I wrote this piece on a whim a few years ago. I really like how it came out.
When the aliens came they spoke with everything; insects, marine animals, birds, wild animals, our farmstock and our pets! Some of us were worried about what the animals would say about us, some were excited about the possibility of animal to human translation. Some said they even spoke to the micro-organisms in the soil.
We thought they'd talk with us next. These beings who could communicate with every thing else on our planet. We sent them invitations to summits. We tried to have conversations with them when we saw them.
They didn't even look at us.
Some idiot with a gun got angry at being ignored and shot one. The response was violent and definitive, the whole town died within seconds. The state retaliated, as did the country. As far as we know there are no humans left alive over there now.
We might have all gone to war, except that our pets, the insects and the very birds attacked anyone who approached weaponry and missile storage locations. Anyone who got past them was violently ill. Those who persisted died of ruptured bowels, blood toxicity.
They left, never talking with us.
I'm making progress in talks with my dog.