Kinverse: Volume One

PATH OF THE EMERALD MAIDEN

A naive young monster's tale by Moros, aka KinverseWriter

Legal Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise herein mentioned. No copyright infringement is intended. All characters and events in this story are entirely fictional. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental. This work of fiction contains disturbing content.

Reader discretion is advised.

Description:

A young woman from a pre-neolithic society is accidentally whisked away to another world entirely during a raid on a research lab run by alien invaders. Stranded with no friends, badly injured, and no idea where home even is, she's forced to live off the land and learn how to survive in this strange and hostile world.

There's only one slight problem, though.

She's not trapped in this world with them. They're trapped in this world with her.

Categories:

Adventure, Coming-of-Age, Isekai, Erotica.

Disclaimers:

This story contains sexual elements and disturbing themes. The contents aren't purely intended to be pornographic, but some scenes objectively are. This is about a giant monster that eats people, so reader discretion is advised. This story contains vorarephilic themes.

This story will have a very slow and intermittent pace to begin with. True stakes don't really show up until halfway through, though the build-up is always there in the background. This is ultimately not a story of grand adventure and defeating one's enemies to rise to the top, it is the tale of a lost and naive young woman growing as a person and learning new things. It is a personal one concerning her, and thus this story will be told in present-tense first-person.

Chapter 21: Playing With Your Food

---

The river is high on its banks and the sun is low over the mountains. The stench of my ill-fated bounty fills the air, informing me that I've arrived at the site of my disrupted ambush--one I still ache from. Already I can spot glinting objects in the mud and decaying processed elk.

Despite not being shiny at all, the most obvious object is the hunter's head-covering. It's soaked through with gastric juices and has fallen apart somewhat... nobody will ever be using that to protect their head again. I immediately dismiss it.

The viscera is already being reclaimed much to my displeasure; flies buzz around my former meal. I notice one particular spot of sharp-rock: protruding from a sodden burnt steak is one of the very strange hollow tubes I had found within his created-nest. Delicately picking it out, I dislodge some meat and yet another bit of sharp-rock shines out from the mess.

Abandoning what I had already seen before I toss the tube away and go for the new object. I can't make out any details on it aside from that it is sharp-rock and intricate. I give it a dip in the waters first such that the current cleans it and my foreclaw of bile and gore.

Yeah, looking at this I can't really hold his reaction against him--I wouldn't want a dunk in that either. This isn't the grossest thing I've ever seen, but it's up there. It could be worse though and I'm only poking at the goop a bit, nothing else.

This new object is by far one of the strangest I have so far found. The back half of it seems shaped to be held by a tall intruder hand, with a loop and a protrusion in its middle. Its top slides forwards and backward, concealing and revealing a tube on its front. After fiddling with it, the 'slide' remains back, leaving the whole device looking... 'not in use' I think. Disabled.

Recalling how they use small sticks to control things, I daintily grab the handle and depress the trigger with a click.

Nothing happens. I look down the tube and do it again to see if I can spot how it works, but it's just too dark. I hold it up to a night eye.

Nothing at all this time. Looking at it closer, I notice a piece on the back was moved, so I tug it down to how it was before. I look inside again, and...

Click.

I still can't see anything. My head blocks the fading sunlight; I'll have to grab my light projector and check it out. But first... playing with the sliding part reveals a chamber nestled within at what must be the back of the tube. It smells very faintly of burning, and reminds me of when the hunter fired his burning-stick.

Is this a miniature burning-stick?

...Wait.

I pointed this thing at my face and pulled its trigger!

I toss it away and it lands in the river. Uh... whoops. There's no way I'm seeing that thing again. It's definitely clean now though.

After that brief bit of panic subsides, my attention returns to the smaller sharp-rock tube and the fact that the device didn't make fire. I think these two objects must be linked somehow; they look to be about the right size to fit within the weapon. Below the offensive odors clinging to it--literally clinging to it, actually--is the same burning smell.

Instantly my curiosity brushes aside any lingering trace of anxiety over my near blinding. Does it use these? Like the fire-tamer used that larger cylinder to make fire?

Those containers... they held these. I am certain that this is the truth, that they use these to make fire! And he had so many!

Glancing around where I had pounced upon him, I do not see the longer burning-stick. He still has it, he took it with him. The small mover is still here but without its key, it is useless to anyone.

He knows about me now. He will be wary--assuming that I can find him again. He is crafty and dangerous, just like me.

