Thinking of torturing Baby Saja some more and making this guy toxic/poisonous via a pectinate claw.
Technically known as a comb claw, a pectinate claw is a specialized, comb-like serrated talon found on the middle toe of select bird species. In birds, it acts as a built-in grooming tool to preen hard-to-reach head feathers, straighten facial bristles, and remove parasites.
However, in select Culling Beast who don't hold venom in their fangs, their pectinate claw, still found in the middle finger/toe of the front foot/hand, was less for grooming and more so used as a defensive/hunting strategy.
Within these claws, lies a series of glands that secrete several different toxic proteins.
The known functions of these proteins varied greatly in intensity between Beast, but often included side-effects such as inhibition of blood clotting, lowering of blood pressure, muscle paralysis, and the induction of hypothermia, leading to shock and loss of consciousness in envenomated prey.
Because the toxin's in Culling Beast like Jeung-oh for example also act like forever chemical's, no one affected by the venom ever actually clears it from their systems. You can still suffer from issues weeks or even months later and in addition to leaving horrific scarring, some aspects of envenomation via a Culling Beasts comb-claw, was even said to affect an individual’s powers and abilities if they are even able to recover,
as if the heightened aggression from these guys weren't enough of a headache to deal with but HEY at least you would probably be dead before you were even affected by it anyways.
Fun fact!
Moon never developed an anti-toxin/venom for Beast Venom, because Culling beasts don't attack royal bloodlines. There was no need to create one, and there was even a chance he didn't KNOW they were toxic to begin with. After all, Gwi-ma wanted killing machines; it was very rare for anyone to escape, and if they did to survive. When it comes to Baby, they just assumed issues he had were BECAUSE of being hurt, or because of the Honmoon stripping them of their powers.
But when all that settled and he still didn't feel the same afterwards, they began to assume something was off. But don't worry, he now gets to join Ji in the “Now having a Chronic Illness Club” for those that “survived” Culling Beasts and now live on with the after effects, which additionally fun fact include mild-severe hemophilia!!!
_ _ _
Abby: “He’ll heal right? He’s gotta.”
Ji: “Take it from me, if what attacked him is what I THINK it is, he’ll have to live with the effects.”
Zoey: “Effects?”
Ji-Ae stares lazily at the others. Slightly alternating her gaze towards Jinu. He looks her in the eye. Awaiting her response. She lets out a humorousless chuckle and removes a small switch knife from her bag. Jinu’s eyes widened in terror and understanding. He looks to her, mentally pleading she won’t do what she’s about to. Ji-Ae looks at her own palm and slashes the knife through it. The room tenses and quiets. Jinu rushes to the kitchen for a rag. The others stare in horror, wondering.
Why would she do that?
Ji continues to stare at her palm. Blood flowing freely. Dripping from her hand to the floor.
plip plip plip
“It’s not stopping.”
plip plip plip
Abby stares in horror, risking a step forward.
Abby: “Why isn’t it stopping?”
Ji: “Because if what attacked your friend is what attacked me, this. This will be your friend’s new reality…”
