whistling is not predator hunting cries rocky
This might have been done already but I had this thought so....
Life had been interesting to say the least since rocky had come aboard the Hail Mary. With the doom of their possible planets there had been little time spent in that adjustment period. Like as if two very different alien races could account for how much time that would have required. This was no little goldfish getting used to the new tank of water scenario.
Even when days went to weeks, little surprises would creep up and surprise one if not both of them.
Grace had been buried Into the lab taking a closer look at some of their current tests with the taumoeba. Breeding had seemed easier than that of the astrophage. Whoomp there it is indeed. Grace let out a loud appreciative three note whistle in appreciation.
Grace leaned back in his chair turning to give the news to Rocky and paused, eyeing the scene.
“Uh... you ok there buddy?”
Rocky had not only stopped working on whatever it was that he was making but had pressed himself flat against the floor of his ball, his body was well, rock still.
“Rocky?” Grace, worried now, stood up and took a few steps toward him. The movement seemed to shake something out of the Meridian as he skittered up and his ball shot down the corridor back toward the bunks.
“Rocky! Rocky!” Concerned and confused Grace called out starting to run after the bouncing chaotic ball as he heard it clanged down the hall out of sight.
Uncertain what was wrong Grace slowed his steps pausing at the entrance of the bunk room looking around. He finally spotted the alien as it had transferred into its bigger bunk habitat area. It had gone back to flattening itself low pressed Into the ground still and quiet. The quiet part was probably the most concerning for Grace. There was little way to stop him from speaking if he had an opinion.
“Rocky what's going on? Are you ok?” unsure of what to do Grace just stood and watched in quiet. He shuffled nervously but thankfully after a few minutes he saw Rocky slowly stand back up.
“Grace question?”
“Uh yeah buddy im here. Everything okay?”
“No you understand, is Grace safe question?”
“yes?” He replied even more confused at the question.
“Are you feeling alright rocky?”
“Feeling scared statement.”
“Scared? What scared you pal?”
“Grace. Grace scare Rocky.” Rocky stomped his claws against the xenonite floor.
Grace scratched the back of his head. Did he do something? Was he always scared? God's what if he was terrifying to look at and he was just too polite or desperate to say anything before now.
Thankfully before his brain couldn't wander down that dark tunnel of logic Rocky clarified.
“Grace make horrible sound. Sound of 🎶 🎵. “
Huh, a new word, plus he had made a sound? What sound? It took him a moment before he realized what Rocky was referring to.
“Do you mean when I whistled?”
“Not know word but noise is bad. Bad bad bad.”
“Yeah I don't know what your word was either Rocky. Can you explain what the word you used is?”
“It is like toumoeba, is Eridian predator. Is scary.”
“Huh, and it whistles? I would like to confirm it was the whistle but if I make the noise again are you gonna freak out?”
“Not freak out, make appropriate reactions to 🎶 🎵 call.” Rocky stomped his front legs as if in protest.
“Uhhuh sure bud, we call this noise a whistle okay?”
This time a bit softer, Grace let out the short whistling phrase from before. Once again rocky flattened himself to the floor. Perhaps it was an evolved condition response? Making him less of a target or to blend into his surroundings.
Whatever it was Grace couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. Rocky immediately jumped to his feet in protest. He had long since figured out laughter.
“Is no joke, is scarey statement. Humans are leaky squishy scarey noise blobs.” Rocky had stomped into a full 180 circle in their protest. Grace couldn't help it, the chuckles turned into a full on laugh. Some of those leaky tears squeezing out in his mirth.
“We sure are Rocky, we sure are.”
