ORIGIN

Literacy and Karambit had never gone together, the ideal of the written word an entirely foreign concept to a monster whose vocabulary often limited it to the simplest of sentences. Add in the fact that none of the numerous eyes scattered across its form possessed ordinary sight anymore, and it was fortunate the strange paper floating amongst Leo's dense jungle greenery could speak and grab its attention. If not for such an ability, unless the flyer's magical nature granted it unnatural resilience as well, it might've been caught in the lackadaisical swing of the giant Gembound's sickle claws casually deforesting its surroundings while it drifted along. Instead the sound of a cheerful stranger gave the meaty abomination pause, its bony antennae twitching at the sudden announcement.

"Krrrmmm," it murmured, entire body humming alongside its confusion. This bafflement intensified when, no matter which way it twisted around, heat-sensitive sight failed to locate another presence nearby. Glows and sparkles from such an unconventional source lacked high enough temperatures to distinguish the paper from the humid environment it existed in. Instead the crisp noise of it flapping around in the tropical breeze was what finally guided the monster toward the source.

Throughout this period of awkward fumbling around, stick-like legs spearing many directions in an attempt to lay claws on what might be a new friend, a massive bulk of the message was lost in the midst of snapping branches and Karambit's own excited buzzing. Nevertheless, the most important words filtered through the commotion: fun, art, and rewards.

"Ooooh," it remarked after hearing Nemean's farewell. Although forced to less visual means of expressing itself, Karambit once and always would be an artist at heart (or however many more there might be contained inside its moist and stinking flesh). The mention of fun seemed redundant then; after all, what other things could art be but the aforementioned. "Soundzzzz good. What'zzzz rrrrole though, Nemeeean?"

No response, of course, from the piece of paper. A stunning work of magic, even it had limitations, recordings failing to have minds of their own. Therefore, Karambit was left to puzzle out the purpose of this "role" on its own. Without any knowledge of what this performance actually was, unsurprisingly, it simply decided on the nicest thing it could think of becoming.

"Uhhhh. Lead izzzz important, rrrright? Soundzzz like firzzzt." And first meant the best and loveliest Gembound surely. Alas, it didn't fit the bill. A certain misshapen creature known as Draconua Jr. would've been perfect for such a job, that beautiful masterpiece who nowadays lay silent and draped in dark flowers. "Not good enough for firzzzt," it declared, antennae drooping at the memory momentarily before perking up again. "But! I can be lovvve interezzzt. I lovvve lovvve. And can be interezzzting. I'll make surrrre that lovved one lookzzz their bezzzt!"

A seemingly innocuous statement, it sounded anything but when screeched from many slavering maws.

Hungry tentacles embedded with teeth sealed the declaration of participation, crushing the paper within their grip so it could be better nibbled. While not the most sensible way of leaving a signature, this did manage to leave a lopsided imprint of an appendage at the crumpled bottom of the page. Hopefully the less than pristine condition of it wouldn't prevent the answer from being received.