ORIGIN

A cacophony of chaos was what followed. Surrounded by a combination of ear-piercing screeches and unsettling buzzes, bug and beast, united in a tangle of numerous limbs, collapsed to the ground in a messy heap. Karambit, courtesy of its attack, reaped the benefits of being on top: the weight of its massive bulk kept the devilbeak pinned well underneath it, nearly helpless to extricate himself from this nightmare turned reality. Useless flailing attempts to free himself only led to gurgling laughter from the monster squishing him into the dirt, it totally blind to his abject horror.

In fact, this clash was treated as nothing more than a casual meeting. Its claws hooked deep into flesh as it leaned in to intimately hover mandibles over the devilbeak's skull. Despite the proximity, it did nothing to regulate its volume; if anything, it increased to a deafening degree. "Heeeey, frrrrieeend!" Karambit chirruped. "Have a favvvvorrrr to azzzzk you. Can you givvvvee vvvvoizzze tube for a while? Otherrrr frrrieeend doezzzn't have voizze and needzzz help."

The devilbeak stilled for a heartbeat, stunned by the assault of sound, but was not remotely calmed by this kind request. Neither did the Lesser understand a lick of Gembound language. Panic continued to rampage throughout his mind, and his struggles were quickly renewed to no significant result.

Karambit, ever the social butterfly (or rather just plain fly), took this exactly the way anyone attuned to its unique perspective would predict it would: such fervent squirming had to indicate exuberant consent. It loosed a gleeful series of clicks before shrieking, "Thank youuuuu," like a child given permission to play at a friend's house. Without hesitation, one set of claws eased off the devilbeak and lashed straight for his vulnerable throat.

This, however, gave him an opportunity. No longer was he pressed so bone-crushingly against the ground. Taking advantage of the tiny amount of relief granted to him, he gathered all his strength and shoved up against his monstrous captor. He screamed defiance. A sudden head thrust, and the deadly claws glanced off his beak. The redirected force of the blow sent them sweeping back toward their inflicter where they tore at the gray meat of its thorax.

Pain bloomed from shredding claws. Hemolymph welled up in the fresh gouges left behind in their wake. Such an attack backfiring should have won the devilbeak a chance to slip free from beneath the foul-smelling flesh pinning him down. And yet, like all normal beings, he'd underestimated the demented mind responsible for his present suffering. Where agony should've disoriented and blurred one's focus, in Karambit's case it sharpened. The sensation was exquisite, intoxicating, and addictive; to inflict it upon the monster was to induce one's own demise.

A chaotic series of shrieks and chirps filled the jungle. Frenzied by the astonishing euphoria injuries wrought, an already eager insect's pressure increased and killed any expectations of a better outcome making itself known. While the devilbeak was welcome to wail as much as he liked, from the neck down, bones creaked and jabbed into compressing organs. He could struggle to the very end, but eventually a loss was inevitable. The question was whether he'd continue this folly, writhing against an unstoppable force, or surrender to fate's will.

"Awwww," it cooed. Unflinching, Karambit jerked its claws loose from the final inch of meat they remained hooked into. "That'zzzz verrry nizzze of you! But can't play rrrrright now. Need to help otherrr frrrriend still!"

It lashed out again. This time, rebellious action accomplished even less than before. A duet of screams became a solo, an accomplishment paradoxically sad and satisfactory to the one at fault for the change. While one friend was silenced, clueless hope sprung forth that the other might regain his sweet, ear-bleeding melody. It'd salvage the required airway and see what reward emerged from its diligence and the power of (questionable) friendship.