Army

§ 2024-03-30 23:21:31

[23:35] They were out of the desert before the sun rose again. Athechelt was giving some unmistakable directions – whether it would be to some kind of weapon's cache, if indeed the kavkema had any, or just a route offering safe passage, Samanta still couldn't tell. Akuned was quite excited about whatever they were doing, but Athechelt didn't seem to share her enthusiasm.

By the time dawn had finished, the rover had rolled past a thickening savanna and into the first tentative beginnings of a forest. It was around this time that Athechelt did something quite unexpected – he climbed onto the rover's roof. Not that the rover had much in the way of a firm roof; but much like his distant cousin of birds, that didn't stop Athechelt, who perched on its frame.

Every once in a while, he trilled, a sound that Samanta hadn't heard a kavkem made before and didn't sound quite right for a creature their size. Maybe he was emulating some other creature's call – an actual bird. Drawing attention to himself without drawing the wrong kind of attention to himself.

None came.

Around solar noon, they paused to eat. Samanta parked the rover in as much of a clearing as could be found, letting the roof soak up sunshine and recharge batteries. Akuned darted off into the forest, clearly with a hunt in mind, and Athechelt and Samanta simply waited, letting the breeze play across the former's feathers.

Eventually, a good hour later, Akuned returned, two raw fish, a large lizard and a plump fowl in her hands and mouth. To Athechelt, she gave a fish and the fowl. To Samanta, she offered a fish probingly, blinking at her. She'd seen her eat, of course and Samanta still had a good amount of provisions to sustain her, so perhaps it was a gesture purely of politeness. It was probably wiser to reject it – equally politely – so that Akuned could eat her fill.

[00:10] Turning it away altogether, on the other hand, seemed likely to be rude. Perhaps she could eat a small bit of it as compromise? As long as she took only a bit of meat, and didn't touch the organs, fish was unlikely to be poisonous to her. But it was likely to be crawling with bacteria, especially if it was from lowland (and therefore slow-moving) freshwater. The thought hit her that this would have been an absurd concern for specialized predators such as the kavkema were; but her own ancestors, back in the savanna, had to conquer carnivory slowly and painfully on their own. Plan: harvest a tiny morsel of the fish, cook it on a lighter or burner from the lab kit in the rover, eat it, leave the rest of the fish to Akuned.

She did precisely that. Tweezers and scalpel were not quite an adequate replacement for fork and knife, but they served well enough to cut off a square of fish, pull it from under the skin (it had a trout-like red hue that looked very promising), and hold it over a burner's flame until the Maillard reaction did its magic. Everything else, with a slow, solemn nod toward her two companions, she handed over to Akuned.

[00:22] Akuned looked visibly surprised as Samanta returned the fish. It was less clear if she was also grateful, but she certainly didn't seem offended.

With most of the fish returned, the kavkem's own feeding ritual proved far less elaborate. She sank her teeth into the fish's head and twisted the body aggressively until the skull popped off its spine, then began to pull slivers of the skeleton. The lizard she'd already eaten before Samanta returned the rest of the fish.

Athechelt had done something similar with his own and was busy plucking feathers from the dead bird, evidently without any sense of feathery kinship to stop him, when a trill much like the one that he'd uttered earlier could be heard, and he stopped, attention snapping around, clearly trying to find the source of the sound.

[01:32] No mammals in sight yet. Samanta, aware that from a strictly biological perspective she was closer kin to a scurrying rodent than to her feathered good friends, wondered if there were none to catch in the surrounding, if the kavkema didn't consider them good meals, or if Athechelt had deliberately avoided serving a mammal as a meal in front of a mammalian guest.

As for herself, she had to be content with peeling clear-thin tinfoil from little squares of generic Food, of the appearance and consistency of packed humus, and with some sort of vaguely saltish-sweetish flavor. She felt there must be some reasonable compromise between that and tearing off the head of a raw fish with her bare teeth (her pitiful little blunt hominid teeth, which couldn't even regrow if they were left behind in a carcass), but it wasn't to be.

That thought was cut down on the spot by the response trill, which must have been a signal used by kavkema scouts. She too turned around, to the soundscape of the forest, not quite sure if she had actually recognized a call or just followed Athechelt's example. She knew better than to speak or move much. But she did slowly shift her weight to a crouch, keeping Athechelt in the corner of her eye, ready to spring to her feet should there be any need.

[01:41] It had been distant enough that there wasn't a particular reason for anything to appear from between the trees in the nearest future. Indeed, Athechelt seemed to come to the same conclusion, and for a moment continued his plucking, a little absent-mindedly, before finding the necessary voice inside of him, and giving another firm trill, his body language nowhere near as proud as the sound he was making.

