Naya

Young winged Nosk who lives in a secluded den alone. Typically docile, unless threatened or hungry.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Miss papa…

___

Hey! It’s Lynne again and (hopefully) for the last time. I have way too many OC blogs now, don’t I? It’s crazy.

This time, I bring a Nosk to the table! This was also done on kind of a whim, but I just felt like joining the Nosk OC gang with this half-baked idea of mine. I also really enjoy shape-shifting characters!

Mod: @adrenalynne

Anyway, on to the factssssss:

— She/Her, but is also often referred to with they/them or it/its

— Used to live with her father, who is now unfortunately deceased

— Speaks in choppy sentences

— Only hunts when hungry; gets very irritable and even hostile if hungry for prolonged periods of time

— Changes form into anything she has seen whenever necessary; has no default form. Will usually change into enemies. Current form: True form…

Rules are simple; no NSFW, no rudeness. Long-form rp is encouraged!

Tagging system:

#(predator in disguise.) — General IC text posts

#(talking to papa.) — Text posts of Naya speaking to her father at his grave in her den

#(talking to strangers.) — Answering asks

#(alike.) — Interactions with other Nosk/shape-shifting characters

#(sister amba!) — Interactions with @amba-the-hidden

#(normal bugs.) — Interactions with other blogs besides Nosk blogs

#(to be or not to be.) — Ongoing psychological angst arc

#(mod talks.) — OOC posts by me, Lynne!

She doesn’t deserve to be seen.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

There’s a beast crying in a den. It’s been crying for some time now.

It had been wailing before, the sounds of despair filling the den’s vicinity and scaring off any passing creatures. But eventually the noises weakened and quietened down, leaving only the soft noises of sobbing and sniffing.

No one came to comfort it. But that’s alright. If it was forgotten, maybe the bugs it cared about would be okay.

It hated itself.

It did not want to be itself anymore.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya was a monster.

The more she thought about it, the more she believed it. She’d spent most of her life hunting normal bugs down, killing them and eating them. For all those years, she thought it was normal. It’s what Papa taught her.

And even after Papa was gone, she still did it. To a lesser extent, but she still killed normal bugs. It was only when she began to get lonely and tried to befriend them did she actually try to stop.

But the damage was done. She’d hunted them, killed them, and ate them without shedding any tears over their deaths.

She was a monster. She wasn’t a good Nosk. Not like her sister, not like her friends. They were good Nosks—not mindless killers like her.

Maybe the plan to help Amba was doomed from the beginning. As much as she tried being nice, being a monster was part of her nature and she couldn’t keep it hidden forever.

They were better off without her.

She doesn’t deserve friends or siblings. Or food, especially not after what she’d last eaten.

This is the worst she’d ever felt. Not even grieving Papa had felt this bad—and even she hasn’t completely gotten over that.

She could feel despair ballooning in her chest, begging to be let out, freed from the mental prison she’d created for it.

Maybe you need one big time of feeling sad…

She did.

And so she let the prison gates break.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya didn’t want to leave the den.

She couldn’t go out there. She couldn’t face the world, not after what she’d done.

She’s sure they knew by now.

The normal bugs hate Nosks. The normal bugs hate her.

She felt guilty. So, so guilty. So guilty that it physically hurt.

She hated herself for getting angry like that. They said some horrible things, yes, but they were just wrong, weren’t they? Things could have been better if she kept calm and tried to talk to them, right?

But she didn’t, and she killed them.

And she ate them, too.

She didn’t have a choice. They were right there, and if she didn’t leave the den to look for food, she would starve.

She felt worse after she did.

Those bugs could’ve been nice if she gave them a chance. But she didn’t.

She thought of Amba, and Mei, and Tein. She missed them.

She was scared for them.

If the normal bugs hated their kind even more now, they could be in danger.

She should warn them, shouldn’t she?

But the danger is all her fault. If she went out to look for them, if they found out…

They would hate her. They would leave her.

Tein and Mei wouldn’t want to be her friends anymore. Amba wouldn’t want to be her sister anymore.

And she would be all alone again.

She hated herself.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya, despite her last not-so-good attempt at befriending yet another normal bug, still remained resolute in her quest to find more of them. The next few encounters, however, ended in varying degrees of success. Some were just as afraid as the last bug, refusing to believe she wouldn’t hurt them. Others, on the other hand, were more open-minded towards the idea of a friendly Nosk, albeit wary at first glance.

At the end of it all, though, despite the different outcomes, Naya was tired. She had travelled across many regions—not necessarily the entirety of the land, but enough to wear out her shell. Talking and trying to convince normal bugs took quite a lot of effort, too, especially for a Nosk who hadn’t talked to other bugs for her whole life until recently. She wanted to go home, preferably take a nice nap and try again tomorrow.

So she started making her way back.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

The journey back was a long one, and as much as Naya wished she could just turn into something fast, she didn’t feel like she had much energy left to shellshift. So she persisted onward as she was, hoping to arrive soon.

Before long, the scent of metal and earth filled her nostrils. It’s the smell of home. The smell of Papa. She would tell him all about her adventures today. After her nap, at least.

But as she drew closer to the hidden den, foreign scents quickly became apparent; entwined around her home’s usual smell. The scent of living things…

There were intruders inside her home.

Naya stared at the concealed den entrance, questions quickly flooding her. Who was inside the den? And why?

Anxiety creeping into her tense shell, she cautiously crept her way into the den, both curious and scared to investigate.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Seated in front of Papa’s grave were three bugs in shawls. Pilgrims. They seemed weary, resting in a circle in front of the rock. They were talking amongst themselves, seemingly unaware of the fact that they were in the home of a beast—let alone the fact that said beast was nearby and well aware of their presence.

Naya was ready to march in and calmly tell them to leave, or maybe even continue her agenda to (try to) befriend them, but before she could a single word one of them said made her stop in her tracks: “Nosk”.

She paused. What was it they were saying about her kind?

She moved as close as she could to the room opening, close enough to properly hear their conversation all while making sure she remained out of sight.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Nosk? What?” A pilgrim asked.

“You know, those shellshifting-shifting creatures. The ones that turn into just about anything they think could lure their prey, or stay under the radar.” The second pilgrim explained patiently.

“I’ve heard stories about them, but I’ve thankfully never actually seen one before. Why’d you bring them up?” questioned the third.

“I’ve heard from another bug that they’re probably native to these lands. And more of them have been seen around these parts recently.”

“That’s terrible! Doesn’t that make our journey to the holy Citadel even more dangerous than it should’ve been?”

