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Fang had grown close with Ilse as of late. He'd been trying harder to make new friends, to like new people, to reach beyond the household that cared for him ever since he dropped onto this planet in a storm of confusion, anger, and pure hunger that consumed him.

And there... he found Ilse. Another one of the people who made his heart flutter in that weird way he'd learned was something called romantic love. He wanted to hold her, kiss her, and all sorts of things that made him blush if he thought about it for a half-second too long (and that was usually just the first half-second in the first place).

He wanted to bring her to his world. He knew she would never say no to his plea for help, not when he was getting ready to ask so many people to come to his planet and help him in the dreaded battle he could feel coming, pounding at his body the way his heart did. Every inch of him screamed about the predator lurking on his home planet.

And he could not, in good conscience, demand someone he knew wouldn't say no... come to his dangerous home without showing them exactly what was coming.

So here he stood, tense, fur risen and stiff, waiting for Ilse.

He needed her to know.

Fang relaxed a little more when he saw her, feeling better that she was, at least, coming. He tilted his head in brief confusion before realizing he probably looked very offputting and angry.

"Fang want go," he said emphatically. "With Ilse. Promise."

He reached out to take her hands, squeezing them gently. "Fang not lie. Lies stupid. And Fang... not stupid." He gave her a crooked smile.

Fang smiled a little more, and then in a blink, they were on his home.

Instantly, it felt colder. The dark seemed to envelop them, a permanent blackest midnight that seemed like it would never reach an end.

Fang took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax, but stay alert. Staying too tense would only make things worse, if they came across the creatures he'd glimpsed.

"Big danger," he told her lowly, hoping she'd take the hint and also keep her voice low. "Fang not sure... But he know it bad." He peered into the dark and found what he'd been looking for—fresh tracks, just like before. Again. They seemed to keep coming this way, along the path where he'd lived. Walked to the village. But this time he noticed that they seemed to lead away from the village—they came from different places beyond the village, beyond the graves he'd dug for his family.

To a place he suspected was once the capitol city of sorts. He didn't know if there was a central government in the same way the many countries of Earth had. Didn't remember. Maybe he'd ended up somewhere very remote? But he hadn't explored that way yet.

Perhaps he would today.

He pointed the tracks out to her. "See? Monsters, awake."

Fang felt warmed all over when Ilse clung close to him. He liked that, being close to her. He wanted to protect her—though he also knew she could hold her own in a fight.

"Yes," he said, nodding as he led the way.

In the direction of the tracks.

Buildings started to rise from the ground about an hour into the walk, and he began to grow nervous—as far as he knew, he'd never gone out this far—not since the day he lost his Fangan mother to whatever had attacked from here. The hunting had stayed in the meadows and forests of the territory of his Chrysocyon family, until they, too, had died.

He slowed to a stop when he sensed that... they seemed to be getting close to something. A presence. His ears perked up, fully alert and twitching as he listened for any incongruous noises.

Fang held up a hand, not to silence her, exactly, but asking for patience. He tilted his head, ears rotating a little bit.

"Last time come this way," he whispered, "See little monster. But.. air feels different. Like it... bigger."

As he finished speaking, one of the buildings moved. It collapsed under the weight of something else moving, something bigger, and he crouched low on the balls of his feet, ready for—

Then it moved into his line of sight just a bit better. Whatever it was stood up all the way. It was huge and he didn't want to stick around to figure out what it was.

Even if he had a pretty good idea.

Fang took her hand and squeezed it gently. "Need help. Need more people," he said quietly, then twisted a little and took them back home to Earth.

He blinked in the sudden difference, the way it was lighter back here—not because of the moonlight, really, so much as the light of streetlights. Cars. The movements of people and the nightlife of certain birds.

He relaxed a little and breathed slowly. "Fang will... put out call for help. Next week." He shivered, bowing his head. "...Fang afraid."

Fang leaned his head into her touch at his cheek, feeling warmed all over from the simple touch. He liked her, so much.

"Fang is grateful for Ilse," he said a bit hoarsely, smiling weakly at her.