Submission (#354) Approved

Writing Submission:
[1059x] Word Count (per 100 words) = 10,59 Shards
[1059x] \+bonus per 500 words = 4,236 Shards
Sub-Total = 14 Shards


Final Total = 14 Shards
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Proxi had been clawing at the door for a while, and it seemed like it wasn't getting anywhere. Bubbagum wasn't able to open the door, because it was obviously locked. And the shadows that could be seen from under the door were very inconclusive. So the trio made their way elsewhere and kept their eyes peeled until they happened to find a key in the sludge from the corridor below. Returning, and carefully freed from the thick black goop, Yorunee climbed onto Proxi's claws and slipped the key into the hole. A soft click was audible as the barrier was unlocked, then swung open on its own.

One good eye looked up as the light shone onto the bat and her two Jell companions. It was a small room, but rather large for a kitchen. The slew of knives had the small bat cringe slightly, as she could only imagine what those could be used for. After all, bats were a delicacy in some places... With a startled squeak, the pink bat fell from her perched position and landed on the bouncy mini-jellhead snake, thankfully prevenging either of them from taking any real damage.

That thing was threatening them! She was positive of it! And the way that Bubbagum curled up as much as his round form could proved that he felt that same intense bloodlust. However, as she looked back to the threatening form that was towering over herself, her vision was cut off by the natural bat jellhead. His illusionary bats were fluttering around his form once more, copper centers dyed a crimson in his own threatening aura. His long tail swished back and forth, bits of jell flinging everywhere as he seemed to stare down the other threatening figure... Well, as much as a creature without a face could stare down another creature without a face, anyway...

"Proxi, maybe we should-" Yoru cooed gently, wanting to break the tension and get out of here. Jellcore assignment or not, was it really worth putting all three of their lives at risk? However, her words definitely did not reach as the larger bat rushed in and there was an audible clang as metal met metal, claws on the wings clashing with the freshly sharpened knife. The larger bat pushed this bagged jellhead back, but was pushed back as well, landing with an unsettling screeching as his hind claws cut into the tiles of the floor.

Yoru knew that she should get away, but... Her wing fumbled into her bag until she found the camera that she had brought. She snapped a couple of quick pictures, fairly certain that they would be blurry, but there wasn't much she could do about it as the two jellheads kept clashing, an audible tearing sound reaching her ears as Proxi Night Venom's hind claws caught the unknown jellhead's shirt while his wings held off the knives once more.

The caretaker sighed, then pulled out her notebook and started to make notes. The strange jellhead was actively aggressive, much like Proxi was when he was discovered. Possibly a natural jellhead? No, probably not, because the body didn't seem stable in one set type of creature. It had hands, and a humanoid frame, but from the waist down, it appeared to be a digitigrade beast of some sort. Sharp claws, with furry legs and a long tail. Jellbits flowed around "The Butcher"'s body and it seemed like a bloody bag was tied around the neck. Was someone trying to keep the Jell in? Or maybe they were hoping that it would contain the- the sound of metal on metal snapped Yoru from her thoughts as she watched Proxi go tumbling to the ground beside her. His wing appeared to take on a little dint in the metal, but he had done his job well and given her more than enough time to take notes to deliver.

"Proxi, let's go!" she snapped, scooping up Bubbagum as well. He might not have been able to move very well, but he had been doing well to hide. She tucked him back into her bag, then took flight, only to screech at a sudden rush of pain shooting through her shoulder and the whooshing sound of something whizzing right by her head. She looked up as she crashed back to the floor, a sharp butcher's knife imbedded in the wall right in front of her. Blood trickled into her fur as she pushed herself up, one good eye frantically looking for where her bag got knocked to.

It seemed like Bubbagum realized the position they were in, as he was kind of hopping with the bag hooked around his bowtie, probably damaging the adorable accessory in his attempt to help. And help he did, Yoru turned back and waved her wing, eye glowing cyan for a short moment, then the door slammed shut and the sound of the lock ticking into place could be heard. The sharp thud and ka-chunk that followed was enough to know that the threatening Jellhead was still trying to get to them. Still, unless he had a way to unlock the physical and magical lock, he should be secured.

Yoru flopped down and turned her head to look at the small snake that was right in front of her face, a gentle smile forming on her lips. However, it faded as another rush of terror swept over her form as claws found her sides and picked her up. The small pink bat turned around with a screech, ready to fight, only to stop when she saw that it was Proxi, doing something he had never done before. His jell touched where the handler was bleeding, as if he was investigating the wound, then the large bat set her down and turned back towards the door. It looked like he was ready to fight if 'The Butcher' broke through the barrier. Feeling a lot safer now, Yorunee took the time to bandage her shoulder and regather everything, then pet her mini-jellhead before tucking him back into the bag, getting it on, then moving to lead the way back to the basement. If that was what was behind the door, then what in the world was making all that racket in the basement.