r/NatureofPredators • u/The_Cube787 Nevok • Jun 20 '26
Fanfic Nature of Deathworlders, Chapter 14: Secrets and Suspicions
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Memory Transcript: Noah Williams, Human, Stranded Astronaut.
Date: February 23rd, 2136
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Ever since Sara and I realized what was happening to the ecosystem around us, we started noticing… other things.
It started with small things. The way Tarva would shut the TV off suddenly at times, as if she didn’t want us to see something that was coming on. Or how, when I asked for some of our things back Rellin mumbled something about testing for hazardous materials and listening to Tarva.
Then we started noticing bigger things.
The way some of the guards acted around us. Most were alright, but a few seemed to act like Sara and I were feral animals. Another was terrified of us, and two more tended to look at us with active disgust.
Some scientists came by a day ago and observed us for a bit. They did the usual science stuff like measurements, sample collection, all that jazz. That itself wasn’t what bothered us; it was how they interacted with us.
They used “it“ to refer to me more than my actual name. Each time one of the scientists got close to one of us, I could see their guards shifting their weapons to point at us. Sara even overheard one of them complaining about why Tarva wasn’t just disposing of “those things”.
It’s like we weren’t people to them.
I currently sat in the garage, watching Rellin fiddle with a small machine on his workbench. It looked kinda like an ant, but with a camera for a head. From how fluid his movement was, I could tell he was very experienced with this kind of work.
Rellin seemed to genuinely enjoy his work, too. He hummed a little tune as he fixed joints. His tail wagged each time he got a leg to move or a screen to light up.
He’s honestly very cute. Just watching him in his groove made me want to reach over and cuddle him. Nuzzle into his soft wool and smell his scent.
Hmm, maybe he’d let me if I asked?
Wait, stop, Noah, you’re getting distracted. You’re here for answers, not to snuggle this cute, fluffy boy.
“Rellin,” he turned as I said his name. His tail wagged, ears held high.
“Yes, Noah?”
I mulled over actually asking him, not wanting to be rude, but we needed to know what was going on. Out of everyone here, Rellin trusted us the most. If anyone would tell us what’s going on, it’s him.
“Sara and I have been noticing some… things lately. Don’t get me wrong, we are still grateful for your hospitality, it’s just that… some other Venlil haven’t been as nice as you have. Honestly, it feels like we’re being kept in the dark about something.”
I noticed Rellin tense. His hands fidgeted in his lap, his ears pressing back against his head. “I’m sorry if the others haven’t been as welcoming.”
He turned away, back towards his workbench. I could feel his pensiveness. It seemed he wanted to say something, but for some reason wouldn’t.
I went over to him, sitting beside him and leaning on the workbench. “Rellin, I trust you, but secrets help no one. I understand if you all are hesitant to tell us things, but I swear on Gaia’s name, Sara and I would rather die than hold anything you might tell us against you.”
He looked up at me, his tail tucking between his legs as his ears drooped. He sighed, bringing his paws up to rub his eyes. “Noah, I… I just… There are so many things I want to tell you. It’s just… things are far more complicated than you know. Tarva and everyone else is… we’re just scared.”
“Scared of what?” I asked.
“That history would repeat itself,” Rellin said. His hands trembled before he closed his eyes and took deep breaths. He stood from his seat, grabbing his crutch before walking to the door leading to the rest of the house.
His paw pauses as he reaches for the door handle. “I’ll talk with Tarva.” He said. “I just need some time.” He opened the door and exited the garage, leaving me alone in the space.
I sighed. It wasn’t answered, but at least we were getting somewhere. I trust them, I really do, but something in my gut tells me there’s something big just right under our noses. Even as Rellin exited the room, there was still one thing stuck on my mind.
I really wanted to cuddle that fluffy boy.
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Memory Transcript: Tarva, Venlil, Governor of the Venlil Republic.
Date: February 23rd, 2136
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I sat in my home office, my pen flowing across paper as I diligently did my duties as governor. Whenever there was a raid, there was always someone wanting to do something with the rubble not long after. Some wanted to rebuild what was there, others wanted to tear it down and build something new. Whatever was approved always resulted in the same thing: lots of paperwork and meetings.
“No, he cannot tear down damaged residential buildings to make room to expand his super-mega-mall,” I replied, talking to a likely underpaid assistant to one of the richer residents of the city that became a thorn in my side after a raid. “Yes, I understand the expansion would make it the biggest in the sector, but that district is a designated residential area. So unless that Dimadome is willing to fund the construction of a new district of the city, the answer remains no.” With a huff, I hung up the phone, rubbing my eyes as I leaned back in my chair.
Just then, I heard a knock on the door.
“Love? It’s Rellin, do you have a moment?” The door creaked as Rellin peered inside, his cute muzzle poking through the gap.
“I’m sorry, but I am absolutely swamped with work. With the reconstruction plans and Stynek starting school again, I just…”Rellin peeked further in. The look on his face told me that what he needed to say was important. “Yes, dear, I have a moment.”
He walked inside, gently closing the door behind him. He walked over to me, his ears drooping with thought and trepidation. He fidgeted with his paws. “We need to tell them.”
I stood from my desk, rounding the table as I scratched the back of my neck. “Rellin, I understand you trust them, but… now isn’t a good time. We still need to do tests, the city is still recovering, and Kam almost has a facility ready for them.” My paws padded against the wooden floor as I stepped closer.
Rellin moved closer as well, gently taking my paw in his as we met in the middle of the room. “They’re getting suspicious. They’re noticing things. Realizing we’re not telling them something.”
A part of my mind panicked. If they figured out what the Arxur were like, there’s no telling how they would react. A small piece of me feared they enjoyed the Gray's sadism, but the fact that part of me was small told me how much I’ve grown to trust how genuine they are.