“Well…not exactly? They haven’t been seen around these days, according to him, but the last time they were…well, they haven’t exactly been attacking.”

“Is that so?”

“Apparently. They’ve kind of just been…around? And not even shellshifting in the slightest. And being nice?”

“Nice? A Nosk being nice?”

“That’s out of the question. Monsters like them can’t be nice!”

“Exactly. Maybe they have been slowly changing their tactics, and decided appearance alone isn’t enough to lead bugs into a false sense of security. They had to keep up a ‘nice’ act, too.”

“There is really no way a Nosk can just be nice. There is definitely something in it for them.”

“M-hm. Another bug told me she saw one of them creeping up on other bugs before trying to talk to them. If that’s supposed to be nice, the creature is terrible at hiding its true intentions, even when its potential prey isn’t looking.”

“It sounds more like it’s trying to attack, but as soon as it gets noticed it starts putting on the nice act.”

“Ha! It sounds like it has problems being subtle about its approach. Just silently going in for the kill is much more honest and less dirty than whatever it’s playing at. It’s certainly less laughable, that’s for sure.”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya winced, their words cutting deep. They were talking about her, weren’t they? She knew she tended to sneak up on bugs from behind before talking to them—but she meant no harm! Appearing too suddenly from the front is probably scarier, right? Besides, she wasn’t hiding anything! Talking and being nice to them were her true intentions!

She needed to get in there and explain herself. They were terribly wrong.

But then it got worse. Much worse.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Speaking of Nosks, did you know there was one really vicious one that used to live in these fields of fire? Apparently it was quite a big one, and it was very good at disguising itself.”

“Oh, my…I can’t imagine how many of us it would’ve easily killed back then.”

“It was a lot, I tell you. It really liked to prey on the likes of us. Probably because we’re so weak, and it knows that.”

“That’s horrible. Sounds like it specifically targeted us pilgrims.”

“It probably did. Probably to feed its kid.”

“Kid?”

“That vicious Nosk had one, yes. This tiny one that followed it everywhere, usually disguised similarly to its father.”

“Sounds like it was trying to kill pilgrims like us for that thing’s nutrition. The nerve! We, devout travellers trying to reach the holy Citadel, reduced to beast chow!”

“So what happened to that big Nosk?”

“It died.”

“How? What could’ve possibly brought down such a predator?”

“No one knows.”

“No one?”

“Yes. But the day it died was a good day for us pilgrims! Whoever had it slain deserved a reward. And it deserved to die for keeping all our brothers and sisters before us from the eternal city above.”

“Do you think this cave could’ve been its home, once?”

“Probably! It smelt very heavily metallic when we first found this place.”

“What if this rock here is where it’s buried?”

“Imagine! We’re basically squatting on its grave!”

“I can’t imagine what that horrid beast must be thinking wherever it is now, seeing its prey sitting over its dead body! Or if it is anywhere at all—it has probably ceased to exist completely.”

“Creatures like Nosks don’t deserve to exist.”

“Hey, whatever happened to the kid, then?”

“Well—”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

At that point, Naya had heard enough. Hearing them talk about the vicious Nosk, about her Papa who she dearly loved and missed, like he was nothing but a mindless monster was enough to drive her over the edge. She was seething, anger boiling furiously in her veins.

She could only see red.

And red was all she saw for the next few moments, as she roared and charged into the room, right at the group of pilgrims.

Screaming.

Scratching.

Biting.

Ripping.

Silence.

Naya stood there, heaving, staring down at the mess that now decorated her claws, Papa’s gravestone and the rest of the room. Hemolymph was splattered across every surface, including her claws. Two now-dead pilgrims lay at her feet, covered in wounds so grievous she couldn’t believe she had been the one to have caused them.

Two pilgrims?

Her head whipped around with a crack, but it was too late. The last pilgrim, although severely injured, hurriedly limped away, escaping before she could even start after them.

At first, Naya was livid. How could they just get away with it like that, like they hadn’t just walked into her home and then insulted her, her family and friends? The only way they could pay was to die.

But then her anger dissipated as a more rational part of her came to a realization. She’d just killed two normal bugs and let one go. She wanted to befriend normal bugs, and change their minds about her kind.

But she killed two of them, and the survivor had seen everything.

The survivor would tell the other normal bugs. They would warn them of the new vicious Nosk, who killed two of their friends in front of them.

The other normal bugs would hate Nosks even more now.

They wouldn’t listen to any of them anymore. Even if they were nice. Because they knew exactly what they were capable of.

Sister Amba’s goal would fail.

And it was all because of her. All her fault.

A wave of hopelessness crashed over Naya, and she couldn’t do anything but simply collapse. Collapse in front of the proof of her wrongdoings, and in front of the one bug whose advice she hadn’t listened to.

Tears began to fill her eyes.

“S-Sorry…so…sorry…”

She didn’t know who she was apologizing to. All she knew was that she had done something wrong. Something terribly, terribly wrong.

And all she could do was cry.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya, despite her last not-so-good attempt at befriending yet another normal bug, still remained resolute in her quest to find more of them. The next few encounters, however, ended in varying degrees of success. Some were just as afraid as the last bug, refusing to believe she wouldn’t hurt them. Others, on the other hand, were more open-minded towards the idea of a friendly Nosk, albeit wary at first glance.

At the end of it all, though, despite the different outcomes, Naya was tired. She had travelled across many regions—not necessarily the entirety of the land, but enough to wear out her shell. Talking and trying to convince normal bugs took quite a lot of effort, too, especially for a Nosk who hadn’t talked to other bugs for her whole life until recently. She wanted to go home, preferably take a nice nap and try again tomorrow.

So she started making her way back.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

The journey back was a long one, and as much as Naya wished she could just turn into something fast, she didn’t feel like she had much energy left to shellshift. So she persisted onward as she was, hoping to arrive soon.

Before long, the scent of metal and earth filled her nostrils. It’s the smell of home. The smell of Papa. She would tell him all about her adventures today. After her nap, at least.

But as she drew closer to the hidden den, foreign scents quickly became apparent; entwined around her home’s usual smell. The scent of living things…

There were intruders inside her home.

Naya stared at the concealed den entrance, questions quickly flooding her. Who was inside the den? And why?

Anxiety creeping into her tense shell, she cautiously crept her way into the den, both curious and scared to investigate.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Seated in front of Papa’s grave were three bugs in shawls. Pilgrims. They seemed weary, resting in a circle in front of the rock. They were talking amongst themselves, seemingly unaware of the fact that they were in the home of a beast—let alone the fact that said beast was nearby and well aware of their presence.

