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Of course the trials would be starting now, just after everything that had happened and before Alex could even have a chance to cool off or recuperate from the heat for any amount of time. The zomboil resolutely ignored Mitzi when she came up and apologized, snarling inwardly because if anything, she was just making things worse by approaching the weremantis. He stopped and unwrapped his arm from around Yin when they reached the sandcastle. Alex had no idea what to do about his arm, not having any needle or thread to stitch it back up with at the moment, so instead he focused his fear and healed it as much as he could, though it was really going to have to be sewn up at some point. Instead of worrying about it too much, he reached up and untied his tie, then wrapped it around the weakened part of his arm and tied it tight.

Suddenly everything around Alex became gigantic, and he knew things must be beginning. Had Mort come back yet? He hadn't seen the other boil but hopefully that was just because he was hidden behind one of those boulder sized pebbles of sand.

So, somehow, they were supposed to protect their sandcastle from the elements while they were like this. Fine. Alex was in just the right mood to not give a s**t about how ridiculous this situation was, true to their team name. He stayed close to Yin, reaching out to place a hand on the other boils shoulder and trying to think of what he could say to make the other boil feel better, when he suddenly heard a strange, scratching/scuttling noise coming towards the castle. His eyes shot over towards the source, and he was suddenly overcome by a scent of something that might have possibly smelt delicious, if not a bit strange. So instead of any words of comfort towards Yin, his eyes widened, and he shouted "Oh unholy hell! What the jack is that??"

He didn't really have much time to just sit back and stare, however, as it was coming straight at them and the castle beyond, and it looked like it could do some heavy damage if it wasn't stopped. And so Alex, having not a single clue what to do, took a couple of stumbling steps forward, attempting to hit the giant crab, or grab ahold of one of it's legs, or something, but ended up getting knocked to the side easily with a swipe of the crabs large claws to the stomach. Alex landed hard on the ground to the side, trying to use his arms to brace the impact of his fall, but still managing to smack his head against the ground, sending a jolt down his spine and through his body.

That could have gone better.

HP: 25/30
Damage: hahahaha no~
Crab HP: 40/40

While Yin did his thing and went over to the crab to just simply punch it and not get thrown to the side like Alex had so stupendously done, the zomboil was heaving himself unsteadily to his feet. If Yin could hit the stupid giant crab thing, then so could Alex.

He stumbled back over, across the rough terrain of giant sand grain rocks, and stood at Yin's side once more. He ducked down so as not to get hit with one of those large pincers yet again and sent a kick out to one of the crabs legs, hoping that if he took out a leg or too, the thing might just fall to the ground and become useless.

Unfortunatly the crabs shell was harder then Alex thought, and though he was sure he heard the faintest crack as his (relatively) good foot connected, it left Alex's leg feeling like he had just kicked a boulder.


HP: 20/30
Damage: 2
Crab HP: 36/40

So it began. The flailing and falling and sudden depression were all dwarfed by the fact that some enormous jackdamn crabs were marching down the beach toward their castle. The castle itself held firm... but the crabs weren't leaving, weren't gone, and were probably more than dear Snips could handle. Taryn raised a hoof and smashed it down into the nearest crab.

She didn't have time to see that the puzzle bonus was perhaps not as useful as imagined. The points she'd made seemed to be completely valid.

HP: 35/40
Damage: 0
Crab HP: 36/40

Taryn shot a look at her team. They were beating the heck out of the crabs, and that was a good thing. She was a bit worried about Yin, though, a bit afraid for his progress if he thought he'd offended his boilfriend... ... "bonded". They'd have to work on that.

Meanwhile, a crab came up to pinch Taryn's leggings, and she kicked the empty water bucket at it.

