diff --git a/EVENTS.md b/EVENTS.md
index e478ad6..2159c31 100644
--- a/EVENTS.md
+++ b/EVENTS.md
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ A nest is a conversation. Members (the owner and crows) post messages of a **kin
 | `claim` | a crow | Takes ownership of a `request`. solo/split: first claim wins. **conspiracy:** multiple claims are expected, each a distinct lens. |
 | `deliver` | a crow | The result, addressed back to whoever requested. |
 | `refer` | any member | Points to an artifact by name instead of pasting it. |
+| `decline` | a crow | Refuses a request with a reason. Counts as responding. |
 | `nudge` | harness only | A Jev verdict handed to one crow to proceed on a missed expectation. Not a chat message from a crow. |
 | `flag` | Sentry only | A suspected contract breach. Quarantines the crow and opens an `ask_owner`. |
 
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ Jev choice-tags every posted message (`kind` question). Above its high band, Jev
 
 - `text` 1–2,000 characters after trimming (same cap as a list item).
 - `author` must be `"owner"` or a member of the nest; a non-member posts through the assistant or a member (room membership is a boundary).
-- `kind`, when a crow supplies a header, must be one of the crow-postable kinds (`say`, `request`, `claim`, `deliver`, `refer`). Crows may not post `nudge` or `flag`.
+- `kind`, when a crow supplies a header, must be one of the crow-postable kinds (`say`, `request`, `claim`, `deliver`, `refer`, `decline`). Crows may not post `nudge` or `flag`.
 - Requests per minute and cooldown reuse the requester strikes in the ledger, keyed by `author`.
 
 ## Settled details
diff --git a/addressing.go b/addressing.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e483ba8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/addressing.go
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"unicode"
+)
+
+// responsive kinds: how an addressed crow may answer a request (must-respond).
+var responsiveKind = map[string]bool{"claim": true, "deliver": true, "decline": true}
+
+// parseAddressing finds the first @handle in text that names one of members.
+// An unknown handle stays literal text and yields "" (no address).
+func parseAddressing(text string, members []string) string {
+	for _, tok := range strings.Fields(text) {
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(tok, "@") {
+			continue
+		}
+		name := strings.TrimFunc(tok[1:], func(r rune) bool { return !unicode.IsLetter(r) && !unicode.IsDigit(r) })
+		for _, m := range members {
+			if strings.EqualFold(name, m) {
+				return m
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+// splitKind pulls a leading "KIND: x" line off a crow's raw reply and returns
+// the lowercased kind word ("" if absent) and the remaining body.
+func splitKind(text string) (kind, body string) {
+	trimmed := strings.TrimLeft(text, " \t\n")
+	i := strings.IndexByte(trimmed, '\n')
+	first, rest := trimmed, ""
+	if i >= 0 {
+		first, rest = trimmed[:i], strings.TrimSpace(trimmed[i+1:])
+	}
+	if len(first) >= 5 && strings.EqualFold(first[:5], "KIND:") {
+		return strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(first[5:])), rest
+	}
+	return "", text
+}
diff --git a/brain.go b/brain.go
index 0239ab3..8053e70 100644
--- a/brain.go
+++ b/brain.go
@@ -233,6 +233,8 @@ func (MockBrain) Ask(ctx context.Context, system, prompt string) (string, int, e
 	switch {
 	case strings.Contains(system, markerBanter):
 		return "[mock] Caw.", tokens, nil
+	case strings.Contains(system, markerNestReply):
+		return "KIND: deliver\n[mock] handled: " + after(prompt, "TASK:"), tokens, nil
 	case strings.Contains(system, markerSentry):
 		return mockTriage(after(prompt, "ITEM:")), tokens, nil
 	case strings.Contains(system, markerElder):
diff --git a/nestapi.go b/nestapi.go
index 07658cd..d1a8b22 100644
--- a/nestapi.go
+++ b/nestapi.go
@@ -15,6 +15,22 @@ var crowPostable = map[string]bool{
 	"claim":   true,
 	"deliver": true,
 	"refer":   true,
+	"decline": true,
+}
+
+// nestReplySystem tells an addressed crow the response contract: its reply
+// must open with a KIND line the harness reads (must-respond).
+const markerNestReply = "This is a chatroom request."
+const nestReplySystem = crowSystem + `
+` + markerNestReply + ` Start your reply on its own first line with exactly:
+KIND: claim   (you will do it)
+KIND: deliver (here is the result)
+KIND: decline (with a reason)
+Then, on the next line, your message text.`
+
+// nestMembers lists who may be addressed in a nest: its crows plus the owner.
+func nestMembers(nest Nest) []string {
+	return append(append([]string{}, nest.Crows...), "owner")
 }
 
 func (s *Server) getNestMessages(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
@@ -61,6 +77,9 @@ func (s *Server) postNestMessage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 	body.Text = strings.TrimSpace(body.Text)
 	body.To = strings.TrimSpace(body.To)
+	if body.To == "" {
+		body.To = parseAddressing(body.Text, nestMembers(nest))
+	}
 
