It says something about us as a species that we can see the most badass creature in any given biome, the one that not even the top predators will go near, and decide “I am going to ride that.”
They should never have gone planet-side, no matter how much Hwell complained about ‘cabin fever’. And, once they went planet-side, they definitely didn’t have to go on a tour.
And they certainly should never have gone on a wilderness tour.
Chiefly because humans have one of three reactions to alien fauna: (1) touch it, (2) kill/eat it, or (3) ride it.
And the third was Hwell’s reaction to the creature even passing humans referred to as the Dreaded Bugblatta.
“Ooh, I wanna go on that one.”
“This is a spectator vessel, not an interactive experience,” droned Ax'and'l. “Besides, when it eats you, it doesn’t even need to chew.”
Hwell made a snorting noise. “Bet it’s a big softie when y’ treat it right.”
Ax'and'l knew better than to mock him, or supply inconvenient facts. What he did do was make a mental note to keep Hwell far, far away from any and all inebriants. And dose his beverages with detox, just in case.
And then all he had to do was get himself and Hwell safely off-planet before that damned crazy human did it anyway.
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