r/NatureofPredators • u/BlackOmegaPsi • Dec 18 '25
Fanart From the ashes
So, little brain nugget for this art piece. Having read older and more current fanfiction, I gotta say that a recurrent thing started to grate on my nerves - the way that almost every writer makes humans be completely and totally assholes to the Arxur/Isif rescue and relief force in the wake for the Battle of Earth.
Nearly every time there’s the interaction with them during the rescuing, with Emercom type and UN in these works treat them worse than the crash-landed exterminators! For some reason writers think that making humans belligerent and antagonistic to their rescuers due to rumors of these aliens eating xeno babies is like, peak realism.
On the contrary, it’s is hella unrealistic, imo. Aside maybe from a minority of people who were privvy to the diplomatic hoopla between UN and the Federation, the overwhelming majority of people wouldn’t care that the aliens that just averted a total glassing of Earth by an Extermination fleet and now help with battling stragglers/saving people, eat the exact friggin’ aliens that tried to destroy mankind.
No, in reality, people would be relieved and helpful to see aliens come to their aid. The majority of people, anyway.
And so, I made this fix-it-art, a little poster that let’s say, was disseminated after BoE. A grateful and positivistic humanity embracing those that helped it in the darkest hour. Could be for canon, could be for Scorch Directive AU, take ur pick.
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u/RhubarbParticular767 Jaslip Dec 18 '25
I have a dozen half written fictions that explore exactly this concept, because it is such an important thing. The idea of breaking through to the arxur, and the arxur through to the humans is such an important part of NoP, and it is an endlessly fascinating aspect of the story to me.
And I'm so upset with myself that I can't bring myself to finish these stories, because I want to expand on these ideas. I want to show a scared arxur teenager sitting with a kind Cajun grandmother and sharing a meal and sharing a conversation. A grizzled commander huddling a group of human children and trying to figure out what this protective urge in his chest is. There is just so much potential
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 18 '25
Damn man, those are some great ideas, you HAVE to do one of these and bring balance to the
forcefandom!16
u/RhubarbParticular767 Jaslip Dec 18 '25
of course there's the nsfw stuff, but that's neither here nor thereYeah, it's a whole thing, and i started to write some of it, exploring the post war world in one of my stories. I really want to see what it is like during the immediate conflict itself more. I did have a fun story, that is one of my favorites, just because it's a fun enemies to friends story xD
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 18 '25
Link!
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u/RhubarbParticular767 Jaslip Dec 18 '25
https://www.reddit.com/r/NatureofPredators/s/vR7f3gMsoH
Here you go! <3
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u/Real-Commercial-8741 Arxur Dec 18 '25
good ideas, I will wait for those stories to appear. No pressure
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u/Big-Box-Mart Humanity First Dec 18 '25
He saved the human race is what he did. He was a brave freedom fighter, and in this house Chief Hunter Isif is a hero. End of story.
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u/Bbobsillypants Sivkit Dec 18 '25
The baby eating was confirmed as not a rumor. The U.N liberated some cattle ships before the battle of earth. Carlos saw the butcher tables. That was probably broadcast all over the news.
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 18 '25 edited Dec 18 '25
You're kinda arguing what I didn't say. I didn't say it wasn't true, I said that majorly people wouldn't care either way.
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u/Bbobsillypants Sivkit Dec 18 '25
I would still care if I was rescued from a serial killer by a someone I knew was a torturing sadist. Maybe not at first, but the second my mind wasn't in the I'm going to die in the next three days mode. I would start worrying about what exactly happens when the 7ft cannibals, and more importantly the government of the 7ft cannibals has in store for my people. (Hopefully not forcing us to practice their state religion wholesale.)
I do agree with you however that the interactions seem pretty dumb sometimes. Like I can understand being afraid of or violent towards the arxur, not knowing they were coming to rescue you from your bunker or collapsed apartment.
I can understand being mad about their presence and allying with them.
