Effluvium didn't react to the pat. Mostly because it couldn't feel it. It was a dull sensation that wasn't aggressive, so it didn't care. It did, however, care about the bit of rind Carja tossed towards it. Effluvium snapped up the bit of rind in a second.

It adjusted it in its mouth, having trouble chewing the small bit. "Angry." It thought. It chewed with its mouth open, drool and pumpin bits dripping, because it was a nasty monster without manners. "Maybe? White bird mean." Effluvium didn't elaborate more on it. Mostly because it'd forgotten the specifics already.

Effluvium didn't react to Adina's exclamation that it was fuzzy. "Effluvium fuzzy." It said. It's eyes briefly flicked down to its legs, then back up to Adina. It watched, vacant. The bear made some strange motion Effluvium couldn't understand, and fell onto its back. She came back, covered in snow, and something red. Effluvium's eyes lit up. It'd realized she was covered in rat guts. Whilst any normal creature would think it disgusting or messy, Effluvium had willingly jumped into a river of blood and dead creatures.

"Food!" It barked. Effluvium launched itself at Adina. Its jaws would close over her head. Oddly gently. It licked the rat guts it could reach, and pulled back. Adina would be unharmed, if covered in slobber. Then, it gave an assessment. "Okay. Fuzzy give good food."


"When I speak."

When I think.

Effluvium had quickly forgotten about Adina. It didn't notice her going through the stages of shock. Instead, its attention was grabbed by Carja again. Who was covered in pumpkin. A New Food Effluvium liked. Effluvium's eyes sparkled, and a string of drool dripped. It charged back towards Carja, and did the same to Carja as it had to Adina, cleaning her of pumpkin.

"Carja better than fuzzy. Good." It was probably mostly tasting the pumpkin. And it was already looking for another piece. It sniffed the ground for more. A sharp sound had its' head shooting up. Back at attention. It pieced Effluvium's ears. The fuzzy black thing was...making sounds. And fluid was leaking from its face. But it wasn't blood. Or anything that smelled good.

Effluvium was, for lack of a better word, uncomfortable. It was confused by these noises. It didn't know what they meant. It wasn't similar enough for Effluvium to connect it to the noises Lessers in pain made. All it knew was just that Adina was yelling at it, and calling it scary. And fuzzy.

Effluvium took a few steps back. It didn't know why those things were bad! Fuzzy had been good, a moment ago! Effluvium curled its tentacles close, intimidated by the small yelling bear. With no other idea what to do, Effluvium's jaws unfurled. And then it began to yell back. At the same pitch and volume.

It began with a legible "HYYYYY!" in return, then devolved into nonsensical yelling. It was clear that Effluvium was doing absolutely nothing to help either its', or its' booth's reputation. And most likely going to make the Adina situation worse. Then, it raised its' pitch in an effort to out-loud Adina.

"When I speak."

When I think.

Effluvium only stopped screaming once Carja and Adina had. It was confused by the encounter. It picked up on the words, but did not understand what 'fuzzy' had to do with 'hurt'. Effluvium tilted its head. It listened for another moment. It gurgled. Then, it spoke.

"Scream," it said. A single word. An explanation? Perhaps. A repetition of recently spoken words? Also possible. It stared at them a moment longer. Carja had approached the bear, so Effluvium slunk up next to her. It stretched its short neck to sniff at the bear. Yet it found no lingering rat guts. Disappointing.


"When I speak."

When I think.

@Carja