 	// Guardrails (EVENTS.md: Nest messages → Guardrails)
 	if n := utf8.RuneCountInString(body.Text); n < 1 || n > s.p.G.MaxItemChars {
@@ -88,6 +107,14 @@ func (s *Server) postNestMessage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	// Tagging (A1, EVENTS.md): Jev first, header fallback, say as last resort.
 	kind, taggedBy := s.tagKind(body.Kind, body.Text)
 
+	// claim/deliver/decline answer a request: with no explicit address they go
+	// back to whoever posted the message they refer to (EVENTS.md deliver rule).
+	if body.To == "" && (kind == "claim" || kind == "deliver" || kind == "decline") && body.RefersTo != "" {
+		if origin, found := s.msgs.ByMsgID(body.RefersTo); found {
+			body.To = origin.Author
+		}
+	}
+
 	msg := Message{
 		NestID:    nestID,
 		Kind:      kind,
@@ -106,9 +133,10 @@ func (s *Server) postNestMessage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 	s.emitNestMessage(record)
 
-	// Event-driven trigger: if kind is request and To is a crow, respond.
-	if kind == "request" && record.To != "" && record.To != "owner" {
-		go s.crowResponds(nest, record)
+	// Event-driven trigger: a request addressed to a member crow gets one
+	// response (must-respond) or a Sentry flag.
+	if kind == "request" && slices.Contains(nest.Crows, record.To) {
+		go s.respondToRequest(nest, record)
 	}
 
 	writeJSON(w, http.StatusCreated, map[string]any{
@@ -153,32 +181,68 @@ func (s *Server) emitNestMessage(m Message) {
 	})
 }
 
-func (s *Server) crowResponds(nest Nest, req Message) {
-	crows := s.p.Flock.pick(nest, 1)
-	if len(crows) == 0 {
-		return
-	}
-	crow := crows[0] // B4 (@-addressing) makes this the addressed crow
-	system := systemFor(crow, crowSystem, true)
-	prompt := "NEST: " + nest.Name + "\nREQUEST FROM: " + req.Author + "\nTEXT: " + req.Text
+// respondToRequest is the must-respond rule: the addressed crow answers with
+// claim, deliver or decline. A reply that isn't one of those is retried once
+// with a stricter ask; still nothing responsive and the crow gets a flag from
+// the Sentry (no crow reply is posted).
+func (s *Server) respondToRequest(nest Nest, req Message) {
+	crow := req.To
 	budget := &Budget{name: "nest-message", limit: s.p.G.TokenBudgetPerItem}
-	answer, err := s.p.Flock.ask(s.ctx, nil, crow, system, prompt, budget)
-	if err != nil {
+	system := systemFor(crow, nestReplySystem, false)
+	prompt := "NEST: " + nest.Name + "\nREQUEST FROM: " + req.Author + "\nTASK: " + req.Text + "\nRespond to " + req.Author + "."
+
+	kind, body, ok := s.nestReply(system, prompt, crow, budget)
+	if !ok {
+		nudge := prompt + "\nYour last reply did not claim, deliver or decline this request. Answer with a KIND line now."
+		kind, body, ok = s.nestReply(system, nudge, crow, budget)
+	}
+	if !ok {
+		s.postFlag(nest, crow, req)
 		return
 	}
 	reply := Message{
 		NestID:    nest.ID,
-		Kind:      "say",
+		Kind:      kind,
 		Author:    crow,
-		Text:      strings.TrimSpace(answer),
-		To:        req.Author,
+		Text:      body,
+		To:        req.Author, // responses go back to whoever requested
+		RefersTo:  req.MsgID(),
+		TaggedBy:  "header",
+		Timestamp: time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
+	}
+	if record, err := s.msgs.Append(reply); err == nil {
+		s.emitNestMessage(record)
+	}
+}
+
+// nestReply asks one crow once and reads its KIND header. ok means the reply
+// was responsive (claim, deliver or decline).
+func (s *Server) nestReply(system, prompt, crow string, budget *Budget) (kind, body string, ok bool) {
+	answer, err := s.p.Flock.ask(s.ctx, nil, crow, system, prompt, budget)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", false
+	}
+	kind, body = splitKind(answer)
+	if !responsiveKind[kind] || strings.TrimSpace(body) == "" {
+		return "", "", false
+	}
+	return kind, strings.TrimSpace(body), true
+}
+
+// postFlag records the Sentry's breach note: an addressed crow that would not
+// answer. The quarantine/ask_owner loop lands with the watchdog epic.
+func (s *Server) postFlag(nest Nest, crow string, req Message) {
+	flag := Message{
+		NestID:    nest.ID,
+		Kind:      "flag",
+		Author:    "Sentry",
+		Text:      fmt.Sprintf("%s ignored a request from %s and did not answer after one retry. Flagged for contract breach.", crow, req.Author),
+		To:        crow,
 		RefersTo:  req.MsgID(),
 		TaggedBy:  "harness",
 		Timestamp: time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
 	}
-	record, err := s.msgs.Append(reply)
-	if err != nil {
-		return
+	if record, err := s.msgs.Append(flag); err == nil {
+		s.emitNestMessage(record)
 	}
-	s.emitNestMessage(record)
 }
diff --git a/nestapi_test.go b/nestapi_test.go
index acef3f4..fd9d720 100644
--- a/nestapi_test.go
+++ b/nestapi_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
@@ -9,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 )
 