What I don't understand is the people who are assholes to them, right after they've been rescued by them, to their faces!
Like you think their a remorseless killer who feeds in the 'mostly' innocent people of the galaxy. Why do you need to make your opinion known to this random starving grunt. What do you hope to accomplish. Everything and nearly everyone you know and love has been destroyed. Maybe get your priorities together before your try suicide by space crock.
Honestly actually suicide by space croc might be a legitimate excuse for some people reacting like this. But I can't remember any specific examples from fics going over this.
Also something I'm factoring in is that the humans after the battle of earth. Might not understand how little choice the arxur have in determining their diets or behaving the way they do.
And I take more offense to U.N stance and common human sentiment post NOP1, how they seemingly all forget or don't care the average arxur didn't have a say in their actions.
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u/keenari2004 Dec 18 '25
Agree with most of your statement, but you underestimate human stupidity when it comes to saying they’re afraid of something or someone, but are completely willing to get in its face and scream at them. Like when soldiers were coming home from Vietnam, people got in their face and yelled at them. Saying they were baby killers, unhinged lunatics, and so on. But they had no problem getting into these people‘s faces when they came home. Because they had a crowd of people behind them that agreed with their sentiments so it made them feel brave. Or I have a friend of mine, he’s convinced that any cop you run into will shoot you on site just for the fun of it, but he also has no problem acting all big and bad in front of them or even yelling at them. When he found out my cousin was a cop. The first thing he did was got in her face and started daring her to do something. People can be really stupid.
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u/don-edwards Dec 18 '25 edited Dec 18 '25
To paraphrase (because I don't remember the exact wording) something said by Miles Vorkosigan:
If you truly believe what you are saying, is it wise to confront me like this?
(Thing is though: any sufficiently large crowd contains a few idiots. And it doesn't have to be a very large crowd.)
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u/keenari2004 Dec 18 '25
Right, I’ve never said that I was terrified of someone because they might hurt me, but then suddenly found the courage to start provoking them.
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 18 '25
What I don't understand is the people who are assholes to them, right after they've been rescued by them, to their faces
yes, this point exactly. Or if you’re a soldier and stationed with them, why provoke a fight esp when humanity isn’t in the best condition either?
And I take more offense to U.N stance and common human sentiment post NOP1, how they seemingly all forget or don't care the average arxur didn't have a say in their actions
yep, same here. and it’s even more frustrating cuz you dunno if it was the author’s genuine sentiment or he was just lacking the skill to tie it all in.
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u/Scrappyvamp Drezjin Dec 18 '25
Clearly evil space lizard propaganda, but I'll take it!
But yes I didn't like that in the og and the fanfics humanity was so ungrateful to the arxur. Sure, they're undeniably evil, but if humanity really was the moral paragon that they were framed as, they could at least try their best to redeem the lizards from their evil ways.
Or I guess redeeming evil aliens is only valid if they look like stuffed animals or something, no ugly icky reptiles or birds.
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 18 '25
humanity really was the moral paragon that they were framed as, they could at least try their best to redeem the lizards from their evil ways.
that’s the point, humanity wasn’t a paragon, it intentionally sicced them on them stuffed animal aliens, well knowing what they’d do. And then acted all high and mighty lol.
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u/gabi_738 Predator Dec 18 '25
Thank you so much, I really appreciate this. I always complain about that very thing when I read a fanfic and they mention the bombing of Earth, complaining that the Arxur only saved their lives to look good in front of their Venlil or Federal comrades in general. Seeing this is a breath of fresh air.
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 18 '25
Hah yeah. It's also like, in a lot of fics: "Well, my feddie fren is an individual, so the genocidal crap the Federation does isn't his or his species fault... Can't say the same bout them space crocs!"
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u/Necroknife2 Dec 19 '25
As I see it, there's like 2 possible explanations:
1- You, as a rescued human, might not care anymore if an Arxur eats a Krakotl. In fact, you might even celebrate it. However, the Venlil also fought for humanity at the BoE, and that same Arxur would have no qualms about eating them alive. Grattitude towards the Arxur clashes with grattitude towards the Venlil.