Looking at all of this just reminds me of my lost meal. I'm going to need to go easy on eating until I'm sure I'm healed or else that may cause problems--I definitely won't be eating my new prize until later anyway. Off I go to hunt a few critters. Before I leave, I retrieve my bag...

---

Ugh... fuck... it feels like I got hit by a truck.

...Did I? I... crashed.

I open my eyes, but everything remains dark--for the most part. My back and butt are against hard and rough surfaces and in the distance, a few slivers of light shine through what looks like a crack.

My head hurts. I might still be feeling some whiplash, but... where am I?

I try to recall what happened, and it all comes back in a sudden blur.

Panicked running as something roaring crashes through the brush behind me.

Something about Frank. Talking to Frank. Frank.

Driving... a pop... and then a tree.

I... hid.

And then it came for me.

I bolt up in panic, searching around in the dark for the monster. My scuffling sends faint echoes through the space and a drop of water falls from the ceiling above onto my shoulder. I approach the light and realize where I am: a cave.

How... did I get here? Am I dead?

After a moment of consideration I figure out the issue: these aren't cracks, they're space left uncovered by a boulder blocking up the shallow cavern's entrance.

It brought me here, and then blocked me in.

On impulse I check my pants pocket and find my phone still within. Thank fuck. I turn it on, wait as it powers on, and log in.

But...

No signal.

“Of course there's no reception, Carey. I don't even know why you tried," I mutter to myself. “I've been trapped in a cave dozens of kilometers from civilization out in the wilderness where nobody will ever find my body. Of course there's no damn cell service."

I dejectedly return my phone to my pocket and slump down against the wall. The cave itself is neither cramped nor spacious, and the walls are only slightly moist from the recent rains and humidity. There's barely any light in here thanks to the giant friggin' rock blocking the entrance but at least my phone is useful in fixing the sight issue.

As for the metaphorical elephant blocking the room... I may be in shape, but it's simply too big, and there's no way I'd be able to squirm around it.

For now... I'm trapped.

Alone.

Suddenly, that prospect isn't so peaceful any more, but I suppose it's better than my kidnapper's presence. What the hell does it want with me? It's going to show up again inevitably, right?

Unless it's just sadistically leaving me here to starve...

“Bad thoughts. Don't think like that, Carey. You'll get through this. Besides, it's had plenty of chances to kill me, right?" I mumble.

Giant... something or other. Cryptid. Lobster wendigo. Dragon? No wings.

“I even... agh!"

I still can't believe I fainted! Mechanically I understand that people faint when their blood pressure gets too high, but still, I'm not some damsel in distress kidnapped by a freaking dragon! I stabbed a bitch just an hour ago!

I think.

Regardless, Frank would never let me live this down.

...If he knew.

Damn do I miss Frank. He's a good pal.

I have my phone and torn hi-vis vest, but that's it. I lost my survival knife somewhere in the commotion--its arm, if I did stab it--and my bag is back in my truck. I've got a better chance of convincing mom to move to Vancouver than I do of physically overpowering it. Finally, I've got a protein bar and an empty wrapper too. My water bottle was on my bag but I suppose if I really get desperate enough I could start eating moss and licking the walls.

The now-trapped humidity has its benefits, but... that would really only be prolonging the inevitable, and wish soup: wall edition probably wouldn't taste very good.

I need a plan. I've got pretty much nothing to actually use in said plan, but at least I have a lot of time to come up with an idea. Maybe I could poke it in the eye like Nobody? Nah, three too many eyes, and I don't think I'd survive the attempt anyway.

It would be a bit distracted while shifting the rock. I might be able to slip by as it enters or leaves and make a break for it through the trees like last time, but... it caught up before, it can catch up again. It tracked me through kilometers of rough forest once already, and I don't even know where I am. It was smart enough to spot that I was probably hiding under my survival blanket; that's smarter than a bear or a wolf for sure. Maybe I can try communicating with it?

Actually... yeah, how smart is this... alien... thing?

The thought finally crosses my mind that it might not actually be an animal despite its quadrupedal appearance. It could be intelligent, and if it is... then I may have a way out of this mess.

Okay. Plan time. When I was a kid there was an anti-bullying program, but I can't remember it very well. S.T.A.R. or something?

Umm... let's see here.

'Shrug it off.' That doesn't really apply here.

'Talk it out.' Maybe.

'Ask for help.' No service.

Now what was that last one...

'Ram your fingers into their eyes and book it for the hills.'