[03:43] A part of Samanta wanted to help making the call, before a much bigger part of her pointed out that was both unadvisable and impossible. The muscles in her limbs tensed up almost painfully. If the new presence was a friend — and Athechelt appeared to think it was likely to be — there was no trouble. If it was an enemy, they'd better be ready to run away immediately. If it was a neutral party... she wasn't sure how to even start planning for that. She peered into the distant trees in the direction Athechelt was facing, trying to detect some motion, some shadow, some animal shape among the fronds.

§ 2024-06-08 23:19:02

[23:23] If Athechelt was concerned by whatever was approaching, he gave no indication of it, at this point firmly back to his plucking. Akuned, on the other hand, looked a little more uneasy, shifting about and staring into the landscape intently, trying to discover the secret source of the sound.

It took another couple of minutes before Akuned's posture came alive and she darted to some very particular point relative to the rover, looking into the opposite direction as she did so, as though hiding from something. Samanta couldn't yet spot anything in the sluggish shifting of leaves and shadows in the languid wind.

Then there was something that might have been a trick of the light – a sliver of white in an unusual location – that drew attention to itself. Long seconds later, it resolved to the body of a kavkem striding out from beyond the greens, its teeth bared and visible, and a dagger in one hand as though it needed help rending flesh from bone.

It was staring right at Samanta, a thing almost sufficiently frightful to distract from that it wasn't alone, with at least two other shapes not far behind it.

[23:53] A wave of nauseating fear washed over Samanta and locked her muscles into place, as in a bad dream. The newcomer had such a gruesome look that it barely looked like a kavkem at all.

There probably were not three distinct species of sapient dinosaurs on this planet (although one is a history-changing discovery, the second is merely very surprising, and how much of a surprise would a third one be?); but she found herself wondering, in a sort of paralyzed feverish state, if it was not a simulacrum built, or a host possessed, by some other unearthly creature. A devilish counterpart of Valcen, perhaps. If so, it might have been worth trying —

"Who— who are you?" she stammered out in English, throwing glances at the other shapes behind.

[00:01] Even as she was speaking to the approaching predators, Athechelt's attention finally snapped around, and with alarm, he said "Yiloi, ria, jakei'va!" The utterance stopped the stranger's approach, although it did not yet thaw their posture. With some delay, as though they had given Athechelt long consideration first, the thing spoke: "Gavii-ne'a?" Its muzzle tilted and it slowly brought itself out of its crouch, slowly returning the blade to a sheath hanging around its neck. "Ta sinun akyt juna?" A flick of the muzzle indicated Samanta.

[00:43] If nothing else, they shared a language with Samanta's companions, and they were willing to listen and talk to them. That at least took a lot of the sting away from their appearance. This didn't prevent them being dangerous, but at least there was room for diplomacy, which is more than you'd hope for from someone who jumps you with a bared knife. It seemed, however, that Samanta's presence, and possibly her existence, now needed to be justified.

Since her own Earthish words had made no effect, she took a respectful step backward, breathed deeply, with chills still running up and down her nerves. She — stopped herself from bowing her head in greeting, as she gathered that lowering and protending one's body was not at all a friendly gesture among the kavkema — she shrunk back further, brought a hand to her chest, and said: "Samanta. Earth. Hello", and Athetchelt would have to do the rest of the talking.

[00:53] There was a burst of conversation from Athechelt, almost more than she had ever hear him speak in one go before, making it clear that the language of the kavkema could be used to disgorge whole elaborate essays if one wished. Apparently they just usually did not wish.

Throughout Athechelt's description, the newcomers, now gradually more relaxed, listened patiently, occasionally glancing to Samanta with what was likely scepticism.

When the syllables 'Katal' crisply stood out from the ramble, though, the strangers – yet to introduce themselves – bristled visibly, puffing up in agitation. It might have been comical if the underlying emotion had been any less crystal clear. There was a hissing response she couldn't make out, but had definitely contained words.

§ 2024-06-23 00:00:13

[00:00] Good news: they were indeed going to listen to Athechelt's reasons. Bad news: they did not like Athechelt's reasons. Samanta uncomfortably looked back and forth between the two parties, wishing there was anything she could do to improve their bargaining position. What she had to offer, by and large, were some scraps of human technology and communication with Earth, but if Athechelt's group had limited use for that, no reason to suppose the newcomers would be more interested.

Well, there were a few kavkema words she could speak, if no others — names. Out of frustration, as the discussion grew longer but not clearly closer to an end, she asked: "Do you know Valcen?", and made sure to spell that name clearly.

[00:17] "Valcen?" the newcomer echoed, tilting their muzzle with some curiosity.

It prompted some more words from Athechelt, with 'Valcen' somewhere in the middle, near the start, perhaps a clarification. It prompted a sharp upward flick of muzzles that rippled through the small group that had come to their call.