Naya was ready to march in and calmly tell them to leave, or maybe even continue her agenda to (try to) befriend them, but before she could a single word one of them said made her stop in her tracks: “Nosk”.

She paused. What was it they were saying about her kind?

She moved as close as she could to the room opening, close enough to properly hear their conversation all while making sure she remained out of sight.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Nosk? What?” A pilgrim asked.

“You know, those shellshifting-shifting creatures. The ones that turn into just about anything they think could lure their prey, or stay under the radar.” The second pilgrim explained patiently.

“I’ve heard stories about them, but I’ve thankfully never actually seen one before. Why’d you bring them up?” questioned the third.

“I’ve heard from another bug that they’re probably native to these lands. And more of them have been seen around these parts recently.”

“That’s terrible! Doesn’t that make our journey to the holy Citadel even more dangerous than it should’ve been?”

“Well…not exactly? They haven’t been seen around these days, according to him, but the last time they were…well, they haven’t exactly been attacking.”

“Is that so?”

“Apparently. They’ve kind of just been…around? And not even shellshifting in the slightest. And being nice?”

“Nice? A Nosk being nice?”

“That’s out of the question. Monsters like them can’t be nice!”

“Exactly. Maybe they have been slowly changing their tactics, and decided appearance alone isn’t enough to lead bugs into a false sense of security. They had to keep up a ‘nice’ act, too.”

“There is really no way a Nosk can just be nice. There is definitely something in it for them.”

“M-hm. Another bug told me she saw one of them creeping up on other bugs before trying to talk to them. If that’s supposed to be nice, the creature is terrible at hiding its true intentions, even when its potential prey isn’t looking.”

“It sounds more like it’s trying to attack, but as soon as it gets noticed it starts putting on the nice act.”

“Ha! It sounds like it has problems being subtle about its approach. Just silently going in for the kill is much more honest and less dirty than whatever it’s playing at. It’s certainly less laughable, that’s for sure.”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya winced, their words cutting deep. They were talking about her, weren’t they? She knew she tended to sneak up on bugs from behind before talking to them—but she meant no harm! Appearing too suddenly from the front is probably scarier, right? Besides, she wasn’t hiding anything! Talking and being nice to them were her true intentions!

She needed to get in there and explain herself. They were terribly wrong.

But then it got worse. Much worse.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Speaking of Nosks, did you know there was one really vicious one that used to live in these fields of fire? Apparently it was quite a big one, and it was very good at disguising itself.”

“Oh, my…I can’t imagine how many of us it would’ve easily killed back then.”

“It was a lot, I tell you. It really liked to prey on the likes of us. Probably because we’re so weak, and it knows that.”

“That’s horrible. Sounds like it specifically targeted us pilgrims.”

“It probably did. Probably to feed its kid.”

“Kid?”

“That vicious Nosk had one, yes. This tiny one that followed it everywhere, usually disguised similarly to its father.”

“Sounds like it was trying to kill pilgrims like us for that thing’s nutrition. The nerve! We, devout travellers trying to reach the holy Citadel, reduced to beast chow!”

“So what happened to that big Nosk?”

“It died.”

“How? What could’ve possibly brought down such a predator?”

“No one knows.”

“No one?”

“Yes. But the day it died was a good day for us pilgrims! Whoever had it slain deserved a reward. And it deserved to die for keeping all our brothers and sisters before us from the eternal city above.”

“Do you think this cave could’ve been its home, once?”

“Probably! It smelt very heavily metallic when we first found this place.”

“What if this rock here is where it’s buried?”

“Imagine! We’re basically squatting on its grave!”

“I can’t imagine what that horrid beast must be thinking wherever it is now, seeing its prey sitting over its dead body! Or if it is anywhere at all—it has probably ceased to exist completely.”

“Creatures like Nosks don’t deserve to exist.”

“Hey, whatever happened to the kid, then?”

“Well—”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya, despite her last not-so-good attempt at befriending yet another normal bug, still remained resolute in her quest to find more of them. The next few encounters, however, ended in varying degrees of success. Some were just as afraid as the last bug, refusing to believe she wouldn’t hurt them. Others, on the other hand, were more open-minded towards the idea of a friendly Nosk, albeit wary at first glance.

At the end of it all, though, despite the different outcomes, Naya was tired. She had travelled across many regions—not necessarily the entirety of the land, but enough to wear out her shell. Talking and trying to convince normal bugs took quite a lot of effort, too, especially for a Nosk who hadn’t talked to other bugs for her whole life until recently. She wanted to go home, preferably take a nice nap and try again tomorrow.

So she started making her way back.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

The journey back was a long one, and as much as Naya wished she could just turn into something fast, she didn’t feel like she had much energy left to shellshift. So she persisted onward as she was, hoping to arrive soon.

Before long, the scent of metal and earth filled her nostrils. It’s the smell of home. The smell of Papa. She would tell him all about her adventures today. After her nap, at least.

But as she drew closer to the hidden den, foreign scents quickly became apparent; entwined around her home’s usual smell. The scent of living things…

There were intruders inside her home.

Naya stared at the concealed den entrance, questions quickly flooding her. Who was inside the den? And why?

Anxiety creeping into her tense shell, she cautiously crept her way into the den, both curious and scared to investigate.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Seated in front of Papa’s grave were three bugs in shawls. Pilgrims. They seemed weary, resting in a circle in front of the rock. They were talking amongst themselves, seemingly unaware of the fact that they were in the home of a beast—let alone the fact that said beast was nearby and well aware of their presence.

Naya was ready to march in and calmly tell them to leave, or maybe even continue her agenda to (try to) befriend them, but before she could a single word one of them said made her stop in her tracks: “Nosk”.

She paused. What was it they were saying about her kind?

She moved as close as she could to the room opening, close enough to properly hear their conversation all while making sure she remained out of sight.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Nosk? What?” A pilgrim asked.

“You know, those shellshifting-shifting creatures. The ones that turn into just about anything they think could lure their prey, or stay under the radar.” The second pilgrim explained patiently.

“I’ve heard stories about them, but I’ve thankfully never actually seen one before. Why’d you bring them up?” questioned the third.

“I’ve heard from another bug that they’re probably native to these lands. And more of them have been seen around these parts recently.”

“That’s terrible! Doesn’t that make our journey to the holy Citadel even more dangerous than it should’ve been?”

“Well…not exactly? They haven’t been seen around these days, according to him, but the last time they were…well, they haven’t exactly been attacking.”

“Is that so?”

“Apparently. They’ve kind of just been…around? And not even shellshifting in the slightest. And being nice?”

