Bremen's youthful excitement continued to grow as his sibling joined in the fun and bolted around the giant blue sea monster. Sea monster didn't seem to like that for some reason though. Perhaps the little creature wasn't its type? Maybe it didn't know that his sibling was just playing, not trying to flirt or anything.

With the arrival of another giant sea monster it became super clear to the little gray hybrid though. Giant blue sea monster was already in a relationship! It didn't want to hurt blue and pink sea dragon's feelings. Bremen hopped from jagged edge to jagged edge along the wall until he arrived down next to the entrance to continue watching.

Oh... oh. This was definitely not something that they needed to watch. Big blue dragon let out a series of primal calls before rushing forward and planting a bit huge... adult kiss on her neck.

Bremen chirped at his sibling to call them over after they'd nearly been trampled by the love-struck monster. Bremen wasn't very old yet but even he knew when there was something going on that kids didn't need to watch. Perhaps they could go back to the icy tunnels and continue on? There was probably even more fun stuff to do... elsewhere in the cave. Especially now that the sea dragon had drug sea monster underwater to do unknown things to it.

The moment they made sweet, innocent contact via smooching, the sea beast reacted surprisingly. Violence met their friendly gesture and the little hybrid most certainly floundered out of the water the moment an even larger sea creature emerged suddenly from the depths. They knew nothing about fear but definitely felt intimidated in the midst of such ginormous Gembound. Was everything in the caves this big? They most certainly hoped not—how would the twins avoid being trampled? Just as they might nearly be right now as the creatures started in with some vicious double entendre that they most definitely didn't need to watch. Almost by some miracle of the caves, the noodleling managed to misinterpret the same tones as their sibling and immediately averted their gaze. Awkward.

Fiery orange eyes glanced around, panic momentarily rising as they found only silence greeting them and absolutely no sign of their kin. Tracing the wall, they finally met the steely neonate's gaze and scampered over. Slowing to a brisk walk, they chirruped awkwardly, not bothering to look back as they sidled on out of Fornax. The kids had better things to do, most definitely.

Iris screeched more useless words but Cerulean barely heard them above the rumbling in his own throat. As she dragged them both into the water again, he allowed it. Just like her, he did better in the depths as well; if she thought she'd get the upper hand when weight would no longer be a factor, well...

The moment he felt the water lifting his weight, he thrashed himself sideways and brought her throat with him, twisting and putting impossible pressure on those protective plates, teeth wedging into hardened scales in hopes of wrenching one loose or free, or perhaps just cause her immense pain and blood loss. Either way, the beast was entering one hell of a death roll.

CERULEAN vs IRIS
Round 2 of ?

Entering "Death Roll" reflex, similar to a gator or shark.
Still clinging/latched onto Iris' throat.

No obvious defenses.

Minor cuts and scrapes from the scuffle so far.

@Iris

The little neonates became a distant memory as she managed to wrestle Cerulean into the realm of water. Weight seemingly lifted, she sucked in a huge breath as they went under—time was an advantage she did not have. While she could stay underwater for quite a while, it wasn't quite as infinite as the leviathan. Iris wasn't blessed with gills like he was. It would be in her best wishes to stay near the surface, to keep from going too deep.

But that was soon to be demoted to her second priority as her foe writhed and rolled, wrenching in his fangs deeper and deeper. Iris curled instinctively, webbed mitts bracing themselves against the leviathan's ridged face. Then up came those paddle-like hind feet, fully intending to plow into Cerulean's abdomen and to coerce him into letting go. But, of course, luck wouldn't have it and her legs managed to only swing weakly into the blue beast's abdomen. To absolutely no effect at all except to lose a turn. Thanks Iris.

IRIS v CERULEAN
Round II of ??

Tried to kick him off, but decided to instead roll a critical failure.

Cracks in throat plating and scratches along the sides of her neck.

@Cerulean

She struggled, the she-beast did, but it wasn't enough. The roll did slow, but only for a second before Cerulean snapped his entire body to shoot them both towards the nearby stone 'wall' of their enclosed river space...

...and with that strong neck and those jaws still tight around those scale plates, the two rammed hard- Cerulean headlong into Iris and Iris back-first into the ragged rocks behind her. The rest of his weight followed suit and he used that moment to his advantage, pressing down as if to pin her. A deep rumble rolled from his throat and those eyes gleamed, like his spines, from the exertion. < I told you to LEAVE! > He jerked his head against the her, against the rocks again, in emphasis. Maybe he just had to beat it into the she-devil's thick and annoying skull.

