~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br/>Back under<b><i>the sewers of the old strip</i></b><br/><br/>Santa's kick was odd-angled due to the proximity of the Nightstalkers, but it did connect with with a crack, the stalker whimpered as it flew back and way from Santa, perhaps not dead but injured to the point that it may not pose a threat. Santa's quick hand gripped and snapped the neck of the second stalker that was trying to attach itself to him, though he could move fast enough to prevent the third stalker from biting in and latching on to shoulder as he withdrew his knife. He slashed at it as it wiggled on his body, cutting into it but it just kept latching on, and Santa could feel the poison melt into his broken skin from its maw.<br/><br/>The two others approached, one made its way to bite at Santa's ankle, the other too weak to make another strike just now but getting closer as it circled around the struggling Santa, almost tripping over the ankle biter in his way.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>