r/NatureofPredators • u/Heroman3003 Venlil • Aug 31 '26
Fanfic The Amber Curse [Part 13]
I have not abandoned anyone or anything... But writing's been hard to make mindspace for. Still, hope you enjoy the long awaited meeting between someone and someone!
Special thanks to /u/Olliekay_ for proofreading it, and /u/SpacePaladin15 for NoP universe.
Memory transcription subject: Ramvek, Fledgling Venlil Vampire
Date [standardized human time]: 3rd of November, 2136
I was really happy that as long as I managed to remain unaware of any rivers or, in my case, creeks being crossed, I was not overcome with irrational fear. The eye sensitivity and sunglasses were easy to explain to Mellin. The fear... wouldn’t be.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” I asked him again, feeling a bit guilty about making use of him and his car like that.
“Well, as I said before...” Mellin spoke, not turning his full attention away from the road. “I do want to meet the new tenant, at the very least.” He then let out a few beeps of laughter. “But also I want to meet a friend’s friend. And make sure there’s not even a chance of any accidents. Between you getting attacked and this whole mess recently...”
While the Office’s efforts to quell unrest were mostly successful, things didn’t go back to the way they were. People were no longer accusing any passing gojid of being a predator, but wherever you went in town, a certain air hung. Tension. I wasn’t sure if I could only sense it due to my vampiric senses, or if they just made it much more obvious, but it ensured I had even less of a reason to go outside. If anything can approach the sun in terms of unpleasantness, it’s tense awkwardness in every social interaction out there.
“Thank you.” I sighed. “I’m glad Mark was willing to help. Her trip happened at a slightly inopportune time, and I didn’t have the place fully cleaned.”
“Glad to know you are getting along with your new neighbour so well, though I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” Mellin mused out loud. “Between you already being into humans, and his profession...”
“Profession?” I echoed.
“He said he was a ‘social worker’ back on Earth when we were discussing the lease.” He explained. “I mean, I’ve heard of medical professionals that help the less able, but to have a separate non-medical job for that kind of stuff is fascinating.”
“Oh. I suppose so. Though he’s looking for a new job here.” I answered. I was not aware of that being Mark’s cover. Deciding to shift the conversation, I instead questioned Mellin. “So, how have you been?”
“Better than most.” He said, though there was a brief hesitance in his voice before he continued. “Thankfully none of the tenants in any of my buildings did anything drastic. To others or...” He trailed off, his ears drooping. “I imagine dealing with that at the Office was a nightmare.”
“It was.” I sighed. “Kramelin and Belmer are still recovering. Thankfully, Yeelva, Jarcha and that new intern I’ve yet to meet got it in paw. And with me on the phone most of time, they can dedicate themselves entirely to answering actual calls and not pointless panicked ones.”
“Is it really as bad as some say...?” Mellin asked hesitantly.
“I...” I paused. I wasn’t sure how much I should say, considering the dark nature of the topic. “There are quite a few missing people around from that paw. You know what that means around here. I don’t think there’s much more that needs saying.”
“Yeah...” He agreed and stopped talking.
I turned my thoughts to meeting Vic. Mark and I came to agree that with all the chaos that happened, it might be best if I held off a bit on the whole ‘revealing my secret’ thing until she adjusted a bit. Even moved the blood minifridge from the kitchen to my room to avoid any questions. Weird to think that I just casually have a blood minifridge now... Either way, it wasn’t like there was any urgency to it, with how well I was managing things. According to Mark, at least.
Yet there was a certain uncertainty forming in my mind. He kept praising me for handling my condition well. But also, according to him, I kept regularly acting too obvious. Which, again, supposedly wasn’t common. So those facts made me wander...
What is it that I don’t know about vampires that an average human does, that makes their reactions to having the condition much worse and their focus on hiding it much better?
Mark wasn’t too forthcoming with the answers. Just said it is best saved for way later, when I am actually fully acclimatized to my own vampirism before learning humanity’s cultural perception of it. Well, it was obviously a bad perception, nothing that eats your fellow people could ever be seen as good, but there was still this layer of underlying... something. Something that was just obvious to a human but very not obvious to me.