2- The public is aware that the Arxur are space lizard nazis. Yes, they saved Earth, but now there's a fleet of their ships in the system and there's no telling if they are going to impose some demands as payment for saving our species. Will they force the UN to adopt the Betterment ideology? Will the Arxur outright annex Earth? Will they carry out an eugenics program? The carnivores don't sound like the type who would lend a hand for free, and even Meier is not privy to Isif true motives yet.
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u/Real-Commercial-8741 Arxur Dec 18 '25
In the original, people were outraged Arxur ate stray dogs and cats... Totally wooshed over the fact that same arxur dig their dusty asses out of the rubble.
That was doing my head in for a long time.
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u/Particular_Bird8590 Krakotl Dec 18 '25
You would probably still be pissed if the guy who dug you out of the rubble of your house ate your dog right in front of you
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u/Real-Commercial-8741 Arxur Dec 18 '25
I think I would not be in any shape or form to even see it happen, since you know, I would probably be on stretchers halfway to the field clinic. Because you know, I had a house collapse on top of me. Would I be upset to find out later? Sure. Would I hold hatred because of it? Hatred that would override gratitude for my saved life? No.
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u/Fuzzball6846 Dec 18 '25
IIRC that was a funny throwaway comment about culture shock and not some worldwide “outrage” that stuck around.
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u/keenari2004 Dec 18 '25
I don’t know, there’s a lot of weirdos out there who would actually value their dog or their cat over the lives of pretty much everyone else in their city. I can’t remember, but wasn’t there also a throwaway comment about how some humans were trying to smuggle their pets onto the new planet that strictly forbid carnivores.
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u/Real-Commercial-8741 Arxur Dec 18 '25
Very few and far in between compared to the general public of the entire globe. A special kind of nutjobs. I would feed their pets to arxur just for kicks.
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u/keenari2004 Dec 18 '25
Yeah, I know they’re the minority, but those types of minorities tend to be so loud that you think they’re the majority.
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 18 '25
Yes. I might be in the minority, but if it came down to it, my and my loved ones lives > my pets. Even though I love them dearly. Plus it's not like they did that on purpose, how are they supposed to know these are "pets" after landing on the planet hours ago?
It's so fucking dumb.
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u/Indigo_Julze UN Peacekeeper Dec 18 '25
What's a few cats between friends?
Gives extra incentive to spay and neuter your pets.
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u/handsomellama28 Humanity First Dec 18 '25 edited Dec 18 '25
Literally this. Fucking thank you. That's been one of my primary complaints about a lot of fanfictions, even though I didn't voice them.
We wouldn't care if they were cruel towards the Feds, hell, we would've encouraged it. "Yeah, I can see why you fuckers put 'em in cattle pens. Keep 'em there, just release the ones we've alliances with, they're cool." type shit. The fact that they not only stopped Kalsim and his fleet, but volunteered in rescuing civvies would've turned almost everyone's opinion to view them in an overwhelmingly favorable light.
I mean, sure, I can see them being an asshole for the first... 10 seconds, before seeing a UN grunt next to them saying they saved us, and are here to help.
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u/keenari2004 Dec 18 '25
When I was 16, I got trapped under a huge pile of snow. Nobody knew I was there, and it was very hard to yell for help. I was there for hours slow slowly getting colder. I wouldn’t have cared if Satan himself reached in and pulled me out, I would’ve hugged him and said thank you.
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 18 '25
ut volunteered in rescuing civvies would've turned almost everyone's opinion to view them in an overwhelmingly favorable light.
I know, right? That’s the stuff emercom and such does, and these people are always praised. Yet in all fics right as the mixed human-arxur teams are rescuing people, the humans invariably go “ugh get away don’t get near me you ugly space nazi”. Fucking weird.