“Nice? A Nosk being nice?”

“That’s out of the question. Monsters like them can’t be nice!”

“Exactly. Maybe they have been slowly changing their tactics, and decided appearance alone isn’t enough to lead bugs into a false sense of security. They had to keep up a ‘nice’ act, too.”

“There is really no way a Nosk can just be nice. There is definitely something in it for them.”

“M-hm. Another bug told me she saw one of them creeping up on other bugs before trying to talk to them. If that’s supposed to be nice, the creature is terrible at hiding its true intentions, even when its potential prey isn’t looking.”

“It sounds more like it’s trying to attack, but as soon as it gets noticed it starts putting on the nice act.”

“Ha! It sounds like it has problems being subtle about its approach. Just silently going in for the kill is much more honest and less dirty than whatever it’s playing at. It’s certainly less laughable, that’s for sure.”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya winced, their words cutting deep. They were talking about her, weren’t they? She knew she tended to sneak up on bugs from behind before talking to them—but she meant no harm! Appearing too suddenly from the front is probably scarier, right? Besides, she wasn’t hiding anything! Talking and being nice to them were her true intentions!

She needed to get in there and explain herself. They were terribly wrong.

But then it got worse. Much worse.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya, despite her last not-so-good attempt at befriending yet another normal bug, still remained resolute in her quest to find more of them. The next few encounters, however, ended in varying degrees of success. Some were just as afraid as the last bug, refusing to believe she wouldn’t hurt them. Others, on the other hand, were more open-minded towards the idea of a friendly Nosk, albeit wary at first glance.

At the end of it all, though, despite the different outcomes, Naya was tired. She had travelled across many regions—not necessarily the entirety of the land, but enough to wear out her shell. Talking and trying to convince normal bugs took quite a lot of effort, too, especially for a Nosk who hadn’t talked to other bugs for her whole life until recently. She wanted to go home, preferably take a nice nap and try again tomorrow.

So she started making her way back.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

The journey back was a long one, and as much as Naya wished she could just turn into something fast, she didn’t feel like she had much energy left to shellshift. So she persisted onward as she was, hoping to arrive soon.

Before long, the scent of metal and earth filled her nostrils. It’s the smell of home. The smell of Papa. She would tell him all about her adventures today. After her nap, at least.

But as she drew closer to the hidden den, foreign scents quickly became apparent; entwined around her home’s usual smell. The scent of living things…

There were intruders inside her home.

Naya stared at the concealed den entrance, questions quickly flooding her. Who was inside the den? And why?

Anxiety creeping into her tense shell, she cautiously crept her way into the den, both curious and scared to investigate.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Seated in front of Papa’s grave were three bugs in shawls. Pilgrims. They seemed weary, resting in a circle in front of the rock. They were talking amongst themselves, seemingly unaware of the fact that they were in the home of a beast—let alone the fact that said beast was nearby and well aware of their presence.

Naya was ready to march in and calmly tell them to leave, or maybe even continue her agenda to (try to) befriend them, but before she could a single word one of them said made her stop in her tracks: “Nosk”.

She paused. What was it they were saying about her kind?

She moved as close as she could to the room opening, close enough to properly hear their conversation all while making sure she remained out of sight.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Nosk? What?” A pilgrim asked.

“You know, those shellshifting-shifting creatures. The ones that turn into just about anything they think could lure their prey, or stay under the radar.” The second pilgrim explained patiently.

“I’ve heard stories about them, but I’ve thankfully never actually seen one before. Why’d you bring them up?” questioned the third.

“I’ve heard from another bug that they’re probably native to these lands. And more of them have been seen around these parts recently.”

“That’s terrible! Doesn’t that make our journey to the holy Citadel even more dangerous than it should’ve been?”

“Well…not exactly? They haven’t been seen around these days, according to him, but the last time they were…well, they haven’t exactly been attacking.”

“Is that so?”

“Apparently. They’ve kind of just been…around? And not even shellshifting in the slightest. And being nice?”

“Nice? A Nosk being nice?”

“That’s out of the question. Monsters like them can’t be nice!”

“Exactly. Maybe they have been slowly changing their tactics, and decided appearance alone isn’t enough to lead bugs into a false sense of security. They had to keep up a ‘nice’ act, too.”

“There is really no way a Nosk can just be nice. There is definitely something in it for them.”

“M-hm. Another bug told me she saw one of them creeping up on other bugs before trying to talk to them. If that’s supposed to be nice, the creature is terrible at hiding its true intentions, even when its potential prey isn’t looking.”

“It sounds more like it’s trying to attack, but as soon as it gets noticed it starts putting on the nice act.”

“Ha! It sounds like it has problems being subtle about its approach. Just silently going in for the kill is much more honest and less dirty than whatever it’s playing at. It’s certainly less laughable, that’s for sure.”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya, despite her last not-so-good attempt at befriending yet another normal bug, still remained resolute in her quest to find more of them. The next few encounters, however, ended in varying degrees of success. Some were just as afraid as the last bug, refusing to believe she wouldn’t hurt them. Others, on the other hand, were more open-minded towards the idea of a friendly Nosk, albeit wary at first glance.

At the end of it all, though, despite the different outcomes, Naya was tired. She had travelled across many regions—not necessarily the entirety of the land, but enough to wear out her shell. Talking and trying to convince normal bugs took quite a lot of effort, too, especially for a Nosk who hadn’t talked to other bugs for her whole life until recently. She wanted to go home, preferably take a nice nap and try again tomorrow.

So she started making her way back.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

The journey back was a long one, and as much as Naya wished she could just turn into something fast, she didn’t feel like she had much energy left to shellshift. So she persisted onward as she was, hoping to arrive soon.

Before long, the scent of metal and earth filled her nostrils. It’s the smell of home. The smell of Papa. She would tell him all about her adventures today. After her nap, at least.

But as she drew closer to the hidden den, foreign scents quickly became apparent; entwined around her home’s usual smell. The scent of living things…

There were intruders inside her home.

Naya stared at the concealed den entrance, questions quickly flooding her. Who was inside the den? And why?

Anxiety creeping into her tense shell, she cautiously crept her way into the den, both curious and scared to investigate.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Seated in front of Papa’s grave were three bugs in shawls. Pilgrims. They seemed weary, resting in a circle in front of the rock. They were talking amongst themselves, seemingly unaware of the fact that they were in the home of a beast—let alone the fact that said beast was nearby and well aware of their presence.

Naya was ready to march in and calmly tell them to leave, or maybe even continue her agenda to (try to) befriend them, but before she could a single word one of them said made her stop in her tracks: “Nosk”.

