In other societies, the terminology of the basic lizard brain or fish brain were typically used as a joke. To describe the most basic of instincts, or to give an embarrassing desire some sort of explanation. One wanting to swallow gallons of water in the middle of the night, a prime example of a 'fish brain' moment. A lingering desire from years of evolution that remained, albeit residual, in one's consciousness. Simple desires, things that creatures of those more basic mindsets would likely do without a second thought given.

Anthemtalon was a good example of a lizard brain, because that was exactly what he was. He was a lizard, he was simple, and whenever an urge came to mind it was lazily followed through. Eating, sleeping, sunbathing, all were things that summarized most of what Anthemtalon could do without much issue (spare when he tried to share his rotten food with his peers, which had become less and less after a couple scoldings happened to get into his simple head). He was able to hunt for himself, sleep, and gain enough heat for his metabolism and homeostasis to continue. The need of the simple lizard mind was to get from one day to the next, in short.

Despite these simple concepts, Anthem was still able to get things messed up. Such as where the lizard was currently gnawing on some rocks. Licking salt off a rock was one thing, but actually trying to eat a rock? That was a new level of basic brain level that Anthemtalon exhibited. He'd gotten the rock by digging up a hole, which his tail was currently hanging into. A flick of his tail moved another chunk of dirt; unaware the lizard was of the earth elemental abilities aiding the flinging of dirt and slushy snow. Garbling and spitting around the rock, befuddled as to why he wasn't able to chew on the rock and eat it as easily as he could carrion. He adjusted the rock between his talons, and again shoved the rock in his mouth, pulling his head back to try to gulp the rock down.

ANTHEMTALON [] komodo monitor [] tags

It took Anthemtalon's name being spoken a few times over for the lizard to actually recognize that he was being spoken to. His head remained tipped upwards, the rock still in his mouth. A quiet hiss, trying to swing his head back in one last attempt to get the rock down and failing. A small garble, head lowering, the rock finally being released from the maw of a hungry lizard. Tongue flicked, eyes blinked, looking at the gathering that his attempt of eating a rock (and the slush and earth his tail and new elemental abilities) had created. "Hi," he greeted, a talon resting over the rock that was covered in komodo monitor slobber.

"Eating," was the simplistic answer that he gave with the many questions of what, exactly, he was doing with the rock. He hadn't exactly realized the mess that he'd made with the movements of his tail, not as much as a glance given to the hole that had been made despite the fact his tail was hanging in such. "Tastes good," Anthemtalon then insisted, tongue flicking after he spoke. What kind of flavor could a rock have to be of such interest to a simple lizard? Salt, something of the like, something that typically wouldn't be tasted in carrion.

"Smelled food. Is food." Garbled words, him tipping his head and trying to shove the rock back into his mouth to continue. Easy an excuse it was for the lizard (if it could even be considered one) to say that the rock smelled like what he typically ate, and therefore was fine to eat. Equally it was simple minded, which was quite a large chunk of Anthemtalon's mental processes. The comment of it sounding horrid, and not being able to eat it seemed to click in some extent, with the lizard not swinging his head around as much and instead settled for just chewing on the rock instead of trying to swallow it down.

ANTHEMTALON [] komodo monitor [] tags