Praying Mantis
she doesn’t look exactly like this
PM
Other names
prayer, buying fruit and vegetables
Hobbies
“She interceded for me, and I was able to obtain visitation rights with my kids."
- neighbor of Praying Mantis
Praying Mantis is a 5’11” praying mantis. She might be religious.
Emergence and Public Awareness
A few years into the Lizard Apocalypse, human employee DeAndre Marquardt of the Clawsco in Los Angeles noticed a 5’11” praying mantis hoisting a melon aloft to test its softness. This wasn’t terribly unusual; the apocalypse revealed many hitherto unknown sentient non-humans to the world. As Marquardt watched, a woman approached the mantis and spoke with it. The mantis put down the melon, placed her raptorial forelegs together for a moment, and then lowered them and looked at the woman. The woman thanked her and left.
Over the next few weeks, Marquardt observed several other Clawsco customers — humans, lizard people, vampires, robots, and a candle with little wax legs and arms — speak with the mantis and stand before her as she clasped her front legs together.
Eventually Marquardt asked one of the customers what this was all about, to which the customer replied, “She prays for us.”
Praying Mantis frequents the Clawsco in Atwater Village daily to buy fresh produce. Whenever approached with a prayer request, she obliges by putting down anything she might be holding, clasping her legs together for a moment, and then looking at the person in front of her. Praying Mantis does not speak, nor nod or shake her head, but it is believed she might be praying for people. Anyway, it always makes people feel better.
We know her name is Praying Mantis because she once came to Clawsco immediately after some event, and was still wearing a name tag sticker that said, “Hello my name is: Praying Mantis.”
Praying Mantis’s activities outside of Clawsco are mostly unknown. The name tag stickers indicate she may attend social functions, but the only other place Praying Mantis has been actually observed is visiting Crab Lord in Arizona. The two appear to be good friends.
In Popular Culture
Praying Mantis is well-liked, if not fully understood. She has been depicted in various artistic mediums, including Cobra VS Croc street art, an ice sculpture at one of Vampire Mike’s social occasions, a song by Sweet Summer Gecko titled “Mantis Mantis Mantis Praying Mantis,” a limited edition Thanksgiving label for Doctor Doomlittle’s Extra Spicy Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper Salsa Dip and Transmission Fluid bottles, and many others. She is usually depicted in her “prayer pose”, although she was once shown making a fruit salad.
Favorite film
Praying Mantis’s favorite film is 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. We know this because she once arrived at Clawsco wearing a name tag sticker that said, “Hello my name is: my favorite movie is 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” Most people are glad to know she prefers the original.