She paused. What was it they were saying about her kind?

She moved as close as she could to the room opening, close enough to properly hear their conversation all while making sure she remained out of sight.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya, despite her last not-so-good attempt at befriending yet another normal bug, still remained resolute in her quest to find more of them. The next few encounters, however, ended in varying degrees of success. Some were just as afraid as the last bug, refusing to believe she wouldn’t hurt them. Others, on the other hand, were more open-minded towards the idea of a friendly Nosk, albeit wary at first glance.

At the end of it all, though, despite the different outcomes, Naya was tired. She had travelled across many regions—not necessarily the entirety of the land, but enough to wear out her shell. Talking and trying to convince normal bugs took quite a lot of effort, too, especially for a Nosk who hadn’t talked to other bugs for her whole life until recently. She wanted to go home, preferably take a nice nap and try again tomorrow.

So she started making her way back.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

The journey back was a long one, and as much as Naya wished she could just turn into something fast, she didn’t feel like she had much energy left to shellshift. So she persisted onward as she was, hoping to arrive soon.

Before long, the scent of metal and earth filled her nostrils. It’s the smell of home. The smell of Papa. She would tell him all about her adventures today. After her nap, at least.

But as she drew closer to the hidden den, foreign scents quickly became apparent; entwined around her home’s usual smell. The scent of living things…

There were intruders inside her home.

Naya stared at the concealed den entrance, questions quickly flooding her. Who was inside the den? And why?

Anxiety creeping into her tense shell, she cautiously crept her way into the den, both curious and scared to investigate.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Long post! TLDR in the comments!

Naya, despite her last not-so-good attempt at befriending yet another normal bug, still remained resolute in her quest to find more of them. The next few encounters, however, ended in varying degrees of success. Some were just as afraid as the last bug, refusing to believe she wouldn’t hurt them. Others, on the other hand, were more open-minded towards the idea of a friendly Nosk, albeit wary at first glance.

At the end of it all, though, despite the different outcomes, Naya was tired. She had travelled across many regions—not necessarily the entirety of the land, but enough to wear out her shell. Talking and trying to convince normal bugs took quite a lot of effort, too, especially for a Nosk who hadn’t talked to other bugs for her whole life until recently. She wanted to go home, preferably take a nice nap and try again tomorrow.

So she started making her way back.

[engineering-sinner]

The sound of footsteps seem to follow Dander from behind, accompanied by a soft sniffing noise. Something is watching him from the undergrowth, trying to approach.

-- @dwelling-in-darkness

Dander had just been wandering around Shellwood, searching every bush and every weave of vines for something. Something that had mysteriously disappeared on its own. He had searched high and low in his bellhome, but it was nowhere to be found. He’d even searched the other bellhomes, but to no avail.

So he was here now, wandering aimlessly and hoping his missing tool was somewhere close by. And that was when he felt the presence behind him.

Hairs raising ever so slightly, he froze on the spot, then began to feel around the inside of his pouch. All he had was a spanner—it’s not a very good weapon, but it’ll have to do. Closing his grip around the metal object, he slowly turned his head.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Peering from behind a thick bush of delicate white blooms was a creature, with spines along its back and a pair of leathery grey wings. A pale face with slit-pupilled eyes stare at him, regarding him quietly. It’s a Nosk.

[engineering-sinner]

Dander immediately recognized the creature by its spines and wings. He remembered the tales his mother had told him, about beasts native to the land which used their shell-shifting abilities to fool prey before killing them. And here was one before him, looking at him as though he was going to be its next dinner.

He did notice it was small—smaller than he’d expected a Nosk to be, and that it was clearly revealing its true form to him, which confused him greatly. If he was going to be eaten, why wasn’t it trying to lure him?

But there was no time to question anything. His life was at stake here. Despite how dull and unfulfilling life was now, it’s not like he wanted to die.

The spider took the spanner out and held it in front of him protectively, waiting for the beast to charge.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya, meanwhile, looked at him confusedly. She had been trying to approach him, and she had nearly gotten there before he stopped and turned around. She was confused even further when she spotted him holding out the strange metal object, when it eventually occurred to her he was probably trying to use that as a weapon.

“Wait,” She quickly spoke, before he could start attacking, “Not trying to hurt you! Not trying to hunt you, too. Just want to talk.”

[engineering-sinner]

The moment the beast spoke made Dander flinch rather heavily, dropping his spanner in the process. He didn’t even know they were capable of talking! Were they not just mindless beasts?

He took a step back in alarm, trying to form words but only managing to stutter a few incoherent syllables.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya tilted her head at his stuttering. She stepped out from behind the bush, coming just a bit closer—but not too close, or else he might run away.

“You talk weird.”

[engineering-sinner]

“What?” Dander choked out, surprised by her remark. He wasn’t expecting a beast of all things comment on his way of talking—or attempt to. Far from it.

“Th-That w-wasn’t t-t-talking…at all. Wh-what d-do you w-want?”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Oh. You can talk normal!”

Naya tilted her head at his question. Did he not hear her earlier?

“Want to talk, self said. You still look scared. Don’t be scared. Promise won’t hurt you.”

[engineering-sinner]

“H-H-H-How d-do I kn-know th-th-that?” Dander said, raising the spanner just a little higher, narrowing both sets of eyes, “Y-Y-You’re a N-N-Nosk…a p-p-predat-predator…”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya frowned in response. She should’ve expected to meet a bug like this sooner or later, but given her past few interactions that had gone smoothly more or less, it still caught her off guard…and just told her how much the typical normal bug doesn’t like her kind.

“Promised not to hurt you. Not running, not biting, not doing anything.” She protested, turning once in a circle, “Just staying right here.”

[engineering-sinner]

“I kn-know wh-what y-your k-kind d-d-does…t-trick,” Dander merely responded behind clenched teeth.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Not tricking you!” Naya exclaimed fervently, “Tricking is for hunting. Not hunting you, no!”

Without thinking, she takes several steps closer to him.

“Can prove, just l—”

[engineering-sinner]

“Don’t come any closer!” Dander hissed, swinging the spanner in a wide, sweeping motion to ward the approaching Nosk away.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

The spanner narrowly missed Naya, and she quickly stepped back in alarm, her wings spread and her hanging limply down. She wasn’t expecting him to try and hit her!

“Sorry, sorry…!” She exclaimed, “How…how can self prove self won’t hurt you…?”

[engineering-sinner]

Dander was silent, unsure how to respond. On one hand, he wasn’t sure exactly how it could possibly prove it was ‘harmless’. On the other, any attempt made to do so wouldn’t be easy to believe; Nosks are notorious for trickery and it’s hard to imagine one that wasn’t.