...That sounds about right.

I might be crossing the saying with Mom's 'strong independent woman walking alone at night' tips, but I think they apply in this situation.

Shrug it off--that is to say, attempt to run first, then talk it out. If that doesn't work, run. If that also doesn't work... Plan C.

Alright. That's that. Plan prepared.

And just on time too. Rumbling sounds out from the entrance and I shield my dark-accustomed eyes as light spills in. I stand back up and watch as the gap widens; this is my chance!

I make for the gap, but just before I reach it the thing's face pokes around the corner preceding the rest of my captor and it bodily blocks my escape route. I skid to a halt on the cave floor's loose gravel.

It puts its back against the boulder and finishes shoving it out of the way, head upon its long neck pointed towards me all the while... staring and, uh, smiling. No roaring or growling this time.

It finishes shifting the rock, and I step back. I'll need to try again, but it might have caught on to my attempted escape. It turns away from me as it enters the cave and tugs at the boulder to shift it back into place. It's... probably going to be staying here for a while then.

Darkness reigns once more, so I take out my phone and turn on its flashlight. I should have a few hours of light left on it thanks to keeping it off when not in use. Just to be sure, I set it to the lowest light setting.

Pointing my dim light towards the mouth of the cave, its head is illuminated. It's currently facing away from me, pointing one of the eyes on the side of its head towards me, but as the light hits it it recoils back in shock, letting out a low growl.

I lower my phone quickly.

Sorry. Off to a great start here, Carey...

Its growling stops and it lowers its arm--foreleg, whatever--to the ground, retaking its quadrupedal posture. I didn't get much of a chance to look at it earlier and the lack of light makes that difficult now, but I can already tell that this thing is downright weird.

Two wicked blades sprout from behind its shoulders, and its tail swishes in the shadows, also sporting yet another blade. The scythes on its back extend out to the sides like a hockey goalkeeper trying to prevent a slapshot. Its four eyes glint in the darkness--locked onto me.

As it approaches I back up to match it. I run out of room and feel rock on my back, and it continues its approach. Reaching me, its nostrils flare as it sniffs me up, down, and all over with its dextrous neck. Its shoulders nearly reach my own, the entire beast the size of a wide horse at the least.

Finished with its observations it sits back, and opens its mouth.

“Hello," it barks in a gravelly tone.

That's... unexpected.

“Uh. Hi," I reply back.

“Hello. Uhhh-hie," it poorly parrots.

It can speak, so it's intelligent... I think. So far it's just repeating what I'm saying. How does it know how to say 'hello,' anyway?

“Can you understand me? What is your name?" I ask it.

“Hrhan yew underrrzt- underrztanduh me, wat iz yewr naym," it struggles out.

Just more parroting. Great. I point to myself, trying something new.

“Carey. I am Carey. My name is Carey."

It follows my finger, and looks me up and down. What looks like a glimmer of recognition flashes through its eyes.

“My naym is Cae-ree. Caeree. Carr-ee." it struggles out, growling out the 'r' sound.

It stops for a moment before continuing.

“Carrrey, I? Carey... you?"

That's not just parroting, it's speaking on its own now!

“I, me. Carey," I say, punctuating each word with a point. “Yes. My name is Carey. I am Carey."

It breaks out into another grin and steps uncomfortably close.

“Carey. You. Carey," it states. But before continuing, it looks... something. “I... grr-bleh," it growly-grunts out.

That can't be its name right? Grr-bleh? It sounded more like a guttural noise than a name.

“You... Grrbleh?" I question, pointing to it. Me, a cave, and an alien named Grrbleh. Its smile falters and it freezes in thought. It didn't like my answer, which means... no?

“No? You are not Grrbleh? No Grrbleh?"

I feel like I'm talking to a toddler.

It begins to smile again. “No? No Grrbleh? You Grrbleh?" it states, pointing a very sharp claw at me.

I shake my head. “No. I am not Grrbleh. No Grrbleh," I say while pointing to myself again, “yes Carey." I then point at the alien. “You not Grrbleh?"

I think it's catching on. First contact for the win, let's fucking go!

“No Grrbleh. Not Grrbleh," it says, before freezing a moment more in thought. It points to the ground instead. “Yes, down?" it asks.

“Yes! Yes, down!"

It points up. “No down?"

“Yes, no down. No down."

For all I know it is a toddler. A really big and sharp one, but it's catching on quick!

...I haven't said down, though, how does it know that word? Has it had contact with humans in the past?

