94th Muttation Contest

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Brief Summary: Using inspiration from both classic myths and the many different iterations of mazes and labyrinths used throughout the history of the Hunger Games arenas, the minitaur is as its name would suggest, a modern take on an ancient beast: the minotaur. Though this little guy has no labyrinth to guard, tributes will be interested to note that they are still highly territorial and prone to standing guard outside things like trees they think are particularly nice, or watering holes where the drink is the sweetest. They're not nearly as fearsome as an actual minotaur would be, only capable of growing up to the average person's hip in height, and they also lack the near-human intelligence their ancestors were said to have had, but take heed in the warning that they will still stop at absolutely nothing to protect what they care about.

Poison, Edible, or Neither? ....neither? edible? sure

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Brief Summary: These masters of deception are a particularly cruel cross between venus fly traps and the infamous pixie wasp mutts that've been used several times in past arenas. Like the pixie wasps, their go-to hunting method is to appear as a plant- the heads of these birds are actually closer to the bud of a flower. They are experts at unfurling themselves, spreading their beaks wide so that they resemble beautiful red flowers growing along the branches of trees or in the tranquil meadows. Insects or small mammals go to investigate, and then the mutts consume. Using the thorn-like tips of its beak and its vicious claws to tear apart anything that tries to fight back, it also has a pretty impressive flying speed in the case that it needs to make a hasty retreat.

Poison, Edible, or Neither? edible!

^{[ R A T R O T ]}

Brief Summary: To exist as a ratrot is to suffer. These poor creatures have become so infected with blight that they live short, painful lives in which they must be steadfast about continuing their own species despite so obviously not being meant to last. Their shrill screams never sound anything other than pained, or worried, or furious. They are sticky to the touch, dripping with a foul and odorous liquid which seemingly the creatures themselves create. They attack in small armies, adhering globules of themselves to prey so that it cannot escape them, and then chewing through whatever they kill and setting up nests in the bones. Upon dying, some ratrots are known to melt into little more than puddles of goop, while others have been known to even explode if they manage to live too long. Looking at the creatures, it'd be easy to assume that they may have caused the blight on this land, but the sad truth is that they were actually born of it.

Poison, Edible, or Neither? poison!

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Brief Summary: Careful if you plan on hiding yourself in the pitch- there are others doing the same there. While bushbunnies are certainly more easily considered prey than predator, they've been created with particular defensive systems in mind to ensure their own survival. Their ears are lush with large, leaf-like tufts of hair which resemble greenery and help with their camoflage. They can also use these tufted ears like feathered wings, capable of propelling themselves up to fifteen feet in the air, safe and away from pesky hunters. If they are inevitably faced with a fight, bushbunnies attack as a family and prioritize protecting their young. They are also tied to their burrows in some way and much like nymphs, they seem to draw certain characteristics from the trees or bushes in which they nest. Though the assumption would be that these creatures are, perhaps, not the most lethal, anything can happen in an arena.

Poison, Edible, or Neither? edible!

^{[ B L I G H T B U N N Y ]}

Brief Summary: Though the infected cousins of the bushbunny can no longer fly due to much of the greenery on their ears being replaced by straw, or brush, or nothing at all, blightbunnies are also considerably more volatile. They grow larger, seem to be more nomadic, and are more aggressive. They can be seen prowling for mushrooms and other fungi to munch on, and emit very loud, haunting screams when alerted to enemy presence. Due to their blight infection, blightbunnies are none to take on illnesses and ailments. Some signs that a blightbunny's infection may be advanced include blindness, deafness, missing ears or limbs, yellow-tinged drool, shallow panting, or wide eyes with dilated pupils.

Poison, Edible, or Neither? poison!