“Y-Y-Y-You c-c-can’t.” He simply said.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Oh…”

Naya lowered her head, her wings falling at her sides. Maybe she’d found the wrong bug this time. It made her sad, to know there are bugs who really just couldn’t change their minds. Tein had been right, hadn’t they…?

“Sorry…should…should self go away?”

[engineering-sinner]

“I-I-If y-y-you c-could…” said Dander, relaxing ever so slightly.

It did make him relieved that it wasn’t just going to stay there and keep pleading for him to let his guard down. Perhaps it gave up trying to convince him, knowing how stubborn he was going to be.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Okay.” Naya sighed, turning around and disappearing into the greenery.

Although she was quite disappointed by how that went, she tried to think a bit more optimistically. He was just one bug out of many others in this land. Maybe the next bug she’d meet would be nicer, less scared…

[engineering-sinner]

The sound of footsteps seem to follow Dander from behind, accompanied by a soft sniffing noise. Something is watching him from the undergrowth, trying to approach.

-- @dwelling-in-darkness

Dander had just been wandering around Shellwood, searching every bush and every weave of vines for something. Something that had mysteriously disappeared on its own. He had searched high and low in his bellhome, but it was nowhere to be found. He’d even searched the other bellhomes, but to no avail.

So he was here now, wandering aimlessly and hoping his missing tool was somewhere close by. And that was when he felt the presence behind him.

Hairs raising ever so slightly, he froze on the spot, then began to feel around the inside of his pouch. All he had was a spanner—it’s not a very good weapon, but it’ll have to do. Closing his grip around the metal object, he slowly turned his head.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Peering from behind a thick bush of delicate white blooms was a creature, with spines along its back and a pair of leathery grey wings. A pale face with slit-pupilled eyes stare at him, regarding him quietly. It’s a Nosk.

[engineering-sinner]

Dander immediately recognized the creature by its spines and wings. He remembered the tales his mother had told him, about beasts native to the land which used their shell-shifting abilities to fool prey before killing them. And here was one before him, looking at him as though he was going to be its next dinner.

He did notice it was small—smaller than he’d expected a Nosk to be, and that it was clearly revealing its true form to him, which confused him greatly. If he was going to be eaten, why wasn’t it trying to lure him?

But there was no time to question anything. His life was at stake here. Despite how dull and unfulfilling life was now, it’s not like he wanted to die.

The spider took the spanner out and held it in front of him protectively, waiting for the beast to charge.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya, meanwhile, looked at him confusedly. She had been trying to approach him, and she had nearly gotten there before he stopped and turned around. She was confused even further when she spotted him holding out the strange metal object, when it eventually occurred to her he was probably trying to use that as a weapon.

“Wait,” She quickly spoke, before he could start attacking, “Not trying to hurt you! Not trying to hunt you, too. Just want to talk.”

[engineering-sinner]

The moment the beast spoke made Dander flinch rather heavily, dropping his spanner in the process. He didn’t even know they were capable of talking! Were they not just mindless beasts?

He took a step back in alarm, trying to form words but only managing to stutter a few incoherent syllables.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya tilted her head at his stuttering. She stepped out from behind the bush, coming just a bit closer—but not too close, or else he might run away.

“You talk weird.”

[engineering-sinner]

“What?” Dander choked out, surprised by her remark. He wasn’t expecting a beast of all things comment on his way of talking—or attempt to. Far from it.

“Th-That w-wasn’t t-t-talking…at all. Wh-what d-do you w-want?”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Oh. You can talk normal!”

Naya tilted her head at his question. Did he not hear her earlier?

“Want to talk, self said. You still look scared. Don’t be scared. Promise won’t hurt you.”

[engineering-sinner]

“H-H-H-How d-do I kn-know th-th-that?” Dander said, raising the spanner just a little higher, narrowing both sets of eyes, “Y-Y-You’re a N-N-Nosk…a p-p-predat-predator…”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya frowned in response. She should’ve expected to meet a bug like this sooner or later, but given her past few interactions that had gone smoothly more or less, it still caught her off guard…and just told her how much the typical normal bug doesn’t like her kind.

“Promised not to hurt you. Not running, not biting, not doing anything.” She protested, turning once in a circle, “Just staying right here.”

[engineering-sinner]

“I kn-know wh-what y-your k-kind d-d-does…t-trick,” Dander merely responded behind clenched teeth.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Not tricking you!” Naya exclaimed fervently, “Tricking is for hunting. Not hunting you, no!”

Without thinking, she takes several steps closer to him.

“Can prove, just l—”

[engineering-sinner]

“Don’t come any closer!” Dander hissed, swinging the spanner in a wide, sweeping motion to ward the approaching Nosk away.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

The spanner narrowly missed Naya, and she quickly stepped back in alarm, her wings spread and her hanging limply down. She wasn’t expecting him to try and hit her!

“Sorry, sorry…!” She exclaimed, “How…how can self prove self won’t hurt you…?”

[engineering-sinner]

Dander was silent, unsure how to respond. On one hand, he wasn’t sure exactly how it could possibly prove it was ‘harmless’. On the other, any attempt made to do so wouldn’t be easy to believe; Nosks are notorious for trickery and it’s hard to imagine one that wasn’t.

“Y-Y-Y-You c-c-can’t.” He simply said.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Oh…”

Naya lowered her head, her wings falling at her sides. Maybe she’d found the wrong bug this time. It made her sad, to know there are bugs who really just couldn’t change their minds. Tein had been right, hadn’t they…?

“Sorry…should…should self go away?”

[engineering-sinner]

The sound of footsteps seem to follow Dander from behind, accompanied by a soft sniffing noise. Something is watching him from the undergrowth, trying to approach.

-- @dwelling-in-darkness

Dander had just been wandering around Shellwood, searching every bush and every weave of vines for something. Something that had mysteriously disappeared on its own. He had searched high and low in his bellhome, but it was nowhere to be found. He’d even searched the other bellhomes, but to no avail.

So he was here now, wandering aimlessly and hoping his missing tool was somewhere close by. And that was when he felt the presence behind him.

Hairs raising ever so slightly, he froze on the spot, then began to feel around the inside of his pouch. All he had was a spanner—it’s not a very good weapon, but it’ll have to do. Closing his grip around the metal object, he slowly turned his head.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Peering from behind a thick bush of delicate white blooms was a creature, with spines along its back and a pair of leathery grey wings. A pale face with slit-pupilled eyes stare at him, regarding him quietly. It’s a Nosk.