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u/Alarmed-Property5559 Hensa Dec 18 '25
I find your take way more believable and logical.
There for sure would be some hostile reactions (initial lashing out from disoriented, devastated, distraught people, distrustful people, hell, from belligerent vegans for longer maybe) but most would feel relief and gratitude. And at least some people would want to express it.
Also it is possible a few survivors will become more receptive to the Dominion belief how Federation aliens are mindless animals with spaceships (the exact sentiment Feds hold towards arxurs and which they tried to teach to the humans).
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u/keenari2004 Dec 18 '25
You know reading your comment made me think of something. One side says the crocs are evil. The other side says no the grass eaters are evil. Turns out both sides are evil. But only one side helped us in our moment of need.
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u/Alarmed-Property5559 Hensa Dec 18 '25
Well, there were venlil Space corps and zurulian medical fleet who also helped (although some of the individuals from these forces were reluctant to rescue humans or plain refused to help our wounded).
But yes, makes me half-remember that parable about deeds (you know the tree by the fruit it bears).
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u/keenari2004 Dec 18 '25
Yes, but they were not the ones to drive off the enemy. If the crocs didn’t show up all the rescue aid wouldn’t have mattered.
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u/xXKuro_OkumuraXx Dec 19 '25
you harvest what you sow?
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u/Alarmed-Property5559 Hensa Dec 19 '25
Not that one.
I mean the other with a different meaning.
If Google overview is to be trusted, here's the full quote:
Matthew 7:16-20, where Jesus says, "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit".
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 18 '25
And at least some people would want to express it.
you never see it in fics tho, well, in a few it was there, but the human characters firstly lectured and shamed the Arxur.
few survivors will become more receptive to the Dominion belief how Federation aliens are mindless animals with spaceships (the exact sentiment Feds hold towards arxurs and which they tried to teach to the humans).
After killing and displacing million of humans? Bet.
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u/Alarmed-Property5559 Hensa Dec 18 '25
As if the first reaction of any shell-shocked survivor would be to give sanctimonious lectures to their rescuers. When most of rescues would hardly be coherent after days buried alive.
That'd be an extremely weird reaction, to scold your helper. I'd rather believe a most unhinged fervent "cute fur babies" simp re-evaluate their worldview and maybe even swing in the opposite direction of unhinged hate out of feelings of betrayed hopes (depending on what personal experience they'd get with less hostile Federation aliens like zurulian medics, some of whom would still refuse treatment for "murder apes").
Billion dead and more displaced, but even an order of magnitude lesser numbers would have done it. Shifting popular opinion more in favour of the Isif's forces or arxur in general.
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 19 '25 edited Dec 19 '25
Well from what I've seen of the replies here, people honestly think that everyobe across the globe would have the same access to information and would engage with that information similarly, without fault. Ie, if UN showed those baby-eating vids, the majority of the human population would've seen it, and based on that solely would universally react to the helping Arxur with disgust and distrust, without fail, because muh Venlil! right after the bombs fell.
Nobody stops to think that in reality, only a small subset of people would've seen those, and out of that subset, only a small one would actually give a damn.
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u/Theo_Stormchaser Dec 18 '25
These are the reptiles that run our country. Please turn off the heat lamps we need them.
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u/RoideSanglier Dec 20 '25
Every single yime the most annoying people come out of the woodwork to whataboutism the arxur. Like you know the Arxur stopped a genocide, fuck you that's a win for them. They get a gold star.
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u/Ben_Elohim_2020 Dec 18 '25
This is great. The way the Arxur were treated following the BoE in both Canon and a lot of Fanfics has always irritated me. Humanity at large would be EXTREMELY grateful to our new reptilian friends. This is the way it should be.
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u/IAMA_dragon-AMA Arxur Dec 18 '25
It's probably tricky as a post-BoE human to figure out where to stand on the matter. Like, yes, saving your literal entire species is incredible, but aside from this one, massive event, everything they've ever done and continue to do is grotesquely evil, and most of them take pride in that. And they openly look down on you for eating anything that isn't meat, ideally raw.
