The days have gone by quickly, but Douma and I have been getting by. No issues in getting meals besides needing to fight to eat and gather supplies. Although I have avoided certain areas because of plants and animals actively trying to kill me. Nothing unusual for this planet. Specifically, the tree roots trying to kill us, the blades of grass, the explosive plants that shoot poison, the clam-headed creature, and many, many others from land, sky, and water. Makes it hard to get clean water. Finally found a cave and had Douma sniff a piece of fabric that had my scent on it. He was a little aggressive, but started nuzzling it after a while. Guess smells he isn't used to set off his aggressive nature. Setting him down with the fabric, I gathered safe materials to make a pen for him. He will probably stay in one place since he is blind, but if I am going to put him in my suit with me, I need to get him used to my scent without becoming aggressive. Being blind, he stayed with the fabric, just listening to the surrounding area. I set up the surrounding outline. Using some sticks and rope I found, I made a pen around him and tied it off to keep him there. It isn't pretty, but it will hold if he gets aggressive.
Now comes the hard part: making adjustments to my suit. It will look like I have an enormous chest with any adjustments to look proportional. Setting the suit to open, I step out of it and get to work. I already know I am shooting myself in the foot by doing this, but I have to make room somewhere for my new companion. Measuring with my hands and arms since I have limited supplies, and seeing what I can do. And I can eyeball some adjustments here and there.
"Let's see." Adjusting the chest plates and curving them a little using some heating devices I have, and adding some padding for Douma. The padding is the old fabric I used to wear in clothes growing up. "That doesn't look half bad."
Turning to Douma, he was lying in his pen, resting his face against the fabric with my scent. My pace is slow and steady as I make my way to his pen. Walking over, I tapped on the pen fence. Douma turned his head in my direction. The spines and jagged, horn-like pieces protruding from his back naturally moved as he turned his head. His blind eyes are looking everywhere. He looks lost and reminds me a lot of how I was as a child. Back when Mom would help guide and protect me. Staying close enough to smell me, I was far enough from his pen to avoid getting hit or bitten. He is energetic, but if he is gentle and gets too excited, he might bite by accident, which would make it hard to tell if he did it on purpose or by accident. Douma sniffed the air coming close to the fence of his pen. I remained still, careful not to startle him or show any interpreted aggressive movements. He sniffed and pressed his face between the fence's spaces. I held my hand just close enough to sniff, but not close enough to get nipped. He was aggressive for the first few minutes, trying to bite me, but soon enough, he calmed down and was just trying to get close. I crept closer, careful not to scare him.
With the Yauja language, I know I managed to say, 'Douma, calm down.' Douma sat down, the nub of a tail he had just wagged. I never thought they had tails, guess it's always good to keep learning. Going slowly and taking my time, I got close and opened the gate. Careful and slow, watching him. Douma sprinted at me and tackled me to the ground. I grunted as I hit the ground. For a moment, my hand reached for a weapon, until Douma just started licking my face. I kept my mouth and eyes, keeping the slobber out. Unlike the hellhounds I've heard about or read research on, he was friendly as hell instead of ferocious. Surprising for many reasons. Lying there, all I can say is this was unexpected. Once he was done, he was just standing over me, panting with his tongue out. Maybe someone left Douma here because he was both friendly and blind. Propping myself up on my elbows, he jumped off me. Sitting up, Douma just ran around and spun like a dog from Earth. I think. Never seen dogs before; my mom had always told me about them. I don't know. Douma trotted over and curled up on my lap. He made these little purr noises. I ran my hand over his bumpy, reptilian-like skin. His skin was warm and rough under my hand, and my fingers traced the outline of the scaly skin pattern. He leaned into my touch like it were normal for him to do. Itching under his chin, watching him lean into it. Sitting there, just petting him, my mind went to the last nine years. All those days I spent alone, just studying the planet, learning how to kill, and never just... living.
I never realized how alone I was. Though I only had my mother when she was alive. My father did nothing and left long before I was born. There wasn't much socializing with... this life on a planet of death. There aren't many people to talk to. How have I not gone insane? No idea. Staying awake, I listened to the surrounding area. The surrounding area is active and filled with creatures, always moving, always hunting, never staying still for even a moment. Having Douma makes this life a little less lonely. Feeling that makes it more bearable to keep going with this hunt. Despite that, once daylight hit, I got back in the suit and put Douma in the chest piece. The material is probably the thickest part of the suit and the most protected part of the suit.
As the days go by, over time, hunting and getting meat to cook for Douma and i, getting clean water, it is just more enjoyable with Douma being funny. Traveling and avoiding the worst of the planet if I can. I'd say about a month has gone by now since I started traveling with Douma until something came overhead. Looking up, I expected the flying creatures to strike. But no, it's a ship. This big spacecraft craft flying overhead. That design, best guess, it's a Yauja ship. Poor soul is gonna end up dead. But it looks like they are leaving. Must have dropped off the fool already. The Yutani company is still on the planet, and the droids are all here to gather specimens to make into weapons.
They won't get it. That creature will die. I don't care who gets it; I just want it dead. hell, might even be this new Yauja. Wouldn't mind seeing how the new one goes about taking on this creature. Just keep walking, don't have time for this. Although it is tempting to go watch and see what will happen with the new one. No, no, focus! Stop getting distracted. Continuing, I made my way across the plantation area, into the rocky terrain. Every so often, the enormous creatures on this planet make their roars and take a kill. Keeping on neutral ground, I can avoid threats. Just have to stay alive and keep moving, to find another place to set up camp, get food, and let Douma get his brief break and do what he has to do. The sky was cloudy, and not very bright out. But the area was still a beautiful sight. Beauty often hides teeth. ready to kill anything to either eat or just for sport. Often, both in many, MANY situations. My journey stopped when I heard something big going after something. Hearing Yauja and a young woman's voice, I realized the newcomer might have just made a friend. Before I could leave, however, Douma made a scratching attempt inside the suit. He wanted to play hero. And against my better judgment, I went in.