Now Athechelt turned his attention to Samantha and put one of the sparse English words he knew to use: "No." With the accent and in context, it took a moment to parse the syllable as the language it was.

[01:32] No? Then resorting to good old gestures was her last hope to understand something about the situation. She got Akuned's attention, crouching beside her, and gestured broadly at their own group, as if to draw them closer to herself. Then she tilted her head away from the confrontation, and pointed far off into the wilderness, where she supposed they were all going to walk. Agin she gestured at the newcomers — keeping her arm slow and low on the ground, lest it be taken as an aggressive sign — and pointed in quick succession first at the same direction she just had, then at the direction from which the newcomers had come in the first place. We're still going right? And they, are they going to come with us or not? The certainly fine and sophisticate arguments that were bring exchanged wouldn't make it through, but the central point would.

[01:51] Akuned was still laying low behind the rover, relative to the newcomers, looking a little more skittish than was normal for her – she usually seemed to be bursting with self-confidence, perhaps more than was warranted, so this was a striking change. She did, mercifully, gather that the question was something along the lines of 'are we going somewhere together', but gave a soft, barely audible whine in response.

Unsurprisingly, the whole set of gestures attracted attention. At the next moment, one of the pack of kavkema peeled off to the side with an almost shockingly fast motion, darting to look around the rover, then baring its teeth soundlessly at the discovery of Akuned. The aggression died down again immediately, but it was clear some kind of faux pas was involved, at least. Maybe it was simply the faux pas of hiding.

Akuned, at least, was willing to make some kind of amends, her posture leaning unmistakably toward submission, without outright overdoing it by dropping onto her back and showing her belly or other prostrations. But they weren't talking.

Different factions, maybe? This world was difficult enough with its two sophont species, having fragmentation amongst them, while unfortunately expected, wasn't promising.

[03:03] That bode very badly, and Samanta might have had only herself to blame for it. It would have been so much better to just wait. Thankfully, her foolishness hadn't resulted in Akuned being hurt. The best she could do now, it seemed, was to sit down, be quiet, and let the kavkema sort everything out. She placed herself next to Akuned, in fact slightly in front of her, and knelt down on the ground, with her back up but in a way that clearly made her unable to harm anyone, and made no sound. Just sit and wait.

§ 2024-07-20 23:24:32

[23:43] With some delay, there was some conversation between the stranger and Akuned, a whispered to and fro that occasionally rippled as obvious distaste through Akuned. From her attitude so far, maybe the distaste came simply from circumstances forcing her into a submissive posture – she'd never been like that before, after all, and it seemed antithetical to her personality.

Meanwhile, Athechelt and the others were still having a conversation of their own, only briefly interrupted by Athechelt's own curiosity raising and twisting his head to the side to see what was happening with his friends. Since there was no obvious threat, he was quick to bring his attention back to the group.

The whole thing had settled into an awkward pace by human measures, with long pauses between the conversational pieces. Whatever frictions had existed or come up in the details had made way for what might have been professionalism, for all Samanta knew. Were these people mercenaries? They certainly didn't seem to be personal friends.

[00:37] She wondered if they weren't emissaries, of a sort — from some other kavkem nation. In her understanding, the world of kavkema was fragmented, scattered, and confused. As it should be, for a people on the constant run, where legibility would only make it easier for their enemies to crush them.

[00:38] They hadn't acted very diplomatic, to be sure, but how confident was she that she understood the subtleties of saurian diplomacy? Or perhaps some sort of police, from a kavkem nation that was somewhat more organized than Athechelt's little band, though hopefully still small enough to pass unnoticed by the ornithopod overlords.

[00:48] It took some time, during which the kavkem that had discovered Akuned's hiding spot ceased to pester her and returned to the fold, but eventually the lead kavkem ended up giving a snort and gestured at the rover by biting lightly at its frame and wrapping a hand around it. "Dach'miron'va," he said. "Ta'harrat zetu'ik."

Athechelt looked over to Samanta with what she could recognise as a look of confused apology. Then, one of the scant known words came from him again, "No," while he swerved his hands to indicate the rover.

[02:13] Samanta took a couple quiet, discreet steps toward the rover. Was she supposed to defend it, now? The "no" was presumably directed to her, not to the strangers; but did it mean "do not stop them"? Or "don't let them touch it"? Or "do nothing in particular, I'll take care of it?" Or just "don't try to imitate them by biting the frame"?

The tiebreaker was the consideration that she probably shouldn't let unknown and possibly hostile persons touch, let alone enter, the rover, and get their hands on its technology. Without doing anything openly hostile — or so she hoped — she at least positioned herself to block access to the door, or at least the door that the strangers could see.

§ 2024-08-24 22:54:59

[22:59] "No," Athechelt repeated, a little more firmly, raising his forepaws in a poor imitation of human gestures of defensive dismissal. His eyes were wide, though, and he was ever so slightly puffed up.

