because I was too scrawny. Y-yes, im too thin to eat. N-no meat on my bones." I pleaded with it, only for the predator to stand up with a heavy growl and stalk over to me. I shrunk back once more, eyes closing.

"Okay, listen here you little shit. I'm here to get your sorry ass out of the woods. Your governor, speaker, whatever the fuck she is called asked for us to rescue you and anyone else we could find." It spoke with an unhinged growl. "So im bringing you back to your city, and releasing you there, like we promised her." The reflective visor was right in my face, showing the dirt-etched scales I wore, frozen in place by the angry human. "Unlike you Xenos, we dont want to kill civilians. So when my commander saw you doing fucking *Parkour* through soldiers and exterminators, and run into the forest, he sent us in after you to save your sorry hide." It sighed and moved back, letting me release a breath I had been holding. "We reached an agreement with your speaker and were *peacefully* working with the crazy arsonists to get everyone when you came running through. When we saw what your were running from, you became a priority for everyone to find." The mask never left me.

"E-everyone?"

"Fifteen UN soldiers, three de-armed exterminators, and two of your soldiers. All spread into these woods to find you. Only me and one other are alone, the rest are in groups of six, for safety." It explained, revealing just how much were looking for me. "I just got in contact with my commander and let him know I found you. All the groups gave up because *your* people were sure you were dead. It is just me and the other guy that were still looking for you. And now we are headed back to town." It finally finished talking. I didn't want to believe a word it said, this all had to be a trick. But why did it try? It already had me in chains, helpless... it probably only killed the Olgarl so it could have me to itself. "Are you satisfied now? Can we stop the bullshit?" It asked, to which i held up my chained claws. "For the love of... of course I cuffed you. When I found you passed out by the fox-thing I killed, I knew you would run again when you woke up. And I didnt want to have to find you again." It picked up a container of some sort and threw it at me. I flinched and tried to squirm away, but it landed gently in my lap, a sloshing sounding out from inside. "It's a canteen. Of water." The predator said before turning it's back to me to tend to the fire.

The 'canteen' felt like hard plastic, doubts filling my mind about it. But even the Arxur fed their cattle and as much as i hated it, I needed a drink. The forgotten thirst returned with a vengeance as soon as he mentioned the drink, my throat dry as the sands of the south. With a bit of fumbling, I managed to twist off the cap at the opening, pouring out some of the liquid onto my claw. Confirming it to actually be sweet nourishing water, I greedily drunk the rest of the container. Gasping for air once I finished, I looked down at my claws, the scales showing signs of having been cleaned. Confused, I looked at my arms, legs, and body... none of the olgarl blood to be seen... I knew inhad been covered when it died, how did I get cleaned? I looked to the human and immediately had to shut out the thoughts that began to race through my mind one *what* he used to clean me. My eye drifted across the camp once more, seeing a long rifle leaning against a tree with some sort of tubes next to it. The two tubes were linked together at the middle, and I figured out what they were! Telescopes, but shorter and spaced just enough for binocular eyes. "So you are taking me back to town? Re-really?" I stutter out my question, unable to think of anything else without going into full panic.

"That's the plan."

"Then ca-can I have the cuffs off? S-so I know what you say is true?"

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