Double Drabble: Careless Mistake
Feb. 4th, 2026 04:35 pmTitle: Careless Mistake
Author:
Characters: Jack, Ianto.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 903: Rash, at
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: Jack should have been more careful.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
A/N: Double drabble.
“Just be careful,” Ianto had told Jack when they set out. “Don’t do anything rash.”
It was sensible advice, because the creature they were after was one of the more aggressive non-sentient alien species that occasionally got dragged through the Rift. Tarmians weren’t overly big, not much bigger than a large dog, say a husky or something similar, but they had prehensile tails ending in a hooked, venom-laden barb, and teeth the average shark would envy for sharpness.
They were also fast, with six powerful legs, jointed more like those of a lizard than a mammal, and non-retractable claws that helped them gain traction on almost any surface. They were armoured along their backs with thick, overlapping scales, but their undersides were softly furry, making that their most vulnerable area. Tip one onto its back, and it wouldn’t be able to right itself, although the tail would still need to be avoided.
Jack had tried to be careful, this wasn’t the first time he’d had to deal with a Tarmian, but this one was smaller than most, more manoeuvrable, and when he’d tipped it over, he’d got too close to the tail.
Ianto was really NOT going to be happy.
The End
It was sensible advice, because the creature they were after was one of the more aggressive non-sentient alien species that occasionally got dragged through the Rift. Tarmians weren’t overly big, not much bigger than a large dog, say a husky or something similar, but they had prehensile tails ending in a hooked, venom-laden barb, and teeth the average shark would envy for sharpness.
They were also fast, with six powerful legs, jointed more like those of a lizard than a mammal, and non-retractable claws that helped them gain traction on almost any surface. They were armoured along their backs with thick, overlapping scales, but their undersides were softly furry, making that their most vulnerable area. Tip one onto its back, and it wouldn’t be able to right itself, although the tail would still need to be avoided.
Jack had tried to be careful, this wasn’t the first time he’d had to deal with a Tarmian, but this one was smaller than most, more manoeuvrable, and when he’d tipped it over, he’d got too close to the tail.
Ianto was really NOT going to be happy.
The End
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-04 10:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-04 10:54 pm (UTC)Thank you!