Before I can contemplate that too much, it sits up and... jumps around in the confined space in what might be excitement, thumping all around the cave. Over the course of our conversation a strange smell has suffused the cave's air. It's indescribable; is it coming from the alien?

Its stomps impressively shake the cave, pebbles bouncing wherever it lands. It's got to weigh at least a ton. I stand up so that it doesn't accidentally crush my legs. It might be a huge alien monster, but it's almost... cute, in a way.

“Yes no down! Yes no down! Carey, Carey, Carey!"

This has got to be the happiest language lesson I've ever heard of. It shifts directions, and lunges for- ME!

“AHP-" I let out before the air is forced from my chest!

I'm hit with a brief pang of nausea as I'm swung around, hugged to the hard front of what I must remind myself is my captor, despite how it's acting. It rears up and back, flopping onto the cavern floor with a massive thump. Thankfully I was able to keep hold of my phone...

With a human, this would be quite the intimate position. Craning my neck ahead, I find it curiously staring at me and panting from its 'little' burst of excitement. It's just smiling, an oddly anthropomorphic expression that apparently transcends species lines. Its teeth look quite sharp.

“Thank you, Carey."

Huh, okay then. Well, at least it seems friendly.

Only now do I notice the bag around its neck. It wasn't there when it chased me. That's... not my bag. Maybe it found it at a campsite after someone left it behind?

Its arms are keeping me pinned to its bulk so I can't really move, but my own are free. Cautiously and eyeing its face for any hint of disapproval I reach for the bag. Rather than slap my hand away it removes one 'hand' from my back to grab the strap and pull the bag along its neck and off before setting it aside, smiling all the while. It then shifts positions, scooting its back up against the wall, bringing me and the bag with it, with I in its lap.

Then... it hands me the bag.

Ohhhh-kay then. I accept the offered bag.

Unzipping it reveals a pillow. Just a pillow, which I take out. It's a bit dirty but in the end it's still a pillow. I don't really have anywhere to put it, so I offer it to the alien. It takes it and puts it behind its head, pressing it against the wall. That explains why it's dirty, then.

I shine my phone into the bottom of the backpack. Hidden under the pillow was a few bottles of water and... a flashlight! Yes! I turn off my phone's flashlight and then the phone itself in order to conserve power. I flick the flashlight on, mindful to keep it pointed away from my 'host,' and reach for one of the bottles of water as well.

Twisting the cap off with one hand isn't easy, but I make do. I've been thirsty for a while now so I eagerly drink it down, but before I can screw the cap back on a claw enters my vision and it's tugged from my hand. Looking up, the alien pours the rest into its mouth before smiling back down at me.

“Thank you, Carey," it speaks.

I suppose it probably isn't very good at opening them. Its hands are twice the size of a human's.

Well... at least it's a polite alien.

---

On this single day, I have learned more than any other here.

Words, words, wonderful words. Vocalization!

Name! Yes! No! Me! My! Carey! My Carey!

Yes is positive, it means you agree. No is negative, it means you disagree. Me is me, I is I, and I think that you must mean you! But names! Names!

Things were a bit confusing in the middle there but I caught on quickly. They have words for each other. Names. They speak with their mouths and ears, not... whatever it is that lets us do what we do. They use sounds, so they need sounds to refer to each other.

I suppose we really do take it for granted to always have a unique name that anyone can always instantly know you by. Her name is Carey. My name is... well, I can't tell her--I can speak in smells, but I can't speak smells.

Name.

I want a name.

Kin get names for doing things, and I've done lots of things... so I deserve a name.

I crane my neck down to my maybe-not-prey, the head-rest falling from my neck behind me.

“You. My name?"

---

A/N:

SHE GETS A NAME. Twenty-one chapters and at least 80k words in, and she finally gets her own name.

I enjoyed writing the whole Carey scene, so... most of this chapter. Some background context to the S.T.A.R. thing: that was a real program here, but I don't know if that's the initialism or not. All I remember is how S, T, and A never got me results or made things worse, and R instantly got me left alone; an unfortunate fact that many of my generation had to learn. For the record, I have never eye-poked anyone.

For reference, Carey passed out earlier due to the stress of the situation and having been royally bitch-slapped. That's what happens when an extraterrestrial monster many times your weight conks you over the head. She believes that she fainted specifically due to high blood pressure or the fear thanks to her memory of the situation being 'not the best.'

Also, gun safety. Gun safety is very important.