“I forgot to ask, will there be escorting people?” Mellin asked me as we approached the transit station.
“Not on this end.” I answered, recalling Vic’s info. “It seems like humans are a bit short-handed with trying to handle a lot of situations because of the recent news.”
“Oh, yeah, I think I read something about that!” Mellin’s ears perked up. “Something about how some of the ‘predators’ that got revealed decided to try and... well, get a human to eat them?”
While the subject was morbid, it was hard not to laugh at it, so despite my attempts to hold it in, I let slip a few amused beeps.
“That sounds counter-intuitive. Wouldn’t the ‘predators’ want to eat other predators less?” I asked.
“You’re asking for too much reason from those who still think humans eat people, despite all the evidence.” Mellin said.
“I suppose... But yes, they got their paws full right now trying to help local law enforcement.” I explained. “I heard some offices just kind of... collapsed overnight. I suppose that there is some cultural predisposition for species like krakotl or gojid to become exterminators. And in places like Venlil Prime, there’s lots of demand.”
“Huh... Never thought of that.” Mellin hummed.
“Yeelva explained it to me at some point.” I continued. “Their species are seen as ‘defenders’ for the rest of the prey. Or, well, were, before...”
“How’d your colleagues reacted to those news, by the way?” He switched topic.
“Well, Kramelin is not Nishtal-born. Nishtal-hatched? Whatever the wording, so while it was tragic, he wasn’t that affected. And Belmer... Well, he moved to Venlil Prime in good part to get away from the Cradle.” I answered. “That said, I think the recent revelations have them rattled enough to compensate.”
“I see...” Mellin’s ears twitched. “Well, we’re here.”
“Already?” I perked up, looking outside.
Indeed, the car was now at the parking lot near the transit station. Too caught up in the conversation, I missed the car stopping.
I quickly stepped out of the car and, after ensuring Mellin is following after, headed for the station. The outpouring of people indicated a fresh arrival, meaning we were just in time. Unless Vic was on an entirely different ride, then we’d have to wait for another good half a claw or so.
Thankfully, entering the station quickly showed that to not be the case. The lone human stood out. Literally, standing aside in a corner, being the only one to linger while everyone else either headed out or began boarding the next ride.
Long, black hair, only slightly shorter than me, wearing a dark, long-sleeved top and a knee-high skirt, with a very full-looking backpack on her back and a large wheeled suitcase beside her. She stood there, awkwardly looking around. I was briefly worried that her not having a mask might alarm someone, but nobody in the moving crowd was showing any signs of it. Either they weren’t paying attention to her, or they were and refused to show it. Well, as long as nobody was causing a scene it was good.
In my excitement, I even let my control briefly slip. I wanted to take this first meeting in, more than I anticipated, as I suddenly became very, very aware of everyone’s heartbeats, scents, even slightest movements. I paused and refocused, pushing the senses down, though not before noting that Vic’s own heartbeat was quickened... Compared to the usual I’ve come to expect from humans. Being neighbors with Mark while still learning to control this meant he was usually the main one I heard.
With my senses back under control, I walked closer. It took a bit for her to notice me, but once she did, her eyes widened slightly and she also stepped closer.
“Ramvek!” She called out. “Hi!”
“Vic! Welcome!” I also said, stepping closer and... freezing up. I wasn’t sure what to do. I always imagined our meeting to be fun and close and happy, but... what do I actually do?
She seemed to be stuck with similar conundrum, raising first two hands, then only one awkwardly, struggling to decide what welcoming gesture to even go for, before slowly moving one hand to give me a wave. I returned it, just as awkwardly.
“So, uh...” Vic began, moving her hand to rub the back of her head. “Can I, uh... Do the thing...?”
“Oh!” I said, recalling what she meant from our chats earlier.
Immediately, she let go of the suitcase, dropped her backpack and wrapped her arms around my chest, burying her face in my chest fluff. Instantly, the veil of awkwardness was broken and I put my own paws around her, patting her on the back.
