ORIGIN

For all the cacophony of crowd noises echoing throughout the coliseum, Richter approached this event just the same as the previous two he'd participated in. A calm air hung about him as he stroked a reassuring paw along his familiar's back after setting the creature into position on the centered stage. Then, shielding his eyes better from the warm spotlights focused on the upcoming battle, he worked his jaw around a bit and deliberated upon suitable words of encouragement to offer.

"Now, uh, Harv. You stay there, and I'm sure you'll get to show off your stuff soon," he eventually settled upon. Squinting, a gaze was cast around in search of his opponent's approach. "These lights are the darnedest thing, but I wish they'd turn them down a tad. If I can't see past my claws, well I can only imagine what they're doing to you down there."

As per usual, the addressed Walleye Rabbit simply sat where he'd been deposited, almost statuesque if not for the twitch of his nose and the subtle twisting of eye stalks. If any discomfort existed on his part, no signs made itself evident via the tenuous bond formed between the pair. Other than faint hunger pangs reemerging along their link, he was the epitome of patience, unswayed by frenetic energy infusing the overlooking audience in the stands.

Richter returned the nod given to him, stance relaxed and unbothered by the brawl impending. His pal's moniker seemed more of a flustering subject, a paw raking through ears at its mention. "Oh, well uh, it's Harvey actually. I just like to call him Harv. The full name is nice, but something about the shortened form seems a bit more endearing. And he doesn't mind either way, so I alternate whenever I please."

Righting his head from the bashful bow it had assumed, he hadn't given himself the time to fully process the sight of his opponent. Kaizer soon became the target of unbridled fascination, signaled by a mouth hung agape, as the reality of his kooru-dragon hybrid nature registered. The paw that'd lowered once finished with self-conscious fussing now raised again to gesture over the towering form standing opposite him, sweeping from the mixture of claws and hooves on the ground up to the antlers settled on an oversized version of a common cavern herbivore's skull.

"Pardon for the staring," he apologized. "I simply didn't expect someone like you to grow that large."

This thought only multiplied into more, such an admission the tragic catalyst that set off a flurry of unsolicited speculation.

"Is it something to do with your diet? Uh, no. Forget that. It must be thanks to one of your parents. The front feet and those antlers definitely don't belong on any of the smaller fellas I've met. That should explain the height." A frown then indicated a mental scratch being drawn through the withdrawal of his first question as he reconsidered his words. "But then what you eat still would matter, right? You'd have to gobble piles more of leafy greens to get this darned tall. Maybe some other foods as well? Oh, that could be interesting. I wonder—"

A few less than amused shouts rang out from the audience, some going far enough as to suggest where he could shove his impromptu interview session. Taken aback by the vulgarity, Richter nearly bit off his tongue, so quickly did he cut off his droning curiosity.

"Suh-sorry. How about you take the first move. I forgot myself there and seem to have wasted a bit of your time."