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I think you're mistaking my directness for something else, smartie (but perhaps it was a mistake to use the exclamation mark - apologies for that).
Either way, please don't take offence - none was meant.

Thanks to Kilgore Trout at 35 I now know what the strands are but, as previous contributors have said, the end game is a little hazy to me. I have an 8 letter strand, in a straight line for the 3 letter alterations, but cannot see anything in a straight line, up, down or diagonal, for the other strand. However, there is a 4 letter, near semi-circular, possibility on the RHS of the grid, but that would be too simple, wouldn't it? Maybe, when my head clears from an evening out last night, I'll look again.

So the puzzle is about the game of **** and the truncated clues/answers represent &&&&s and $$$$$s, which is why the creature is unhappy. My initial reading of the highlighting instruction was that we had to choose one entry of each of the four types, but as I indicated that would allow 10^4 possibilities, and would be a huge anticlimax. So, as KT says, we must look for 'strands' - meaning threads, ropes or cords or something - and only two of them, one for the &&&&s and one for the $$$$s. So at least that is something to look for and make the entire solve worthwhile.

Foinaven, I have found a clear example of one of the 'scores/predators' (the '2') but cannot spot the other.

I have a four-letter name for a 2 and an eight-letter name for a 3, both in a straight line. However, I was thinking that these would be related to the type of the entries used - in other words, each letter in the 3 name would belong to a 3 entry - but this does not happen. I think that must be it.

KT, I can see your semicircle but it is not needed (and it seems to involve a redundant letter unless you cheat a bit)

I now see how 7d works thanks for that. If I'm correct both the highlighted items are in Bradford's, I have one starting in row one and the other in the SE corner. I still find the creature a mystery, I thought maybe it would be a name for my dreadful score (if I ever played) but no I can't find any evidence for that

Ah, now I get it - though while I can see that the creature would fear a 3, the 2 is a little more tenuous. If I'm correct the majority of those do not feed on marine life? Hey ho, it's only a puzzle.

Planks, they wouldn't like the 4 letter version that needs to be highlighted as it is a sea ..... (Had to google synonyms and names for ..... to find it though).

I'm mad as a dog and daft as a brush. I had the right answer for the 2's, but in the wrong place. How I hate grid staring - but at least I am now able to tackle something else. Happy new year (nearly) to everyone.

So it is granama1, that clears that up, thanks.