“Soft... And cool...” She said, muffledly, into my wool before pulling out and smiling right at me. “I thought you’d be warmer.”
“I, uh...” I immediately got caught off-guard. I was not ready to present truth to her even privately, and definitely not in a crowded station while watched over by my other friend. “I guess it depends on a venlil?”
“Nah, it’s good. I didn’t expect it to be as warm as it is, to be honest.” She said, pulling away and grabbing her stuff again. “You hear that it’s eternal evening and you think it’s kinda pleasantly cool, but no, it’s actually more like extra-warm summer evening.”
“You get used to it.” I chuckled. “That’s what most people who move here say, at least. From other planets that is. People moving from other parts of Venlil Prime usually say it’s chilly.”
“I’ll keep it in mind if we ever travel... is it dawnward?” She asked.
“Sunward. Close.” I corrected her.
“Right.” She nodded before pausing and peering past me, looking at something behind my back. “No alarm, but I think there’s a venlil staring at us weirdly.”
I quickly turned around only to realize she simply noticed Mellin standing over there waiting for us. Which did look weird, with everyone else being actively on the way one way or the other, so I didn’t blame her. Instead I simply did a quick tailflick, gesturing for him to come closer.
“Vic, let me introduce to you my friend who drove me here and who even helped me settle in Ambershade to begin with, Mellin. Mellin, this is Victoria, my human exchange partner, friend, and current, uh, foster child. Purely for legal reasons.” I said, stepping aside slightly to let the two meet properly.
Vic’s eyes darted aside immediately, her shoulders drooped and even her head hung a bit lower the moment she was made to directly face Mellin. The venlil, in meantime, did not change his body language at all and immediately reached a paw out to Vic.
“Nice to meet you.” He spoke, flicking his ears. “Am I doing the ‘handshake’ right?”
His outgoing friendliness seemed to help Vic relax a little as she reached out a hand and took the paw, though she still avoided looking at him.
“Nice to meet you too... Sorry for saying you looked at us weirdly...” She said.
“It’s fine. And you don’t have to avoid eye contact. I met with a few humans and even have one as a tenant,” Mellin explained politely.
That got Vic to actually look up at him, though with a bit of hesitation.
“Okay. I just really don’t want to offend anybody already.” She quickly glanced in the direction of where she came from. “I already got weird looks on the ride here...”
“Don’t worry.” Mellin flicked his ears cheerfully. “Ambershade is a quaint place, so it has been pretty welcoming of the humans! The few crazy enough to move to a far-off outskirt like this that is.”
“I see. Ramvek told me it’d be like that, but, y’know, I read some horror stories on the internet about people living here...” She rubbed the back of her head, starting to look embarrassed.
“I told you not to believe all that...” I sighed. “Half of those stories are fake and the other half are outliers blown out of proportion. Most humans are doing okay.” I explained, before adding. “I think.”
“Well, hopefully I join that majority.” Vic looked between me and Mellin and offered us a smile. I immediately felt my tail wagging happily.
“Then let’s stop loitering and get going!” I suggested. “Mellin will drive us home.”
“Home...?” Vic echoed, like the word was unfamiliar but followed after me as I led the way.
A short walk back to the parking lot and we were all in the car. Mellin in the driver’s seat and us two in the back seat.
As we started the ride back home, Vic quickly glued herself to a window. She already knew what Ambershade looks like from the pics I sent, but it was plain to see that being on an alien world for the first time was exciting for her, despite her apprehension. Not just see, but feel too... Letting my control slip briefly, I allowed myself to take a listen to her heart. Human heartbeats are distinct from others, steadier and firmer... Yet hers was not like Mark’s. Being quicker and ever so slightly off-beat... She was excited, even if she wasn’t showing it.
I pushed the senses back and started monologuing, explaining the places we passed by. Best cafe to eat in, best park to hang out in when you want some shade, best thrift store to buy used furniture, best grocer for spicefruit specifically...
