ORIGIN

It was a calm time. The air did not stir more than ordinarily. Waves from the bay rose and receded without interruption along the shoreline. The beach seemed to have been wiped clean of its usual destruction, the taint of death and rot washed away with the tide. Only closer to the trees could monsters still make their presence known: dried black stains marked the pale sand, and the vegetation quivered as if awaiting the return of something vicious and abnormal.

A low murmur built into a discordant buzz. The plants shook ever more violently—even sturdy palms quaked as if their trunks were caught in the sway of a raging storm. Three pairs of magenta eyes peered out from the shade, and Karambit emerged into the light. It clicked its mandibles, composing a fast-paced and random tune. Songs delighted the creature, but not ones with any particular harmony. It preferred rhythmic clacking or crunching like that of the bone fragments it so often gnawed on.

One could surmise it was in a good mood. While correct, the guess wouldn't be impressive. Sunnier in disposition than its appearance implied, happy was its default setting. With the beach reduced to a nearly blank canvas once more, it had brought along supplies and a snack for another day's work. Naturally, those were one and the same.

Karambit hovered along, dragging a red kooru with it. Their gaze was dull and dark, mercifully dead, and their head dangled between curved claws. Blood gushed from a deep gouge where they had almost been decapitated, spilling a long crimson trail on the sand.

Oh, what fun there was to be had. It wondered just what it could do next to turn this landscape to one thriving with welcome. Perhaps it'd scatter the little being's vertebrae around as tiny souvenirs for visitors. Or maybe it'd make a gooey necklace from their insides after a bout of painting; its siblings would surely love that. So many ideas, so little corpse to work with.

While the buzzing might have been a deafening nuisance to others, to Karambit it was a charming and eternal accompaniment to its more voluntary noisemaking. Head still in the proverbial clouds, the creature drifted down and away from the tree line. Chirps and chitters punctuated the air; a beautiful hue inside and out, the mangled kooru was being such a helpful contributor to its efforts. Even in death, its new friend was so very nice.

When it'd first met them, they had been welcoming, pelting it with all manner of sharp-edged rocks. It tried to thank them in kind for the assortment of little scratches on its face, but they had instead darted away for an exciting game of hide-seek-and-slash. (How had they known that game anyway? Maybe one of its siblings made friends with them first?) Of course, it won.

The piece of cinnabar it noticed before the bird. Eyes attuned to that most favorite of colors, the red leaped out to them, a spot of brilliance in the dull landscape. A piercing shriek escaped it, a cry of torment if heard from any other being. For Karambit, this was glee at the find. Body twisting around, the jaws and tentacles of its tail tip fought each other to grasp at the chrysalis piece. Then the words registered, barely sinking in past the constant noise it lived with. Its attention snapped toward the sound, mandibles clicking rapidly.

A creature with simple thoughts, one description overtook its entire mind upon seeing Zhusha: hideous. With bland brown feathers and far too little limbs or eyes, it knew it was looking at a most unfortunate individual. Consideration passed as to whether it should help with the bird's clear deformity—maybe split a leg or two so that he could live a less freakish existence. But then its gaze settled upon a shiny patch of red, the same as what it'd discovered.

Antennae twitched with mental strain, linking what it'd heard to what it'd seen. This was... a gift? Was formerly this ugly feathered thing's? It chirped, now less cheerful and more confused. The buzzing slowed. Surely he needed this far more than it.

Incapable of holding bewilderment for long, acceptance followed. Wings fluttering, the background noise rose to its usual level. Karambit squealed.

How kind! It needed to express gratitude.

"Blood," it declared in a screech akin to a chorus of wailing Lessers. "You have!"

The kooru thudded onto the sand, and the creature lunged at Zhusha with front set of claws outstretched. If he wanted to get rid of such pretty things, it intended to give him something in return.

Apparently a clear size advantage meant nothing in the possession of an off-kilter insect like Karambit. Its claws sailed over feathers, a rustling breeze left in scratches' stead. Flight wobbly, it swerved mid-air, crying out blood-curdling disappointment at the miss. A wide arc of sand sprayed up, grotesque tail of tentacles and teeth crashing before the rest of it. Harsh grains scraped over legs and eyes alike and flooded its mouths.

It staggered back up, body rattling with wheezes. Mud and saliva spattered the ground. Shaking like an overgrown mutt, the cloak the beach had given it was scattered to the wind. Where others might be humbled by such a blunder, exhilaration vibrated its antennae. Seemingly nothing could dampen its mood for long.

Momentarily blinded, the little bird's attack was unanticipated. His beak struck true, embedding just above an eye nestled between its legs. Exquisite pain blossomed. Blood welled up; part of its vision grew red with drips.

What new cries escaped it were not of agony but cheer, high and whistling. The ugly feathered creature must be friendly indeed! And those sweet compliments!

Maybe they could play later. For now, though, it still needed to thank him. Karambit directed the curved side of one set of claws inward and swiped.

Mandibles wide as they could open, it gawked as the feathered thing was launched backwards to fall onto the sand. And then it chithered. Not an avid student of cause and effect, the consequences of what it considered a tiny hit were astounding, not to mention entertaining. The possibility it'd invented a new game for its siblings popped into its mind, and uncontained excitement caused it to pound the ground beneath it. Tail wagging, the monster crouched low, spindly legs jutting from its body at sharp angles.

Head tilted, multiple eyes followed the downward drift of sand particles. A squeal erupted from it, thoroughly confused.

Was he trying to get rid of the sand? Silly thing! It'd already tried that. Painting everything red was much easier.

Karambit's wings flittered faster and faster until they became a blur, the buzz from them ripping across the beach. Claws lifted into the air, flight path a wild zigzag, its entire bulk hurtled toward Zhusha.

For the second time, air passed through their claws. Unlike the previous attempt to touch the bird, however, the landing was not nearly as rough. Karambit touched down, curved claw tips skidding over the ground first, the sand whooshing up from the relatively gradual descent. No sooner did it do this than it lurched around.

"You!"

It dragged its tail, sending up clouds in its wake. Momentum built.

"Still!"

As they were flung in Zhusha's direction, the tentacles stretched out from its tail tip. Jaws strained and struggled to do the same. All sought to grasp the obstinate child, regardless of the harm inflicted.

Contrary to outward appearances, the monster remained far from angry, shrieks accompanied by the closest chithering approximation of laughter—in short, nothing like what it intended. This ugly being was very funny, but despite his amusing antics, he needed to stop.