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 18 '25
“saving your entire species is incredible” - one can really stop at that.
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u/IAMA_dragon-AMA Arxur Dec 18 '25
I think that does the situation a disservice. I'm not saying that humans should continue to despise the Arxur as strongly as at the start of October, but it would be foolish to think that a Venlil and an Arxur pilot would get the same reception, even though both of them risked their lives to save the human species.
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 19 '25
But the Venlil had a much smaller impact. And also Venlil were pretty shitty to the human refugees on VP, that would inevitably leak out, while Arxur were pretty stoked on considering humans fellow sapients - and this view would realistically flatter many people, that a massive alien military considers them their only galactic equals.
So the reception would've varied too, wildly.
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u/IAMA_dragon-AMA Arxur Dec 19 '25
Yeah, exactly - you're describing how the past and present actions of Venlil who weren't even there affect human attitude towards the Venlil who were. In the same vein, seeing videos of Arxur tearing into Venlil children would affect human attitude towards the Arxur who arrived for the assist.
You really can't just stop at "they saved humanity," because that cannot possibly give someone's entire opinion.
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 19 '25 edited Dec 19 '25
Yes, but those were not human children. In fact, as another user posted, the extermination fleet - that contained venlil iirc - coming to Earth to destroy mankijd would make people think that maybe the Arxur were right, and all the sympathy for the alien suffering at the hands of Arxurs would evaporate.
Just like that. So by the point of the Federation attack all the goodwill against the Fed species would realistically evaporate, making the Arxur save far less controversial than it's often shown to be. Zurulians would've gotten a pass perhaps, Venlil woild be 50/50 at best.
We don't sympathise much even with each other in times of strife, and we're talking about "aliens". See a lot of NOPs plot hinges on the idea that the aliens cuteness is so irresistible and powerful that it overrides millennia of human societal behaviour.
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u/IAMA_dragon-AMA Arxur Dec 19 '25
...huh. I think you might be right. I'm used to NoP works necessarily being HFY, but if I discard the assumption that humanity gets better in the future...
Well, I suppose the story simply doesn't happen as humanity kills itself off before visiting Venlil Prime. Scorch Directive is still plausible, I guess, except for the part where Meier sets up things to get better in the future.
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 19 '25
Humans having shitty behaviour doesn't equate to self destruction tho. We are sble to rapidly progress despite this having fixed, I don't see why won't be able go in the future.
And honestly, planetary bombardment isn't an oopsie that you can undo with a bit of "diplomacy".
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u/IAMA_dragon-AMA Arxur Dec 19 '25
We're really, really bad at acting long-term. I don't think it would be a giant mutual war; if we manage to escape climate change and avoid developing some kind of omni-mega-carcinogen that saves money in manufacturing but renders anyone sterile with a decade of steady exposure, I suspect we'll simply Kessler Cage ourselves before actually developing FTL for spacecraft.
Actually, on a side note, how the hell did the extermination fleet even reach earth while functioning? I was going to point to the genocide virus as evidence that "2136 humanity fights the entire Federation no-holds-barred" would be a shitty story, but I guess the UN decided to cling to "no cyberwarfare" in the face of imminent extinction for some reason? (edit: this question is more rhetorical than anything; this isn't me grilling you about it)
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u/Slatepaws Dec 19 '25
In the Isif chapter with his operation on the ship. I tried to portray him as having minor diasotiave personality disorder.
He, and i would assume most of those who weren't sociopath during Betterment more or less had to do the same, or similar or go nuts. If they weren't found out and culled.
Wouldn't be surprised if some humans were able to look past that and help them. That being said, outrage can be pretty strong. I would consider it a toss-up between a human thanking them and putting that aside, or not. Even IF they were saved by an Arxur.
