[Post 'Trust'//ITP: Puppies]

[an_alpha_wolf]

[1]

After the mission, a Clan Wolf dropship has docked with the Chalice, offloading a few more bits of cargo: some supplies, several Scientists (assigned to study the diverse new weapons of Terra) and on a kind of mobile play yard a few yards wide, several dire wolf pups, excitedly whimpering and sniffing about, trying to climb over the sides of

Comments

1

[chozo_girl]

[One of the puppies just got its nose near an engine... on top of which a certain little alien lifeform happened to be landed. It raises up a bit, opening its fangs, and emits a shrill screech at the newcomer, irritated at having been interrupted.]

SKREEEEEEEEEEEE!

[Most animals tend to be extremely wary of metroids, who basically radiate "Do not fuck with" messages on international morse code to the instincts of most creatures. Guess we'll see now if dire wolves have such good sense, though...]

Re: 1

[an_alpha_wolf]

Dire wolves are used to being the apex predator and thus the pups just get to barking at the strange, interesting new thing rushing towards them. The Scientists, however, are scrambling for tranq guns (a rare permittance of civilians to carry weapons) and Resnick is dashing over to place himself between them.

Re: 1

[chozo_girl]

[(Actually, it wasn't rushing, just kind of floating in place and screeching)

The little metroid only gets antsier at all the barking. It seems to not be bothered at the men with guns or the wolves having poked it - but the barking is clearly putting it on edge. These things are loud. But they are like that thing mommy said not to eat, except bigger. But that thing never was so loud. Well you things want loud?! You will have loud!]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[It starts simply uncomfortably shrill, but soon is hitting all sorts of unpleasant ultrasonic frequencies, making most of the mechanics around start groaning and plugging their own ears in pain. This is basically a baby metroid's "go away and leave me the hell alone" cry and it's seriously unpleasant - though at least its secondary function as a call for the entire hive doesn't apply here, so that's something!]

Re: 1

[an_alpha_wolf]

The pups flatten their ears against their heads, not due to fear but because the noise is so loud and screechy to ears that can hear at such a high frequency.

Resnick, hand on his sidearm, also barks, at the Scientists. "Go find Samus Aran and bring her here!" Several 'aff!'s follow while Resnick stands between the pups (who have started up again) and the baby metroid.

[chozo_girl]

No need.

[Samus is already up on top of one of the passageways criscrossing the hangar. The question might be for how long she's been there, though. In any case, she jumps down near it - and feeling her sudden proximity, the baby metroid shuts up instantly, starting to chirp in relief and zigzag around her]

[an_alpha_wolf]

Resnick breaths a sigh of relief. That was not a confrontation he'd wanted to have. There was no real good outcome to it.

"Does it know not to try to eat animals outside of the garden?"

[chozo_girl]

If it didn't there would be at least one less wolf in the ship at the moment. [Samus is as direct as always]

[an_alpha_wolf]

"Which would probably be me. Well I guess there is no use concealing it. Meet Canis Dirus Strana Mechtis, the Strana Mechty dire wolf from which we get our name." These specimens, while certainly big, are still obviously juveniles too, and not particularly noble looking with their excited wuffling and panting.

[chozo_girl]

For future situations. If you see it landed and immobile again, do not approach it for a while. I have discovered that it seems to "rest" every few days. It does not take well to being bothered in such times. [So basically, our baby metroid wakes up really cranky, and then the barking didn't help. Well, that explains that. Still, it seems to have cheered up a bit with Samus there, and it approaches the wolves as she does, curiosity taking hold now that irritation is not overpowering it]

[an_alpha_wolf]

"Quiet!" He barks at the pups, who have taken any clansman to be dominant in their little pack. They're still whining and shnuffling, extending their heads over the fence though. As a reward he scritches behind the ears of one.

"That makes sense..." He looks at the metroid then at Samus, seeming to ask whether it's safe for him to move aside and let them investigate each other.

[chozo_girl]

[Samus seems unbothered as the animals approach each other, which is likely a silent acquiescement. Or she's putting the metroid baby to the test like she did with Resnick himself back when she adopted it. Honestly, with Samus, who knows.]

[As for the baby itself, it's by now arrived near the wolves, floating and emitting little chirps. It seems entirely non-scared despite being a quarter of the size of the wolves - more like "what are you and why are you so noisy" than anything]

[an_alpha_wolf]

[Some of the pups make little half-barks but a few, like the sable female named Natasha fearlessly came forward and sniffed it.]

They will need to learn to hunt too...

[chozo_girl]

No doubt.

[The little metroid is kind of orbiting around, emitting a strange whirr. It pushes against the snout of one of them with its gelatinous dome, exploring.]

[an_alpha_wolf]

[Natasha pushes back, not growling or barking but also definitely not showing submissive body language.]

Perhaps they could watch your metroid hunt?

[chozo_girl]

[Well, that's an invitation to play a sort of inverse tug-of-war far as the little metroid is concerned. It chirps in a playful manner before starting to push Natasha trying to drive her back, expecting the wolf to push as well.]

[Samus, on her end, shrugs.]

If you want. You will also need to exemplify to them wolf hunting, however. The direct manner in which metroids down prey is risky for animals whose prey can fight back.