Me: Bears are f****** terrifying. Some are bulletproof, their bones are strong enough to last though hibernation and are maul me to death with in a matter of seconds.
Also me: https://ifunny.co/fun/QrPytnfe7?s=cl -- Anon Guest
[AN: Video shows a Russian dude (I presume, the dialogue sounds Russian) playing with his FULLY GROWN PET BEAR. How fortunate we are, indeed, to live in a world full of creatures who love to be petted]
Humans will arrive with pets. Most Havenworlders are advised to insist Human's pets are safely contained. Mostly because Humans take one look at a big predator twice their body-weight or more and say, "Aaw, that looks like a real cutie!" and take one home with them. Don't be mislead by the smaller predators. They're all quick, armed, and contain some truly interesting pathogens[1].
This pet arrived on a float pallet with a safety fence. There was a cushioned pad underneath the giant beast, and cautionary labels on the fencing. These included Predator Containment, Deathworlder, Live Animal, Do Not Disturb, and Human Pet, Do Not Harm. None of these warnings were reassuring in any way.
It was enormous, of a mass easily four times that of Human Dran's. The reason why it was on a float pallet was that it was sound asleep. "Don't worry about waking Pookie too hard," reassured Human Dran. "She's a sound sleeper when she's hibernating."
It was the word 'hibernating' that helped Companion Verx make the connection. "That is a Deathworlder predator known as a 'bear', yes?"
"Uh. Yeah? Don't worry, she's tame. She's my pookie-wookie snugglekins." Human Dran reached over the safety fence to lightly pet the bear's head.
Pointing out that their 'pookie-wookie snugglekins' would likely eat them if they died in their sleep was not, Verx knew, a good ice-breaker. "I can easily guess that you have known her since she was a tiny little teddy-bear cub."
"Yup," grinned Human Dran. "She was a premie and her momma was too young, so I became her mum and now we just do everything together. I know she'll disturb you guys, that's why I got the extra quarters' space so she'll have room to play when I'm on duty. After she wakes up, natch." Human Dren dug around in their files. "Oh, and while I remember, here's the disclaimer absolving Pookie of any wrongdoing if she eats my dead body. I'm cool with that if it happens. She is to be sent on to a nature reserve who'll be glad to get her."
"You're... fine... with being devoured."
"Can't blame a bear for being a bear," Human Dren shrugged. "I fed her at the beginning of her life, it's only fair I feed her after the end of mine. Then part of me will always be with her."
Oh yeah. This was going to be one of the more interesting Humans.
[1] Cats, for instance, contain one technical-neurotoxin that impels its victims to lose their fear of cats.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / Mirage3]
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