[engineering-sinner]

Dander immediately recognized the creature by its spines and wings. He remembered the tales his mother had told him, about beasts native to the land which used their shell-shifting abilities to fool prey before killing them. And here was one before him, looking at him as though he was going to be its next dinner.

He did notice it was small—smaller than he’d expected a Nosk to be, and that it was clearly revealing its true form to him, which confused him greatly. If he was going to be eaten, why wasn’t it trying to lure him?

But there was no time to question anything. His life was at stake here. Despite how dull and unfulfilling life was now, it’s not like he wanted to die.

The spider took the spanner out and held it in front of him protectively, waiting for the beast to charge.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya, meanwhile, looked at him confusedly. She had been trying to approach him, and she had nearly gotten there before he stopped and turned around. She was confused even further when she spotted him holding out the strange metal object, when it eventually occurred to her he was probably trying to use that as a weapon.

“Wait,” She quickly spoke, before he could start attacking, “Not trying to hurt you! Not trying to hunt you, too. Just want to talk.”

[engineering-sinner]

The moment the beast spoke made Dander flinch rather heavily, dropping his spanner in the process. He didn’t even know they were capable of talking! Were they not just mindless beasts?

He took a step back in alarm, trying to form words but only managing to stutter a few incoherent syllables.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya tilted her head at his stuttering. She stepped out from behind the bush, coming just a bit closer—but not too close, or else he might run away.

“You talk weird.”

[engineering-sinner]

“What?” Dander choked out, surprised by her remark. He wasn’t expecting a beast of all things comment on his way of talking—or attempt to. Far from it.

“Th-That w-wasn’t t-t-talking…at all. Wh-what d-do you w-want?”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Oh. You can talk normal!”

Naya tilted her head at his question. Did he not hear her earlier?

“Want to talk, self said. You still look scared. Don’t be scared. Promise won’t hurt you.”

[engineering-sinner]

“H-H-H-How d-do I kn-know th-th-that?” Dander said, raising the spanner just a little higher, narrowing both sets of eyes, “Y-Y-You’re a N-N-Nosk…a p-p-predat-predator…”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya frowned in response. She should’ve expected to meet a bug like this sooner or later, but given her past few interactions that had gone smoothly more or less, it still caught her off guard…and just told her how much the typical normal bug doesn’t like her kind.

“Promised not to hurt you. Not running, not biting, not doing anything.” She protested, turning once in a circle, “Just staying right here.”

[engineering-sinner]

“I kn-know wh-what y-your k-kind d-d-does…t-trick,” Dander merely responded behind clenched teeth.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Not tricking you!” Naya exclaimed fervently, “Tricking is for hunting. Not hunting you, no!”

Without thinking, she takes several steps closer to him.

“Can prove, just l—”

[engineering-sinner]

“Don’t come any closer!” Dander hissed, swinging the spanner in a wide, sweeping motion to ward the approaching Nosk away.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

The spanner narrowly missed Naya, and she quickly stepped back in alarm, her wings spread and her hanging limply down. She wasn’t expecting him to try and hit her!

“Sorry, sorry…!” She exclaimed, “How…how can self prove self won’t hurt you…?”

[engineering-sinner]

The sound of footsteps seem to follow Dander from behind, accompanied by a soft sniffing noise. Something is watching him from the undergrowth, trying to approach.

-- @dwelling-in-darkness

Dander had just been wandering around Shellwood, searching every bush and every weave of vines for something. Something that had mysteriously disappeared on its own. He had searched high and low in his bellhome, but it was nowhere to be found. He’d even searched the other bellhomes, but to no avail.

So he was here now, wandering aimlessly and hoping his missing tool was somewhere close by. And that was when he felt the presence behind him.

Hairs raising ever so slightly, he froze on the spot, then began to feel around the inside of his pouch. All he had was a spanner—it’s not a very good weapon, but it’ll have to do. Closing his grip around the metal object, he slowly turned his head.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Peering from behind a thick bush of delicate white blooms was a creature, with spines along its back and a pair of leathery grey wings. A pale face with slit-pupilled eyes stare at him, regarding him quietly. It’s a Nosk.

[engineering-sinner]

Dander immediately recognized the creature by its spines and wings. He remembered the tales his mother had told him, about beasts native to the land which used their shell-shifting abilities to fool prey before killing them. And here was one before him, looking at him as though he was going to be its next dinner.

He did notice it was small—smaller than he’d expected a Nosk to be, and that it was clearly revealing its true form to him, which confused him greatly. If he was going to be eaten, why wasn’t it trying to lure him?

But there was no time to question anything. His life was at stake here. Despite how dull and unfulfilling life was now, it’s not like he wanted to die.

The spider took the spanner out and held it in front of him protectively, waiting for the beast to charge.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya, meanwhile, looked at him confusedly. She had been trying to approach him, and she had nearly gotten there before he stopped and turned around. She was confused even further when she spotted him holding out the strange metal object, when it eventually occurred to her he was probably trying to use that as a weapon.

“Wait,” She quickly spoke, before he could start attacking, “Not trying to hurt you! Not trying to hunt you, too. Just want to talk.”

[engineering-sinner]

The moment the beast spoke made Dander flinch rather heavily, dropping his spanner in the process. He didn’t even know they were capable of talking! Were they not just mindless beasts?

He took a step back in alarm, trying to form words but only managing to stutter a few incoherent syllables.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya tilted her head at his stuttering. She stepped out from behind the bush, coming just a bit closer—but not too close, or else he might run away.

“You talk weird.”

[engineering-sinner]

“What?” Dander choked out, surprised by her remark. He wasn’t expecting a beast of all things comment on his way of talking—or attempt to. Far from it.

“Th-That w-wasn’t t-t-talking…at all. Wh-what d-do you w-want?”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Oh. You can talk normal!”

Naya tilted her head at his question. Did he not hear her earlier?

“Want to talk, self said. You still look scared. Don’t be scared. Promise won’t hurt you.”

[engineering-sinner]

“H-H-H-How d-do I kn-know th-th-that?” Dander said, raising the spanner just a little higher, narrowing both sets of eyes, “Y-Y-You’re a N-N-Nosk…a p-p-predat-predator…”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya frowned in response. She should’ve expected to meet a bug like this sooner or later, but given her past few interactions that had gone smoothly more or less, it still caught her off guard…and just told her how much the typical normal bug doesn’t like her kind.

“Promised not to hurt you. Not running, not biting, not doing anything.” She protested, turning once in a circle, “Just staying right here.”

