Karambit let loose another squeal at the definite feeling of feathers brushing against its tentacles. The bird secured, it began to walk back in the direction of the kooru. Its legs, long and stilt-like, plunged into the sand with every step.

New pain, fresher than the earlier stab, lanced through the monster. Despite the thrill the sensation gave it, the tentacles—far more receptive to common sense—began to loosen. Mandibles clenching tight, antennae vibrating intently, it tried to resist the nearly immediate response.

"Still," it whined. If not for the situation at hand, the headache inducing pitch, and the grotesque creature the sound came from, the childish attitude might have almost been cute. After all, ignoring size, it was still a juvenile.

Round: 5/5
Attempt: Keep its grip
Defense: None
Injuries: Stab wound above one of its eyes, stabbed tentacle

@Zhusha

Still. The high-pitched whine pierced through his skull, making Zhusha wince. The crane fly's tail-jaws were still locked on his shoulder, and a patch of red-stained feathers was beginning to develop and spread there. He would have to be still, if he didn't want to risk tearing the flesh where it held him.

He could not move, so he would have to try another tactic. "Your dead body over there's got plenty of blood," he grunted. "And I already gave you my rock. Let me go; I have somewhere important to be." He did not, in fact, have anywhere important to be, unless you considered it important that he be anywhere but here. "There's a fish I've got a grudge against." Vicious monsters liked grudges, right?

@Karambit

Round 5/5
Attempt: ask it nicely to let him go
Defense: very still
Injuries: bruised chest, sore wing, currently being bitten

Character: Karambit Age: +2 (2 Cycles) Magic Level: +1 (Fledgling) ROUND 1 Attempt: +6 Penalties: - ROUND 2 Attempt: +14 Penalties: - ROUND 3 Attempt: +20 Penalties: - ROUND 4 Attempt: +10 Penalties: - ROUND 5 Attempt: +9 Penalties: - Total: 62

Character: Zhusha Age: +1 (1 Cycle) Magic Level: +1 (Fledgling) ROUND 1 Attempt: +15 Penalties: - ROUND 2 Attempt: +3 Penalties: - ROUND 3 Attempt: +9 Penalties: - ROUND 4 Attempt: +10 Penalties: - ROUND 5 Attempt: +17 Penalties: - Total: 56

WINNER: Karambit

@Zhusha @Karambit

The corpse was much closer now. A stomach-turning stench rose from the kooru, one that promised chokes of disgust once it wormed down someone's lungs. To Karambit, it was a cloying aroma, unconcerning to the monster as the blood that continued to flow out from the body and pool around its head. Even prettier than before, its dead friend had kindly waited for their return.

Prisoner of teeth, Zhusha was fortunate. His reasoning wove through illogical tendrils of thought but was ultimately, if not completely, understood. Its antennae shivered, comprehension an effort requiring all its brainpower. Bone plates along its abdomen relaxed, revealing eyes of magenta, green, and white; they gazed at the bird, some blinking and others incapable of such.

"Blood!" it agreed.

Yes, its friend had so much lovely blood to go around! They would hardly miss it and, being so nice, wouldn't mind sharing it with one less fortunate like the ugly thing. How delightful it was that he was beginning to see sense.

A chirrup of confusion followed. It didn't see a grudge, whatever that was. And why'd that concern a fish? Another generous gift?

If that was the case, Karambit saw no reason not to let him go. However, it still intended to reward his acts of kindness before he left. Without ceremony or warning, its tail swung around. Tentacles unwrapping, jaws releasing, it deposited the former captive directly in the path of the gushing kooru blood.

"Blood! You have!"

Begone drab feathers, hello gorgeous ones.

@Zhusha

The stench of the dead creature grew stronger, and Zhusha resisted the urge to gag. How could the crane fly tolerate this- ? Perhaps it did not have a sense of smell, but it would have to eat the corpse later. The thought of choking down half-decayed food made his stomach churn, and he shut his eyes in the hopes that it would help him block it out. (It did not.)

More speech from the creature, a whistle and a chirrup. Blood! Was that the only concept the insectoid thing could fit in its brain? Somehow, while the fear built up that he was about to be eaten in the rotting kooru's place, Zhusha found it within him to muster up a world of disdain for the monster's obviously inferior intelligence. Not that it would matter too much, if he was about to become this thing's lunch.

Zhusha let out a half indignant, half terrified squawk as he swung through the air, immediately regretting his decision to open his beak as the stink of rotting corpse filled his mouth. But instead of depositing him directly into the insect's jaws, the tail released him. Zhusha barely had time to breathe a sigh of relief before he was dumped unceremoniously onto the bloody sand, more blood streaming onto his feathers from the dead kooru's wounds.

Disgusting! But at least this time he had learned to be wiser than voicing the thought. Instead, he took the opportunity to run away, long legs kicking up little clouds of sand in their wake. Not flying, not yet; he did not want to find out how much that would hurt.

@Karambit exit

Red streamed over dull brown, and Karambit was all smiles—well, the closest to those it could achieve with intimidating maws and clicking mandibles. The ugly thing was much better now. He must be happy with the new appearance too, judging by his hurry to leave. Bloody dots decorated the sand in a vibrant trail behind the bird as he fled. It shrieked encouragement, dipping its claws into the still pooling blood and flinging them up in celebratory cheer.

What a nice feathered creature!

It looked to the kooru as if seeking affirmation in their lifeless eyes. Sensing something that certainly was not there, the monster squealed, ecstatic its friend and it were of like minds. A pity it would be to say goodbye to them, but hunger reigned supreme, even over friendship. At least their body would do well for its art and iron stomach.

Karambit breathed in death and feasted upon the corpse.

-Exit