HP: 25/40
Damage: 2
Crab HP: 26/40

Chuppi woke up to the sounds of people crying, waves crashing, and the sudden onset of crabs! The monster wasn't at all sure of what was going on, she was still sleepy and dizzy from the sun, so when she went to try and get the crabs she missed them entirely and ended up scratching her arm.

hp 35/40
damage 0 pts
crab hp 26

Alex was a little hesitant to attack the giant crab again, his leg still trembling from when he had kicked at it's leg. But then Taryn was running in and she was doing such a good job (well, not at first but soon after she had redeemed herself), and Alex felt a small bit of relief that he and Yin were not going to have to fight this delicious smelling monstrosity off on their own.

Alex was about to move in and try to take out the leg again, but before he could act, he watched as Yin just stood there, staring at his hand, before getting knocked to the side and hitting the ground.

No...that was just not allowed to happen. Anger and frustration bubbled up inside Alex and came out in a bloodcurdling snarl as he scrambled forward, putting himself practically underneath the crab as reached forward and wrapped his arms around the nearest crab leg and squeezed. He could feel something almost spikey digging into this flesh, slicing through the fabric of his shirt and through his skin beneath, but he didn't care. He wasn't letting this thing go until he'd managed to rip this leg right the jack off. He jerked and twisted at the leg hard, rewarded with a crunching sound and a wet tearing as the shell parted and the meat within was torn. Alex let go of the leg and stumbled back, landing hard on the side of his leg.

"Yin!" He called out. "Are you ok?" Even as he winced, trying to sit up from the ground.

At least he'd managed to distract the crab from finishing the weremantis off, right?


HP: 15
Damage: 4
Crab HP: 19

Miss Taryn was yelling at him, yelling for him to get up fight. For Alexander. He looked up in time to see the zomboil tear at the crab's leg, a brief spark of pride in his eyes before he was on the ground, injured.

Yes, he had to fight for Alexander. That was what he was good for was it not? Fighting? Protecting others? Or at least trying to help. He stood up and walked over to the crab, scurrying in to kick at one of its other legs, hearing a satisfying crunch before he was knocked back with a heavy blow to his arm. He stumbled, trying to keep his footing this time, fighting to not completely fail. Then he looked down and noticed that blood was flowing from his arm where the blow had opened up his flesh.

Not really caring he stumbled over to Alexander, devastation evident as he saw the full extent of his injuries. He had caused this had he not? By not fighting properly? By being distracted. "I am sorry," he said miserably. "Do not worry about this. I will take care of it. Please keep yourself safe." He turned back toward the crab. Maybe he should just take out all of his anger and fear on this shelled monstrosity.

HP: 15
Damage: 3
Crab HP: 13

Alexander had just pulled him out of the way and taken an attack for him. For him. As useless as he was. The blow had sent him reeling back, And Yin could only watch him fall as if in slow motion. The crab did not matter right now, Alexander had been hurt for his sake. He rushed to his side and collapsed in the sand beside him, leaning over him.

It was a crushing realization when he noticed his boil was injured. There was a cut along one cheek, the liquid that might be referred to as blood welling up and attempting to ooze out. If only Yin was not so useless or so concerned with the shameful act that he had committed by falling face first into Miss Mitzi's breasts. He could have saved him from all of...this. He reached out hesitantly with his fingertips, careful not to cut his zomboil with his claws and wiped away a drop that had managed to ooze onto his cheek, not even minding how atrocious the stuff smelt.

"You need to rest," he pleaded with him, eyes full of concern. "I can take care of the crab, or the team can. It will not matter if it injures me. But you need to rest. I do not wish to see you hurt." Even as he said it he realized that his plea was probably useless and he abruptly switched tactics.

"If you do not stay here until you rest up a little I will pin you down. I know at least 37 ways to do so, and at least 6 would leave you completely unable to move. And you can guarantee that whichever one I chose I will be on top, and the crab would have to go through me to get to you." There was a hard glint in his eye. He would protect his bonded no matter what.

What he did not realize was that he actually knew 38 ways to keep the zomboil firmly pinned underneath him, but kissing him would likely not cross his mind until he was a third year.