[video] Searching for parents

[emet_sulk]

[ Emet-Selch looks a little harried and stressed today when the video feed begins. There is a little axolotl clinging to a front lock of his hair, gently chewing. He either doesn't notice or doesn't care as there is urgency to his gaze and tone. ]

Should anyone encounter a pair of ambystomae - I mean, axolotls - with a carnivorous tendency, please abstain from killing them immediately and inform me of their location. I need to return their child to them.

[ This won't stop anyone killing the many axolotls involved in the search but he has to hope he finds the parents before they're accidentally killed. ]

Comments

[voice]

[menaceunleashed]

Is that what they were looking for.

[SO. DEADPAN.]

[emet_sulk]

Aye, so I presume. Unfortunately the little one stowed away on our ship and we did not realise until we were well away from its home.

[menaceunleashed]

Hn.

I encountered a pair, but I was unable to determine what they were after before they attacked me. [He doesn't elaborate for the moment, but there's a Heavy implication there.]

However, I have heard reports of further killings. Perhaps there are multiple pairs.

text;

[phoenixdominant]

[...]

I was not aware that you also engaged in the practice of babyminding on this star, Emet-Selch.

[Sorry, he might be just a little bit amused?]

What is the story behind you finding this little one?

video; un: soundsurfer

[stillarhino]

[Beat has no idea what an axolotl is, but there was something else he was 100% sure of.]

Yo, you got somethin' on your face.

video; un: paradisea

[empyrean_mirror]

...I can't say I've seen them but I'll keep a look-out.

[Kaveh pauses for a very long moment.]

I'm going to assume this kidnapping was accidental?

[emet_sulk]

[ He sighs and kneads his forehead with a knuckle. ]

They must have brought others of the tribe with them. If they're all slaughtered before we can return the child, the situation may worsen.

[emet_sulk]

[ That's not funny, Joshua!! ]

We encountered an island of ambystoma folk which tried to eat us. After we fled, we discovered this child had stowed away on our ship. It was too late to sail back and return it.

[emet_sulk]

Yes... I'm aware.

[ He sighs, lifting his hands to try and gently coax the axolotl off chewing his hair. ]

It likes to hone its teeth on anything it can find.

[emet_sulk]

It stowed away on our ship. We didn't find it until we were too far to turn back.

[ They only had so much food and fresh water for the voyage. ]

[stillarhino]

You try gettin' it a toy instead?

[Sorry, Emet. He'd absolutely going to use dog logic on an axolotl.]

[menaceunleashed]

Unreasonable as they are, you will likely need to find them while bringing the child. And they strike me as the sort who will still attempt to slaughter you after recovery.

What is your plan?

[emet_sulk]

My hope is that the child will pause their slaughter and encourage them to return home. If they still show signs of aggression even after we return their child, then...

[ He trails off with a grimace. ]

[emet_sulk]

I considered it, until I learnt that the parents may be searching for their child. There wouldn't be any point to buying it a toy to chew on now.

[ His poor hair... The axolotl is very fixated until one of his fingers strays too close. Then it immediately latches on to that instead. ]

[stillarhino]

Might still be good to get it one. Jus' so it don't eat you or nothin'.

[This is far more amusing to watch than Beat every would've thought. Even when he tries to stop himself, he can't stifle a laugh.]

Looks like he's gettin' close, yo.

[emet_sulk]

[ He heaves an even deeper sigh. ]

You may be right. Hythlodaeus and I had hoped that we might be able to raise this little one differently but I suppose its instincts are too strong.

[stillarhino]

[He doesn't know what that word was, and he's not going to ask!]

They really supposed to act like that? Ain't ever seen somethin' like that before.

[empyrean_mirror]

That's...[Kaveh sighs a little.] Well, that's unfortunate.

I'll warn Alhaitham and our crew but I can't promise they won't try to defend themselves if they can't be communicated with. [Kaveh pauses for a moment, chewing on his lip.]

I suppose if there was an easy way to locate them, you'd have already done it?

[Because he really, really doesn't want this to end in tragedy any more than Emet does.]

[menaceunleashed]

Then?

[Say it, coward.]

voice | un: noah

[afflatusexarch]

I don't suppose that is likely the reason that they are here in the first place?

[emet_sulk]

Unfortunately, it may indeed be the reason they are here.

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[hellofishies]

Oh hello!! [ she might be talking to the axolotl, sorry rip her bright purple eyes are filled with both curiosity and adoration ]

Where did your friend come from?

[emet_sulk]

[ He watches the axolotl baby, latched on to his finger, gamely try to break through skin with its small teeth. ]

Their kind seem to be a race of carnivores. They are still aquatic but far more aggressive. The species I am familiar with are freshwater dwellers which most certainly do not eat people.

[emet_sulk]

[ He shrugs, frowning at the infant axolotl as he tries to encourage it to latch on to his finger instead of his hair. ]

Then I will kill them. But for my friend's sake, I would rather not.

[emet_sulk]

They were not particularly communicative. All their children were swimming in the shallows, so they could have belonged to any of the grown individuals which confronted us. I won't fault you for defending yourselves; my friend and I did not escape without injury.