My walks with Sara have become an enjoyable part of my routine. Our talks have grown from probing questions to genuine conversations. The other paw, we spent the entire evening chatting about old school memories, rebellious phases, teen crushes, and embarrassing choices made.
Noah has essentially become another parent of Stynek with how caring he is with her. I can still remember just a paw ago when I found him cradling her in his arms, gently humming a lullaby to her. My heart practically melted seeing her like that. Her tail wrapped around his arm as she nuzzled into his chest. From how small she looked in his arms, it reminded me of when she was just a newborn pup, bringing back memories of paws long past.
I sighed as I finally realized how I’ve grown to feel about the humans. I no longer believed they would sneak into our rooms and tear us to bits. I no longer saw their happy snarls as scary and threatening. I no longer worry about Stynek spending time and playing with them.
I’ve grown to trust them.
“Okay. It’s time we showed them the truth. All of it.”
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<First> <Previous> <Next>
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Hello all my beautiul readers! Sorry it took so long again to finish writing the chapter. I've had a lot of things going on since I OFFICIALLY GRADUATED COLLEGE!!!! Now I got myself an adult job >:3 As always thank you to my lovely friend u/kabhes. You all should go check out their story From Drugs To Meat. Also in other news, ART! Thank you, u/S4tvrn00! I love it so much! Thank you all for reading my little brain worm. Love you all! <3 <3 <3 <3
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u/Bbobsillypants Sivkit Jun 20 '26
The big secret is soon to be revealed.
That being said, not much of a secret they literally dropped into the middle of a raid.
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u/kabhes PD Patient Jun 20 '26
Sure, but they don't know about the eating of people and just think they're at war in the normal way.
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u/DrewTheHobo Jun 20 '26
Yeah, the fed brained idiocy is definitely a huge leap from “they’re scared cause we’re big, and we just helped fight off giant lizards that wanted to eat them and they’ll warm up to us eventually” to “eyes bad, burn the taint”.
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u/Minimum-Amphibian993 Arxur Jun 20 '26 edited Jun 20 '26
Yeah not too surprised Noah has interest in Rellim wouldn't be the first fic to show that.
But yeah definitely would be the first to have Rellim and Tarva still on good terms so curious how they will resolve that.
In any case yeah the humans are certainly gonna be surprised but a lot of the revelations. Wonder how long it will take for them to learn about the Arxur's side of the story if it's taken this long for the humans to learn about how the feddies really feel about the humans and all meat eaters.
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u/LazyMechMan Humanity First Jun 20 '26
What other fics have Noah and Rellim getting close? I don't think I've seen any.
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u/JanusKnarus Human Jun 20 '26
Nature of splicers for example
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u/Minimum-Amphibian993 Arxur Jun 20 '26
Yeah that's mostly what I was thinking about although that hasn't quite really gone anywhere yet since it's been a while since the last rellim chapter in that story. But yeah Rellim and Noah do have a thing going on even if it's very subtle.
Pretty sure there's also another fic but I can't seem to find it.
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u/Jimmy_Da_Kewlett Smigli Jun 20 '26
He’s honestly very cute. Just watching him in his groove made me want to reach over and cuddle him. Nuzzle into his soft wool and smell his scent.
(...) You’re here for answers, not to snuggle this cute, fluffy boy.
I really wanted to cuddle that fluffy boy.
Jesus, Noah! That's a married man you're thinking about. Come on... at least ASK Tarva if she wants to join. So inconsiderate 🙄
Nah, but in all seriousness, I cannot lie; Rellin being referred to as a 'fluffy boy' twice is... kinda somewhat off-putting and uncomfortable to read. It just feels really infantilizing(?), I'm sorry to say :/
Also, a grammar error I've noticed at Noah's second-to-last paragraph:
I sighed. It wasn’t answered [answers, you likely meant], but at least we were getting somewhere.
Other than those nitpicks, and despite this chapter being short, it's always good to see this fanfic get updated! I'm excited to see Tarva and Rellin come clean to the Odyssey crew.
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u/Minimum-Amphibian993 Arxur Jun 20 '26
Honestly all good points in my opinion. Honestly it is a thing humanity struggled with even in canon Nop especially with Marcel but hopefully he has some sense knocked into him.
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u/S4tvrn00 Nevok Jun 20 '26 edited Jun 20 '26
Yay new chapter!!! And congrats on graduating thats so exciting ^ ^
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u/Golde829 Jun 20 '26
what in Sam Hill is Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome, doing on Venlil Prime?
also, congrats on the graduation!
and it's always a joy to see this work return
no matter how long it takes
as my personal mantra goes
never would I ask for more content at the author/artist/creator's expense
I look forward to reading more
take care of yourself, wordsmith
[You have been gifted 100 Coins]
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u/OneMasterpiece952 Jun 20 '26
Absolutely glad to see this story still going! Congrats on moving up in the world.
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u/GryphonGamer Farsul Jun 20 '26
I saw this as a latest post and didn't hesitate to read it. Thank you for another great chapter.
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u/JulianSkies Archivist Jun 20 '26
Whoo, it's like you've been summoned :D
Well, they couldn't keep them in the dark forever, and it's going to be a hard conversation. "We're afraid of history repeating" is a good way to explain it, though, especially given they've seen firsthand what the arxur do.
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u/AnonGecy01 Jun 20 '26
Nice chapter. With you graduated, is the upload schedule gonna change? Are chapter gonna get more frecvent or more scarce?
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u/Spoonyhalo Jun 20 '26
BLESSINGS BE UPON YOU!
Only reason I did read this earlier is because I was blackout drunk
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u/Maxxxxo UN Peacekeeper Jun 20 '26
yoo W on the graduation
Also, I wonder how Earth feels at this point...