The lord of the sea did whatever the fuck he pleased.

CERULEAN vs IRIS
Round 3 of ?

Throat slamming her into the rocks, followed with a full body 'pin' attempt.
Still clinging/latched onto Iris' throat.

No obvious defenses.

Minor cuts and scrapes from the scuffle so far.

@Iris

The world suddenly shifted around her as a powerful tail snapped through the waters and thrust her against jagged stones behind. The wall was far closer than she had previously thought. Her dorsal fin collapsed painfully against the spines, rock digging viciously into her skin. Iris, above the roar of water around them as she fought against the leviathan, just barely managed to hear the furious cry of a greedy monster. < And where would I go? > she warbled in response, bracing herself against the wall. < I have to wait for Ghost to come back—I know he will! > She raised her hind legs again, positioned her mitts on the other's face, shoving up to get him off. < Until then, I'm not going to let you bully those like us! >

Even with the small amount of freedom her maneuver had provided her, she immediately threw herself upwards, breaching the surface above for a split second before crashing back down into the water behind her foe. She wouldn't let him get a grip again.

IRIS v CERULEAN
Round III of ???

Kicked against Cerulean's stomach and freed herself.

Cracks in throat plating, scratches on the sides of her neck, and many small punctures around her shoulders.

@Cerulean

< Like YOU! Half breed! > Cerulean roared back in that thunderous undertone through the deep, even as she finally kicked free of him. He took her getting air as a chance to correct the knotted muscles in his jaws, shaking it off before spinning fluidly to face her as she returned.

< Go be in Pisces with the other land walkers! > For as far as the beast was concerned, that's precisely where her kind belonged- where water met land. If they'd only keep to their precious dry land, he'd not have to pick and choose- and Cerulean had long since tired of choosing incorrectly. If he made no choice either way, he could make no wrong choices at all.

And this she-devil was starting to get on his nerves with her righteous attitude.

He charged at her again, dipping lower and off to the side, aiming for her leg. His teeth grazed her- perhaps she'd moved in time or he'd been off slightly- but regardless, he spent no time wondering. The beast continued right past her, making distance between them and swinging for the hotter depths. Those thick scales had gotten used to getting closer to the vents than most dared to, the warmth granting him energy when the caves became cold. His movements were subtle once he reached that too-hot barrier, keeping himself above it at a rapid pace that would, if left unaltered, lead them around the enter cave, as far as the vents continued.

CERULEAN vs IRIS
Round 4 of ?

Missed a strike for her legs, shot past.

Swimming dangerously close to the hottest area near the Vents.

No obvious defenses besides his dangerous location.

Minor cuts and scrapes from the scuffle so far.

@Iris

Words cut wondrously deep, Iris would come to learn. Far deeper than teeth ever could. < We're all the same deep down, Kreool, > she whined through the depths. Last time the hybrid had tried reason, perhaps she had been too kind, too passive. Swallowing down the awful feeling rising in her at her coming statement, she floated in place, watching the leviathan's every movement. < Except for you; something's wrong with you. > As Cerulean swam off, she moved to keep the same amount of distance between the two of them. < I miss before-you. >

Despite the stifling heat, she snapped downwards into the bath. She tried to throw her weight into the leviathan from above, minding his spines. Seeking to throw him into the vents and knock some sense into him. Because she was tired of letting him think she was so vulnerable. Despite the irony that she most certainly was. The breaking point was far too distant.

IRIS v CERULEAN
Round IV of ???

Trying to slam-dunk Cerulean into the vents with all 5 tons of her weight.

Cracked throat plating, scratches on sides of throat, small puncture wounds on her shoulders.

@Cerulean

< KREOOL IS GONE! > The leviathan screeched into the waters, turning his head just in time to see Iris charging down at him. He wasn't some flimsy creature, though, and even as the heat of the vents began to get uncomfortably scalding, he could still use his momentum to get flipped around as they moved together. Large, clawed fins surged like knives through the water towards her face...

...and to his immense satisfaction, his right claws met her left eye flawlessly, the second fin flying past her harmlessly but the blood was drawn. One eye taken out.

< WOULD YOU JUST LEAVE!? > He continued his twisting motion in an attempt to break free of her again and head back to cooler waters; with luck, her new injury would prove to be more than enough of a distraction.

CERULEAN vs IRIS
Round 5 of ?

Right claw strikes Iris' left eye for a successful hit.

Twisting to break free of Iris' grip and range.

Minor scalding to outer layers of skin.
Minor cuts and scrapes from the scuffle so far.

@Iris