Rift Plate 089 · Iron Hills
Chainjaw Cur
A soot-furred dog with locking chain jaws worries the edge of a fight, fastening prey to whatever iron lies nearest.
- Plate group
- Iron Hills
- Classification
- Bestial
- Field account
- Recovered
Recovered natural history
Field record
Rail-yard bite account
The Cur bit a hanging rail chain and locked its jaw. Links had grown through both mouth corners and joined behind its skull. It swung under the cart, let go, and caught my calf from below.
Small black links on each tooth hooked cloth before flesh. It bounded away, fastened someone to debris with another bite, and left the chain to hold while it moved aside. Under the soot was a scarred yard hound. We threw a loose chain out. It couldn't leave the lock untested. When the jaws closed, we pinned the free end.
Fastening pattern
It circles quickly and tests hardware before fastening clothing or limbs to nearby metal. Once locked, its weight pulls the target off balance. Then it releases sideways. Packs alternate the fastening bites with flank attacks.
Well-oiled loose chain is a strong temptation, especially ringing against a rail. Without anchor points it retreats. On clear ground it is still an aggressive dog, but the attacks become ordinary nips. Cut the links rather than trying to pry open a locked jaw.
Record condition
Notes on the account
- Location
- Scrap-lined rail yard
Read the environment
Signs of its presence
Leather and wood bite marks contain short black links.
Yard chain has been dragged into warm sleeping coils.
Paw tracks circle metal anchors and avoid open ground.
Survival doctrine
Field precautions
01
Greased-Chain Bait
Freshly oil loose chain and attach it to a prepared weight. The compulsive test bite can lock the Cur to it.
02
Anchorless Ground
Get clear of rails and scrap, away from fencing. With nothing to fasten prey against, the Cur falls back on predictable frontal nips.
Continue through the folio
089 of 100 recovered plates