AW, but mind the cw. Karambit's a messy critter.

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This post contains potentially sensitive material:

gore

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.

Half-buried in the sand, a young crane struggled against his chrysalis. Its thin walls had already been weakened by his growth, and now they gave way easily to his scrabbling claws and stabbing beak. With a series of cracks, the chunk of cinnabar broke apart, freeing the crane inside. His feet and beak were streaked with red, a reminder of the struggle to emerge.

Some instinct deep inside him, however, told him to hurry and wash off the pigment, that it was not good for him. So Zhusha took a few wobbling steps to the waves lapping at the shore, still adjusting to the feeling of movement and freedom. Only when the red streaks had been completely washed away did he pay attention to other matters: specifically, the discordant buzzing that filled the air. Was the outside world always so noisy...?

... No, the noise seemed to be coming from a specific something. A huge... insect? Zhusha did not know exactly what it was, only that it was incredibly ugly. It seemed to be dragging something else with them. Perhaps its victim had been beautiful once, but now it was dead, nearly decapitated, and equally hideous to behold. A trail of red ran along the sand, beginning with the victim itself. It was similar in color to the streaks left by his chrysalis.

Zhusha glanced down at the cracked gemstone, then at the insect-thing again. Perhaps it would want this...? Zhusha himself could not think of any use for it. So he grasped a piece of cinnabar in his feet and flew toward the insect, wincing at the noise its wings made as he drew closer and finally dropping the piece of chrysalis at its feet. "You. Have it," he said abruptly. "It's red. Like that-" he gestured at the kooru, then waved a wing toward where he'd hatched. "More over there."

@Karambit

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.

Round: 1/5
Attempt: Pin down the bird
Defense: None
Injuries: None

@Zhusha

Zhusha winced at the creature's shriek, dropping the piece of cinnabar and backing away. Why did it had to be so loud? What a beast this was, with its hideous insectoid features, messy habits, and inconsiderate shrieking. He opened his wings and took flight once more, preparing to put as much distance as he could between he and the insect-monster, so that hopefully the noise would become more bearable...

Only to jerk sideways as its claws came up from behind him, narrowly missing his wings and disorienting him enough that he fell to the sand. Anger surged from within the crane's little Gemling heart; he had clearly made a mistake being as generous as he had and giving the beast a gift. Without any disclosure of its intentions from the monster, Zhusha assumed - as any reasonable animal might - that blood and violence was all its barbaric mind was capable of. Never mind gratitude for his gift, perhaps, or at least the common decency not to randomly attack others.

A wise Gembound might have recognized that the chances of winning against such a monstrous creature were impossibly slim. Any reasonable Gembound might have fled while the insect was recovering from its failed lunge. There was no shame in that, surely. After all, the crane was but a hatchling.

Unfortunately, an angry, prideful Zhusha was neither reasonable nor exceptionally wise.

"BEGONE, FOUL BEAST!" he cried shrilly. "BARBARIAN! INGRATE!" Really, such language was impressive for one who had just hatched, but Zhusha did not have the time to be proud of himself right now. Flapping his wings furiously, he lunged forward, stabbing his beak at the creature.

Round 1/5
Attempt: stab with beak (anywhere)
Defense: DEFENSE IS FOR COWARDS
Injuries: none yet

@Karambit

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.

Round: 2/5
Attempt: Backhand the bird
Defense: Not in its limited vocabulary
Injuries: Stab wound

@Zhusha

Zhusha himself had no idea how to translate an eldritch crane fly's cries of either pain or joy, so he went ahead and assumed that he'd hurt it. Badly, if the shrill whistling noises were anything to go by. He opened his wings, arcing his neck skyward in a gesture of triumph.

Then Karambit's claws hit him squarely in the chest, and Zhusha went flying.

He toppled into the sand a short distance away, dazed and gasping for breath. His right wing had been caught in an awkward position underneath him, and ached when he rolled himself off it. This wasn't good. At least he'd managed to draw blood, but he needed a moment to gather himself before the monster attacked again. Zhusha staggered to his feet, his legs sinking into the soft sand and stabs of pain going through his chest with each movement.

Sand! Of course. Sand was just what he needed. Zhusha attempted to seize a clawful and throw it at the crane fly beast, but the grains slipped through his claws before he had lifted his foot more than a couple inches off the ground. The few grains he did manage to throw drifted down far from any of the monster's eyes. Oops.

Round 2/5
Attempt: throw some sand in Karambit's face
Defense: you can't see me (hopefully)
Injuries: disoriented from his fall, painful bruises on chest, sore right wing

@Karambit

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.

Round: 3/5
Attempt: Charge at Zhusha
Defense: No
Injuries: Stab wound

@Zhusha

Zhusha's eyes widened as the monster hurtled toward him, its claws extended and its wingbeats a deafening buzz. He didn't think so! Proud as he was, Zhusha knew it'd be stupid to try and take this thing's charge head on, with its clear size advantage. (It had also probably been stupid to fight it in the first place, but that thought never crossed Zhusha's mind. From the moment it took a swipe at him, there'd been no other option besides fight.)

He leaped to one side as the insect approached, wincing at the pain the sudden movement sent spiking through his sore wing. Zhusha's long legs caught on a tangle of seaweed, and he tripped ungracefully. Karambit hurtled past above and just barely to the side. Zhusha winced at the noise its flight made, but at least he'd managed to avoid it this time.

Round 3/5
Attempt: get out of the way
Defense: get out of the way
Injuries: bruised chest, sore right wing

@Karambit also, could we make Karambit's attempt to pin him round 1?

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.

Round: 4/5
Attempt: Use tail to grab hold of Zhusha
Defense: Heh, no
Injuries: Stab wound

@Zhusha
Updated the rounds so the pin attempt's 1st!

Still? As if he would just stand there and let the monster tear him apart! Zhusha lifted into the air, preparing for a charge of his own. But he had not been expecting tentacles to extend from the crane fly's tail, and his plan was thwarted when they wrapped around his torso, pinning both wings to his sides and trapping one in an extremely uncomfortable position.

The twisted wing burned with the pain of being held in such an awkward way. Zhusha wiggled desperately, trying to stab his beak into a tentacle. Maybe that would hurt it enough to make it let go. Then Karambit's tail-jaws closed around his shoulder, at the base of his neck, and he froze, afraid that struggling would cause it to tear the flesh there.

@Karambit
Round 4/5
Attempt: stab a tentacle
Defense: wiggle
Injuries: bruised chest, very sore wing, currently being bitten