A-Lan: If your attraction to our Little One isn’t as true as she believes, that will put you at a distinct disadvantage.
Zed: Disadvantage?
A-Spen: Our ancient ancestors destroyed any unfavorable suitors towards one of their Family Unit. It’s an old but efficient tradition.
A-Lan: Our Little One is precious to us. Should you betray her emotions in any way, we shall…
A-Li: Vaporize you.
*Aliens stare intently as Zed swallows thickly*
A-Spen: Are our intentions clear enough, Zombie Zed? Or shall we do a demonstration… *reaches for their luma lens*
Zed: No! No, no demonstration needed. I got it. Crystal clear.
A-Spen: Very well. We then leave you to your primitive existence. And when you see A-ddison, tell her she is expected back on the Mothership for her afternoon report.
Zed: Right. Will do.
*Zed salutes a bit as the Aliens beam up and disappear. A-ddison emerges from behind Zed where she’d been hiding*
A-ddison: Are they gone?
Zed: Y-yup.
A-ddison *standing*: What’s wrong, Zed? You look shaken.
Zed: Your siblings are kinda scary, you know that?
A-ddison: No way! I think A-Spen really likes you!
Zed: Are death threats a form of love language on the Mothership?
A-ddison *sheepish*: Well…no, not exactly. But we’re getting there! Maybe you all should spend some time alone together…
Zed: Addy, I love you. But I will never spend alone time with your siblings.
A-ddison: Why not?
Zed: I need witnesses.
—
In A-Lurian culture, it’s technically up to A-Spen as the Elder One of the Family Unit to choose who A-ddison’s mate is. However, Little One’s always have a certain sway over their Older’s, and it’s very hard for anyone to say no when A-ddison breaks out her very best begging face.
So, the Aliens and Zed are at an impasse. Not fans of one another, but willing to put that aside to let A-ddison be happy.
Imagine A-spen telling everyone they dated Zed while he was Addison (someone who doesn't know the context) and everyone looking at Zed in disgust like how could he cheat on his gf and Zed is trying so hard to explain that nothing happened between them while A-spen genuinely believes there is a history between them just because they liked him for few days.
They opened the door for possibilities of Zed being accused of being a sl*t like what happened to Chat Noir in Miraculous Ladybug and I live for this.
"Were you expecting something different?" Willa asks, the bite in her words natural from having to answer the same questions from training the pups, over and over again. A-spen doesn't flinch, and instead shakes their head.
"No! No, I was just..." Willa's gaze doesn't leave the forest ahead of her. She can feel A-spen's eyes as they look at her, soft and endlessly curious. "What are we watching for?"
"Threats," she offers, quietly. Her eyes flicker from one rock to the next, and bounce from tree stump to tree branch. Her moonstone glows as she scans the forest farther away, eyes glowing amber. A-spen doesn't look away. "Safety is never guaranteed." Her lips twist. "For monsters, at least."
"Why not?" A-spen presses when Willa doesn't continue on her own, hands fumbling over one another from where they rest. Willa wonders if they're nervous, and if it's because of the shine of her eyes or the silence of the forest.
She looks over. Her claws dig into the rock beneath her.
"We've never been welcome here," she says, though her voice isn't as steady as it should be. Something close to guilt churns her stomach. "We're outsiders."
A-spen is quiet for a long moment. A stick snaps in the distance, and Willa snaps her gaze toward it. It's nothing more than a deer and she relaxes, exhaling slowly.
"You don't have to feel bad," they say, sighing. "We acted the same when Addison was brought onto our ship." Their mouth opens and closes. Their shoes scuff at the dirt below them, dragging and pulling. "Will we have to stop watching? One day?"
Flashes of silver and fire. Wheezes of pups soon to be gone. Clicks of guns, handcuffs, locks. Drops of blood from cuts that stretch across her skin, one slash and then two slashes and then more and more and more, until finally, she's seen as the alpha. Her brother's sad eyes as he carries her away, blood smearing across his shirt as her fingers shakily grab hold.
