The creature seems to have anticipated that Rust would be armed (or at the very least would try to lash out with the carving knife); one of the first things it does is grab his stabbing hand by the wrist and, with almost casual, graceful ease, twists it behind his back as it tackles him to the ground. It leans into being pulled, shifting its entire weight forward and on top of Rust as they both fall. Then it beats him senseless. The strikes are precise, but vicious - the creature aims for joints and other pressure points, things that won't be fatal but will cause a lot of grief. It doesn't stop until Rust stops moving, either because he yields or because he falls unconscious. Rust is now seriously injured, hampering his movement by two squares for the next IC week.

Then - just before Rust completely blacks out, if he's about to - the creature yanks him up by the collar of his familiar patchwork leather jacket until their faces are nearly pressed together. It's breathing hard, but has so far remained eerily quiet. Now its voice comes out in a low, animalistic growl, which Rust can inexplicably understand with perfect clarity.

"You broke my toy," it says. Its teeth are sharp fangs and its breath stinks of meat. "You'll have to take his place."