The stranger meanwhile had stopped biting the frame and was looking at her and Athechelt with muted curiosity. Maybe they were waiting for some kind of translation to magically happen? Nothing was escalating, at any rate.

[02:15] There was something toddler-like, or even pet-like, in it. For all that she was to protect the rover against intruders, perhaps there was something safe she could give as a peace offering — hoping it did not encourage taking more? A packet of food rations, maybe? There were still several, vacuum-sealed and stacked like bricks. Not exactly fresh meat, and probably with too many fibers and alkaloids for a strict carnivore. Still, at least the dry cookies should be harmless. Keeping a foot planted on the ground outside, Samanta leaned it and rummaged a bit around a storage shelf. That might do.

[02:17] As she leant into the rover, Athechelt closed the gap between her and him by reaching for one of her legs, trying to gently cup his hands around it and tug at her while flicking his muzzle to the side.

§ 2024-09-28 23:31:50

[23:45] It seemed Athechelt was trying to hold her back. It was not a strong grip, and he surely was not holding her as hard as he could, but there must have been a reason for it. Was she committing some kind of faux pas, being rude, or threatening? Maybe Athechelt had misunderstood, and thought Samanta was looking for a weapon, or hiding in a a way that dishonored her companions, or maybe her plan of a peace offer actually was bad for a reason she hadn't thought of. She shifted her way slightly backward, and looked down at Athechelt, to see if he gave some indication of what she'd done wrong.

[23:48] As her attention returned to Athechelt, he let go of her leg, apparently pleased with the effect, licking at his teeth for a moment of palpable anxiety, before bringing his forepaws up again to gesture at the rover, while his gaze remained fixed on her. "No," he said again, maybe hoping that she might understand this time, despite their language barrier.

[00:45] So the inside of the rover was off-limits altogether. God, she really needed to learn more kavkem. For now, all she could do was to return to standing in front of the door, and hope this extremely awkward situation would be solved well. Without much hope of an answer, she looked at Athechelt, than at the mysterious others, and whispered: "Then what? Then what?"

It occurred her she could check to see if she could reach any of the other humans, or even Earth. But how much good would that do?

[00:52] Still clearly pleased that he had her attention, Athechelt backed away a few steps, making generous beckoning motions with his forepaws for her to follow, his head bobbing back in a bird-like fashion as he moved. There was no verbal response – maybe he didn't think it needed any, hoping that the gestures would be enough.

[01:21] Samanta followed — she wasn't going to turn down a clear instruction. Merely leading her away from the rover (she briefly imagined something awful happening to it, and Athechelt trying to limit collateral casualties) or toward something? She looked at the strangers, trying to glean their feelings as she moved closer.

[01:27] The strangers seemed to relax a little, judging by their posture, as she stepped away from the machine, and their attention became more wandering and curious than a smouldering focus. Athechelt stopped his beckon a few steps in to instead turn cautiously and lead her a little further aside.

A moment later, Athechelt and the kavkem that seemed like a leader of the group exchanged some words, and then they were walking away from the rover, with Athechelt nervously looking back at Samanta to see if she was still following.

[02:44] Seemed something had happened, then; perhaps, with her ill-advised attempt, she had broken some stalemate. She followed meekly after Athechelth, her steps synchronized with his, and with the swaying of his tail. The silence, broken only be the soft creak of trampled grass and by hissing breath, was unnerving.

[02:48] It seemed like this was it, then – they were moving away from the rover, leaving it behind. All of that 'No' must have been to tell her that they didn't want the rover along – maybe they were worried that it was would have been too visible, or otherwise too easy to track? But leaving the rover behind meant that she'd have to leave a lot of her personal security behind, not to

mention reliable contact with ESA back home...

[02:44] Seemed something had happened, then; perhaps, with her ill-advised attempt, she had broken some stalemate. She followed meekly after Athechelth, her steps synchronized with his, and with the swaying of his tail. The silence, broken only be the soft creak of trampled grass and by hissing breath, was unnerving.

[02:48] It seemed like this was it, then – they were moving away from the rover, leaving it behind. All of that 'No' must have been to tell her that they didn't want the rover along – maybe they were worried that it was would have been too visible, or otherwise too easy to track? But leaving the rover behind meant that she'd have to leave a lot of her personal security behind, not to mention reliable contact with ESA back home...

[03:10] She looked behind, again and again. With each step another layer of greenery hid the rover a little bit more, until only an indistinct pale-colored patch lay behind the bushes, indistinguishable from a common boulder. And, she thought, if nobody recovers it soon it may become a boulder for real, covered in grime, overgrown with moss, unable to move or to communicate, nothing more than a platform for lizards and insects... And who knows what would be of her, and the other humans on Nekenalos, and of the kavkema, by then.