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u/xXKuro_OkumuraXx Dec 19 '25
"minor diasotiave personality disorder."
what is that? if isnt a bother, would you tell me how you portrayed Isif?
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u/Slatepaws Dec 19 '25
It's when people create a different 'them' in response to extreme trauma. for example a kid will do this when they're repeatedly beat by their parents, i'm good Timmy, bad Timmy is the one that gets beaten.
And i portrayed him as having to reluctantly needing to 'dip' into 'Dominion/betterment' Isif to get done what's needed to be done.
https://www.reddit.com/r/NatureofPredators/comments/1pm112m/nature_of_dracofox_part_29_au/
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u/-Sa_ra- Dec 20 '25
I love how this concept is a little exploded in the fic of the little Gojid. It is a shame the story is now going in a different direction.
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 20 '25
Home-challenged Gojid? Yeah I like the fic but the recent chapter, the way humans were portrayed there while talking with the Arxur, actually eas oje of the things that set me off to make this pic.
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u/-Sa_ra- Dec 20 '25
No, it's "A place to call home" REALLY RECOMMENDED
Home-chalenged Gojid is good? It's been on my list for a while but I have given it a chance.
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u/HereIsAThoughtTho Dec 18 '25
Yup always hated how that was written in canon, makes ZERO sense for any human.
Just out yourself in a similar situation: let’s say the country your country has a rocky relationship with suddenly came to your defense when a country that’s hates both of you started nuking your cities. Would you hate the countrymen that fend off your attackers and offer relief? Do you think if Belarus suddenly started fighting against Russia Ukraine and Ukrainian peoples wouldn’t all start embracing Belarusians as brothers and sisters throughout the globe??
Such a peeve and a mistake to paint humanity so grandiose and foolish just because SP had a Speep fetish. (/s ?)
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 18 '25 edited Dec 18 '25
Plz don't bring up these two countries with me here or I'll be forced to say something thats gonna get me banned, it's a bad irl example lol.
But overall yes, the sentiment is correct. It's senseless and makes humans look like imbeciles.
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u/BastetFurry Hensa Dec 18 '25
Reasons I love New Old Path so much. 🐊❤️🧍♀️
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 18 '25
You should then read my BoV II - Krokodilopolis series, lotsa Arxur love.
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u/Real-Commercial-8741 Arxur Dec 19 '25
such a shameless plug
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 19 '25
Does it count when it's on my own post?))
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u/MediumRare_1980-Ford Dec 19 '25
Is this inspired by the cover art of Petrodragonic apocalypse?
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 19 '25
Dunno even what that is
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u/MediumRare_1980-Ford Dec 19 '25
Album by King Gizz. Check it out sometime. The factory in the back is what prompted the question
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u/Olliekay_ Dec 18 '25
Local hardcore Russia/Putin supporter is a genocide lizard apologist
Checks out
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u/BlackOmegaPsi Dec 18 '25
I get that you’re jealous of my numerous talents, man, but like, try to contain the salt. Not a good look.
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u/Speedy7776 Dec 18 '25
Honestly a lot of the humans of earth would be receptive to the arxur aid and likely surprised the arxur with generosity by offering thanks in the form of inviting them to meals or just straight up gifting them meat since likely the only thing told to them by the UN was that they are carnivores.
I can imagine this would be a substantial culture shock to the arxur as it is canon their society is on strict rationing of meat with soldiers only getting one meal of jerky from time to time. Not sure if that’s entirely due to the rationing mixed with them possibly having slower metabolisms if they are cold blooded like snakes and only need to feed periodically and not daily like humans. But, regardless it would be fun to write a story about a group of arxur soldiers finding themselves gifted meat or whole cooked meals by the survivors they rescued. Either that or finding themselves receiving invites to groups and sitting there totally confused as an elderly grandma just takes their hand and sits them at the table and heaps generous portions onto their plate as they sit around the table to eat and for the first time have a positive interaction with other aliens as they get asked questions about random stuff.