chomp chomp -- open

[roman]

[align=center][div style="max-width: 600px; text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"]Another approaches, but this time it dons scales. Not exactly the same as her own armored hide, but similar enough to capture the beast's interest. Most, if not all, of her Tanglehood friends are furry. The idea of winning a scaly friend, too, is incredibly appealing to the friendly(ish) creature. Unfortunately for Fish, this particular individual feels...off. Empty. The other little fluffy friends are enveloped by the stench of feelings, each reaction emotionally genuine. But not this one. Intrigued, blank teal eyes widen as fish stretches her neck to examine Ska'arq. "Who are you?" Fish asks in between freeing pieces of flesh from her rows of massive teeth with her tongue. Poor girl needs to be taught table manners. At least she pays attention to people when they speak. That is more than what some can say. "Truly?" she replies, genuinely intrigued by his assessment of her kill--perhaps 'slaughter' is a more appropriate term. "More fun to hunt like this, Fish thinks," continues the creature, blinking slowly as attempts to process the information. In all honesty, the girl has no idea what Ska'arq means, but she is doing her best. She knows it means something, she just can't make the connection as to what it means. Is she not supposed to have fun? Are there rules to killing? All limbs have to stay attached. Fish becomes distressed at that particular thought.

Truthfully, the fact that most people lurk several paces away from Fish is an unnecessary precaution; caused by innate fear of a massive scaly dog the size of shire horse and slathered in the blood of an equally large reptilian predator rather than genuine necessity. Fish is, more or less, completely harmless. Her belly is full and the boredom characteristic of immortal beings has been satiated by playing with her food. And given that she is not quick to anger, everyone is safe in her presence, no matter how disgusting she might be.

When a young pup steps forward, Fish nearly vibrates with pleasure. She was satisfied with the simple act of conversing with another creature, but the fact that one has moved past the invisible bubble separating her from everyone else? Amazing! She could not even be perturbed by the admittedly strange words by which the child addressed her. Probably perhaps Fish has grown accustomed to remaining the same while everything else changed with the passage of time, thus robbing her of any concept of death. Fish is pretty sure she is already dead, which is why she is Fish. "Well if you only eat things you're hungry for then it would make sense that you only eat ghosts," muses the creature as she rolls backwards on her haunches in an unrefined sitting position. Food always interests Fish, even if she is the one being theoretically consumed. Fish does not discriminate. "Well...if you want to. Fish doesn't think she'll taste very delicious, but Fish has never been eaten before so she doesn't know."