A-spen's hair, shining under the moonlight.
There's a lump in the back of her throat.
"I don't know."
Her brother wiping blood from her arms, wrapping gauze around her back. No one else helps, besides him. She reminds him of the consequences, from him doing such a thing, tries not to envision the scar he will receive. Her brother does nothing but smirk.
"If you would like me to, I'll stay watching with you. For as long as we need."
Finally finished all my designs! Went ahead and just re-did A-Spen as well since I was in the groove, and I wanted them all to share the same vibes :3
Some things that are common in the A-Lurian culture is long hair for any gender, shaved patterns into the scalp, and silver piercings in the face (ears, lips, eyebrows ect). Piercings are seen as a coming of age thing, and almost all A-Lurian’s have at least one. But it’s also a way to show individuality in a society that promotes the ultimate conformity :)
Willa inviting A-spen to join the wolves in their nightly cuddle sleep pile.
“It’s been a long night.” Willa breathed tiredly. “Wolves! Make preparations for bed!” She called loudly to her pack, an echo of howls responding happily as everyone began to scurry around.
“Oh! Would it be alright if I examined your sleeping pods? I would like to see how they compare to our alien ones!” A-spen excitedly asked.
Wyatt and Wynter snickered amongst themselves before slipping past to give the two some alone time.
Willa glared after them but then turned to A-spen with slight confusion. “Do you mean our rooms? We have those for when we want or need to be alone but normally we sleep in the dogpile.” She explained, turning a bit shy as she continued. “But if you want, you can join the pile tonight to see what it’s like? Ya know, and get some cuddling in?”
A-spen’s eyes widened with excitement as they gasped. “I know that one! An exchange of body heat for warmth!” They exclaimed. Willa smiled fondly as she slid her hand from their shoulder down their arm.
“There’s a little more emotion to it than that.” Willa said, soft smile refusing to leave her lips. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
~*~
A-spen was hesitant but followed the way Wyatt, Wynter, and the other wolves climbed into the giant, soft fur bed. Their head laying on someone’s knee.
“I am very sorry!” A-spen apologized with a jump.
The wolf let out a big yawn. “No worries.”
Then, they realized they had someone’s arm smooshed underneath them. “Oh! Let me get off of your arm!” But the wolf-girl smiled sleepily.
“It’s fine. The pressure helps me sleep better.” She assured, laying her head back down.
Another wolf climbed in sideways and curled up with their head on A-spen’s foot! “I can move if that is uncomfortable!” They offered, but the wolf nuzzled into their ankle already dozing off.
They looked around the pile of sleepy wolves, one big tangle of limbs and bodies but it was oddly comforting. Glancing back to Wyatt and Wynter like before, to make sure they were doing this right, the wolf-girl had her head on his stomach while also snuggling his forearm with her cheek. Wyatt met their eyes and gave an assuring nod.
Willa was suddenly behind them and wrapped her arm around A-spen’s waist, resting her cheek against theirs. “Just relax and enjoy the cuddles.” She whispered affectionately.
A-spen wasn’t sure what to think but did as they were told, laying their head back onthe knee from before. Willa’s arm tightened slightly around their waist, the little flutters returned to A-spen’s stomach. It felt strange to sleep in such a messy, jumbled, uncoordinated group like this but it also made them feel safe.
They slowly brought their hand up to lace fingers with the wolf spooning with them. Willa smiled, snuggling closer then planting a gentle kiss on the alien’s cheek. She wanted to laugh when A-spen jumped in surprise but decided not to embarrass them too much since they buried their burning face to hide.
A-spen wasn’t completely sure about sleeping in this ‘dogpile’ all the time, but they were sure that ‘cuddles’ were one of their new favorite things. As soon as they returned to Mothership, they would demonstrate cuddling with the other aliens so they could all enjoy it as much as A-spen did.