[engineering-sinner]

“I kn-know wh-what y-your k-kind d-d-does…t-trick,” Dander merely responded behind clenched teeth.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Not tricking you!” Naya exclaimed fervently, “Tricking is for hunting. Not hunting you, no!”

Without thinking, she takes several steps closer to him.

“Can prove, just l—”

[engineering-sinner]

The sound of footsteps seem to follow Dander from behind, accompanied by a soft sniffing noise. Something is watching him from the undergrowth, trying to approach.

-- @dwelling-in-darkness

Dander had just been wandering around Shellwood, searching every bush and every weave of vines for something. Something that had mysteriously disappeared on its own. He had searched high and low in his bellhome, but it was nowhere to be found. He’d even searched the other bellhomes, but to no avail.

So he was here now, wandering aimlessly and hoping his missing tool was somewhere close by. And that was when he felt the presence behind him.

Hairs raising ever so slightly, he froze on the spot, then began to feel around the inside of his pouch. All he had was a spanner—it’s not a very good weapon, but it’ll have to do. Closing his grip around the metal object, he slowly turned his head.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Peering from behind a thick bush of delicate white blooms was a creature, with spines along its back and a pair of leathery grey wings. A pale face with slit-pupilled eyes stare at him, regarding him quietly. It’s a Nosk.

[engineering-sinner]

Dander immediately recognized the creature by its spines and wings. He remembered the tales his mother had told him, about beasts native to the land which used their shell-shifting abilities to fool prey before killing them. And here was one before him, looking at him as though he was going to be its next dinner.

He did notice it was small—smaller than he’d expected a Nosk to be, and that it was clearly revealing its true form to him, which confused him greatly. If he was going to be eaten, why wasn’t it trying to lure him?

But there was no time to question anything. His life was at stake here. Despite how dull and unfulfilling life was now, it’s not like he wanted to die.

The spider took the spanner out and held it in front of him protectively, waiting for the beast to charge.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya, meanwhile, looked at him confusedly. She had been trying to approach him, and she had nearly gotten there before he stopped and turned around. She was confused even further when she spotted him holding out the strange metal object, when it eventually occurred to her he was probably trying to use that as a weapon.

“Wait,” She quickly spoke, before he could start attacking, “Not trying to hurt you! Not trying to hunt you, too. Just want to talk.”

[engineering-sinner]

The moment the beast spoke made Dander flinch rather heavily, dropping his spanner in the process. He didn’t even know they were capable of talking! Were they not just mindless beasts?

He took a step back in alarm, trying to form words but only managing to stutter a few incoherent syllables.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya tilted her head at his stuttering. She stepped out from behind the bush, coming just a bit closer—but not too close, or else he might run away.

“You talk weird.”

[engineering-sinner]

“What?” Dander choked out, surprised by her remark. He wasn’t expecting a beast of all things comment on his way of talking—or attempt to. Far from it.

“Th-That w-wasn’t t-t-talking…at all. Wh-what d-do you w-want?”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Oh. You can talk normal!”

Naya tilted her head at his question. Did he not hear her earlier?

“Want to talk, self said. You still look scared. Don’t be scared. Promise won’t hurt you.”

[engineering-sinner]

“H-H-H-How d-do I kn-know th-th-that?” Dander said, raising the spanner just a little higher, narrowing both sets of eyes, “Y-Y-You’re a N-N-Nosk…a p-p-predat-predator…”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya frowned in response. She should’ve expected to meet a bug like this sooner or later, but given her past few interactions that had gone smoothly more or less, it still caught her off guard…and just told her how much the typical normal bug doesn’t like her kind.

“Promised not to hurt you. Not running, not biting, not doing anything.” She protested, turning once in a circle, “Just staying right here.”

[engineering-sinner]

The sound of footsteps seem to follow Dander from behind, accompanied by a soft sniffing noise. Something is watching him from the undergrowth, trying to approach.

-- @dwelling-in-darkness

Dander had just been wandering around Shellwood, searching every bush and every weave of vines for something. Something that had mysteriously disappeared on its own. He had searched high and low in his bellhome, but it was nowhere to be found. He’d even searched the other bellhomes, but to no avail.

So he was here now, wandering aimlessly and hoping his missing tool was somewhere close by. And that was when he felt the presence behind him.

Hairs raising ever so slightly, he froze on the spot, then began to feel around the inside of his pouch. All he had was a spanner—it’s not a very good weapon, but it’ll have to do. Closing his grip around the metal object, he slowly turned his head.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Peering from behind a thick bush of delicate white blooms was a creature, with spines along its back and a pair of leathery grey wings. A pale face with slit-pupilled eyes stare at him, regarding him quietly. It’s a Nosk.

[engineering-sinner]

Dander immediately recognized the creature by its spines and wings. He remembered the tales his mother had told him, about beasts native to the land which used their shell-shifting abilities to fool prey before killing them. And here was one before him, looking at him as though he was going to be its next dinner.

He did notice it was small—smaller than he’d expected a Nosk to be, and that it was clearly revealing its true form to him, which confused him greatly. If he was going to be eaten, why wasn’t it trying to lure him?

But there was no time to question anything. His life was at stake here. Despite how dull and unfulfilling life was now, it’s not like he wanted to die.

The spider took the spanner out and held it in front of him protectively, waiting for the beast to charge.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya, meanwhile, looked at him confusedly. She had been trying to approach him, and she had nearly gotten there before he stopped and turned around. She was confused even further when she spotted him holding out the strange metal object, when it eventually occurred to her he was probably trying to use that as a weapon.

“Wait,” She quickly spoke, before he could start attacking, “Not trying to hurt you! Not trying to hunt you, too. Just want to talk.”

[engineering-sinner]

The moment the beast spoke made Dander flinch rather heavily, dropping his spanner in the process. He didn’t even know they were capable of talking! Were they not just mindless beasts?

He took a step back in alarm, trying to form words but only managing to stutter a few incoherent syllables.

[dwelling-in-darkness]

Naya tilted her head at his stuttering. She stepped out from behind the bush, coming just a bit closer—but not too close, or else he might run away.

“You talk weird.”

[engineering-sinner]

“What?” Dander choked out, surprised by her remark. He wasn’t expecting a beast of all things comment on his way of talking—or attempt to. Far from it.

“Th-That w-wasn’t t-t-talking…at all. Wh-what d-do you w-want?”

[dwelling-in-darkness]

“Oh. You can talk normal!”

Naya tilted her head at his question. Did he not hear her earlier?

“Want to talk, self said. You still look scared. Don’t be scared. Promise won’t hurt you.”