Claws, tongues, eyes.

The claws clacked together. They glistened in the light from above. I couldn't turn away. The light flickered, went out, illuminated again. Slavering jaws strained toward me. The clacking was louder. Drool spilled onto my arm. It burned, and I cried out. Tongues emerged but didn't touch me. What was it thinking? Membranes opened and closed over the eyes. There were so many. The mandibles drew near. The stink was intense. I couldn't move. The tongues licked my burns. The pain disappeared, and my cellmate retreated. Its eyes gazed at me. Perhaps we finally understood each other.