Beginning of Harmony [5] - A Nature of Harmony side story

And now our dear Isla is home safe and sound! No doubt she's going to be spinning crazy stories to her parents about sheep aliens that made her dolls and got her home. Jus r as well since Saraji and Anjahes are going to have to explain to their leadership about sheep...

And I rather liked writing the goodbye scene, especially Anjahes understanding what Islas asking

That and Isla winning rock, paper, scissors is cute

Wonderful fanart by u/Lizrd_demon: https://www.reddit.com/r/predprey/s/OJzxuOOAX3, https://www.reddit.com/r/predprey/s/9IFwoupY9e

I also have my very own video meme

Side stories: A Talk Between Siblings, Tuvans First Birthday, The Vow

Come join the Discord, we have blackjack and hookers.

Link to Nature of Harmony for newcomers

Thanks to SpacePaladin15 for making NoP

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Memory Transcription Subject: Anjahes, Planetary surveyor

Date [standardized human time]: February 23, 2020

It had been a little over an hour since we took to the sky trying to find Islas Clanhold, and so far all we had found was more wilderness. Under normal circumstances we'd be overjoyed, but as it is, it was frustrating.

How did Isla even get so far? They're a pup! They should've stopped from exhaustion long ago.

To pass the time and keep Isla from getting in trouble, we at first shared the names of various objects in each other's languages.

Isla grew bored with that quickly because children, so instead we taught each other simple games. Currently me and Isla were performing a strange game where we turned our hands into various shapes which, presumably, beat each other.

From what I gathered, flat hand covers fist, two fingers bisect flat hand, and fist crush two fingers, and for some reason we needed to violently pound our palms four times before revealing our choice, which usually ended with Isla winning.

Still, it was far better than letting them mess with my fur again…

“Anjahes, come look!” Me and Isla looked over to Saraji.

I gestured for Isla to stay as I stood up and made my way to the viewport. “Did you find it?”

“Maybe, but look! We found some of the planet's beasts!”

I leaned over and looked at the ground before us, which was crowded with what must've been hundreds of white four legged animals in all directions.

‘There's more beasts here than I've ever seen in my life.’ I mused. I looked up when something far away caught my eye: a strange, seemingly unnatural outgrowing stood against the greenery.

It reminded me of the depictions of the clanholds etched into the Hall of Stories, the ones my ancestors on Skalga used to live in.

“There,” I pointed it out to Saraji. “That might be it.”

“Get them up here then, see if they recognize it. I don't want to accidentally drop the pup at a rival clan.”

I did as she asked and went up to Isla, taking their hand and their parents' dolls and walking with them to the viewport.

“Are your parents there?” I asked while holding up the dolls and pointing at the clanhold.

Isla turned their head and gasped, their eyes widening. They pointed at it themselves and jabbered excitedly, suddenly bringing me into a hug, continuing to jabber on with a happy snarl on their face.

I huffed in amusement and performed the strange customary human head patting. “I'll take that as a yes. Take us in.”

Saraji landed the ship so we weren't too far away for Isla, but (hopefully) not close enough to be spotted by Isla's family.

As the airlock opened, Isla placed their hand in mine unprompted, and I squeezed their hand in response and began to walk

It wasn't long before we were surrounded by the white furred beasts, and restored when one in front of us raised its head and we were met with a… strange sight.

The animal was a Skalgan, but not a Skalgan. They had all the features of one: wool, side eyes with horizontal pupils, and noses similar to ours. But this creature stood upon four legs, hooves for feet, and chewed grass of all things. It was some strange parody of a Skalgan.

A parody that Isla broke away from me to embrace. They said a string of words as they turned towards us, suddenly bleating at us which a few others followed, sounding frighteningly similar to a Skalgans. ‘Life has a strange sense of humor…’

“Oh, now it makes sense.” Saraji said out loud. “We reminded them of these creatures, no wonder they were so quick to trust us.”

“And to bleat at us for no reason.” I added. “Come on, we need to keep moving, we can't stay put or someone might-”

I was interrupted by a series of barks, mine and Saraji's ears perking up and looking over as a Nightsinger of all things ran right for us. It stopped a few feet away and began barking at us, making us pin our ears back and for me to step in front of Isla in case it attacked.

Isla instead raised their voice and they pointed at the Nightsinger (which upon further inspection wasn't a Nightsinger but yet another parody which I hoped wouldn't be a trend on this planet) as they pulled away from me which prompted the black and white Nightsinger to stop barking and sit down at. Isla rewarded the creatures obedience by cooing over them and patting its head, eliciting what might've been a happy tail wag.

“It's a pet.” My ears perked up once again. “We're safe.”

“This planet has very odd creatures…”

I rolled my left ear in agreement before turning to Saraji. “They're with family now and their clanhold isn't far. I think we should let them make the rest of the journey alone.”

“Aww, are you sure? Maybe just a few more steps?” Saraji said with her best begging face.

“We have to report what we found to the High Coordinator as soon as possible and we're in danger out here. Isla's family might think we were the ones that took them.”

“You’re right,” Saraji sighed in defeat. “Just let me say goodbye.”

She didn't wait for confirmation and walked up to Isla, lowering herself to Isla's level. Saraji held out all of the dolls I made, Isla taking them into their arms and saying some words. “You be a good pup, OK? No more wandering off.” She leaned in and gave Isla a big, tight hug which Isla returned.

I walked over as Saraji let go and lowered myself down. I pointed at Islas doll, then in the general direction of their clanhold. “You'll have to walk the rest of the way there, OK? Go to your mommy and daddy, they're probably worried sick.”

I ruffled Isla's head before standing up with Saraji, turning around and beginning to wall.

Isla yelled something and grabbed my hand, prompting me to turn and look at them with my right eye. They held up their parents' dolls, then at me, then demanded uppies.

I gently grabbed their wrists and lowered them down, rolling my ears. “Sorry, Isla. We have to go home, you have to go home.”

Isla stomped their left foot indignantly, perhaps understanding what I was trying to convey, and jabbered angrily before holding up our and their parents dolls, making me perform a handshake with one of them.

“I'm sorry, Isla.” I rolled my ears again. “Your parents won't understand." To get my point across I grabbed the dolls and mimed us going up to Isla's parents with Isla in tow, making Isla's parents panic and start hitting us.

Isla seemed to understand and shook their head, saying a few words while tears threatened to spill from their eyes.

I remained resolute in my stance and mimed us going away and Isla's doll returning to their parents alone.

All the fight left Isla and they looked down at the ground, looking similar to when we first found them. They looked up at me with tear filled eyes and said a few words, the intent not lost on me.

“Yes,” I wiped her tears, feeling my own eyes beginning to burn. “You will.”

Isla couldn't help it and threw themselves into my arms and I held onto them for dear life. All too soon, I pulled away, lightly bonked our foreheads together, and stood up.

When I turned around I found Saraji was a complete mess, crying to herself and futily rubbing her visor to clear her eyes. I took her by the hand and wrapped our tails together, and walked back into the ship.

When I turned to face Isla one last time, I found that they were waving their right arm in the air rapidly, saying the same word over and over again.

I huffed and my tail wagged, and I raised my own arm up to mimic their movements, the airlock closing between us.