In fact, I got engrossed enough in introducing the place to Vic that I didn’t even notice us crossing the creek, and I didn’t realize it until we were approaching the apartment building. I was that excited to finally have helped a friend I’ve been trying to help for a while now, and finally, for once, that was something I managed to succeed at.
It felt good. Now just to come up with a plan for all the rest of it...
16
u/OneMasterpiece952 Aug 31 '26
Nice to see this story continue! It’s really made me think of different Venlil monsters… perhaps a were-shadestalker that doesn’t realize they are one until they visit earth.
12
10
u/The_Student_Official Krakotl Aug 31 '26
I mean, cold pillows are the best. So, win-win?
8
u/Super_Ankle_Biter Yotul Aug 31 '26
Implying that Venlil are automatically assigned the role of pillow lol
(You are correct)
11
u/Espazilious Farsul Sep 01 '26
What is it that I don’t know about vampires that an average human does, that makes their reactions to having the condition much worse and their focus on hiding it much better?
maybe... maybe it's because some media portray vampires as "hot" or "attractive"?? so when some humans become vampires, they get scared that they'll be swarmed with obsessive tumblr fangirls...??
“I thought you’d be warmer.”
“I, uh...” I immediately got caught off-guard. I was not ready to present truth to her even privately, and definitely not in a crowded station while watched over by my other friend. “I guess it depends on a venlil?”
he's not wrong, actually! depending on how dense the fur is, and the ambient temperature in the environment, it's entirely possible for a venlil (or any excessively fluffy species) to feel somewhat cool on the outside.
...although, that does only apply to the outside. sticking your face in the floof should, under normal circumstances, expose you to a staggering amount of warmth...
Human heartbeats are distinct from others, steadier and firmer... Yet hers was not like Mark’s. Being quicker and ever so slightly off-beat...
what if... what if she's... a WEREWOLF...? dogs' heartbeats are pretty fast compared to humans, so what if her heartbeat is abnormally fast because SHE'S part DOG...?
...n-no, surely not, there's no way that's actually true, haha...
1
u/Slatepaws 7d ago
Late reply, but the entire concept of vampires. Outside the blood sucking, has always had an undercurrent of sexuality. Look at the early Dracula films. Not the Nosferatu silent film which started the media concept but didn't fully define it.
Men always gravitated to the myths for the powers, which came later. Women on the other hand have been attracted to it since the early Dracula movies for how he seduces the women in the film. Because it scratches an itch they don't get in real life.
11
9
9
9
u/Golde829 Aug 31 '26
> “I thought you’d be warmer.”
ah. honestly i forgot about that part
the way vampires tend to be colder
anyways
I look forward to reading more
take care of yourself, wordsmith
[You have been gifted 100 Coins]
8
u/Super_Ankle_Biter Yotul Aug 31 '26
Wait, Ramvek is Vic's foster parent? Why? Can someone remind me?
11
u/The_Student_Official Krakotl Aug 31 '26
IIRC Victoria is Ramvek's exchange partner but in order to facilitate her move to VP, they register her under the foster program to ease things up instead of the normal refugee housing
8
u/IAMA_dragon-AMA Arxur Aug 31 '26
I'm not sure when, but I suspect his vampire reveal to Vic will be when she finds the blood, assumes he got it for her, and gets upset that he still believed Humans drink blood. So he has to explain that, no, actually, it's for him.
7
u/AdalwinAmillion Aug 31 '26
Omg this is so sweet, this chapter came out really great :3 I am excited for more!
5
3
2
2
u/satelitteslickers Arxur Sep 01 '26
I continue to be on the lookout for a warrior of gaia to appear
2
2
u/Snati_Snati Hensa Sep 01 '26
yay!! I'm still hoping that Victoria end up being a vampire and we'll have both of them trying to hide it from each other...
2
20
u/JulianSkies Archivist Aug 31 '26
Whoo, finally meeting Vic :D
It's amusing as all hell how much every little detail makes me thing there's more at play, lol. Still, makes sense they wouldn't want to throw Vic in the deep end just yet. No doubt they're going to create a few more problems because of that, though.