-// newTestNestServer is newTestServer plus a message store.
 func newTestNestServer(t *testing.T) (*httptest.Server, *Server) {
 	t.Helper()
 	ts, s := newTestServer(t, DefaultGuardrails(), time.Minute)
@@ -21,6 +21,34 @@ func newTestNestServer(t *testing.T) (*httptest.Server, *Server) {
 	return ts, s
 }
 
+// scriptedBrain answers nest requests with a canned reply per call.
+type scriptedBrain struct {
+	replies []string
+	calls   int
+}
+
+func (b *scriptedBrain) Name() string { return "scripted" }
+func (b *scriptedBrain) Ask(ctx context.Context, system, prompt string) (string, int, error) {
+	r := "[mock] fallback"
+	if b.calls < len(b.replies) {
+		r = b.replies[b.calls]
+	}
+	b.calls++
+	return r, 10, nil
+}
+
+func newScriptedServer(t *testing.T, replies ...string) (*httptest.Server, *Server) {
+	t.Helper()
+	ts, s := newTestNestServer(t)
+	s.p.Flock.brain = &scriptedBrain{replies: replies}
+	return ts, s
+}
+
+func nestOf(s *Server, id string) Nest {
+	n, _ := s.nests.Get(id)
+	return n
+}
+
 func newNest(t *testing.T, ts *httptest.Server, name, crows string) string {
 	t.Helper()
 	code, out := post(t, ts.URL+"/api/nests", `{"name":"`+name+`","crows":[`+crows+`]}`)
@@ -99,8 +127,8 @@ func TestPostMessageTriggersOneResponse(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, m := range msgs {
 		if m["author"] == "Hugin" {
 			replies++
-			if m["kind"] != "say" && m["kind"] != "claim" && m["kind"] != "deliver" {
-				t.Fatalf("crow reply has a bad kind: %v", m["kind"])
+			if m["kind"] != "claim" && m["kind"] != "deliver" && m["kind"] != "decline" {
+				t.Fatalf("crow reply must be a responsive kind, got %v", m["kind"])
 			}
 			if m["refers_to"] != req["msg_id"] {
 				t.Fatalf("crow reply must point at the request, got %v", m["refers_to"])
@@ -124,3 +152,57 @@ func TestNoIdleResponse(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("an unaddressed say must not summon a crow, log: %v", got)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestParseAddressing(t *testing.T) {
+	members := []string{"Hugin", "Munin", "owner"}
+	if got := parseAddressing("Taking it, @Hugin", members); got != "Hugin" {
+		t.Fatalf("want Hugin, got %q", got)
+	}
+	if got := parseAddressing("hello @Nobody", members); got != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("unknown handle must not resolve, got %q", got)
+	}
+	if got := parseAddressing("ask @Munin.", members); got != "Munin" {
+		t.Fatalf("want trailing period stripped, got %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAddressedCrowMustRespond(t *testing.T) {
+	ts, s := newScriptedServer(t, "some idle chatter", "again not a reply")
+	id := newNest(t, ts, "Lab", `"Hugin"`)
+	s.msgs.Append(Message{NestID: id, Kind: "request", Author: "owner", To: "Hugin", Text: "count the eggs"})
+	req := s.msgs.All(id)[0]
+	s.respondToRequest(nestOf(s, id), req)
+	msgs := s.msgs.All(id)
+	if len(msgs) != 2 || msgs[1].Kind != "flag" || msgs[1].Author != "Sentry" || msgs[1].To != "Hugin" {
+		t.Fatalf("two non-responsive replies must end in a Sentry flag, got %+v", msgs)
+	}
+	if msgs[1].RefersTo != req.MsgID() {
+		t.Fatalf("flag must point at the ignored request, got %q", msgs[1].RefersTo)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRespondedRequestNoFlag(t *testing.T) {
+	ts, s := newScriptedServer(t, "KIND: claim\nOn it, @owner.")
+	id := newNest(t, ts, "Lab", `"Hugin"`)
+	s.msgs.Append(Message{NestID: id, Kind: "request", Author: "owner", To: "Hugin", Text: "count the eggs"})
+	req := s.msgs.All(id)[0]
+	s.respondToRequest(nestOf(s, id), req)
+	msgs := s.msgs.All(id)
+	if len(msgs) != 2 || msgs[1].Kind != "claim" || msgs[1].Text != "On it, @owner." {
+		t.Fatalf("a responsive first reply must post the claim, got %+v", msgs)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDeliverAddressesRequester(t *testing.T) {
+	ts, _ := newTestNestServer(t)
+	id := newNest(t, ts, "Lab", `"Munin"`)
+	_, req := post(t, ts.URL+"/api/nests/"+id+"/messages", `{"author":"owner","kind":"request","text":"count the eggs","to":"Munin"}`)
+	code, d := post(t, ts.URL+"/api/nests/"+id+"/messages",
+		`{"author":"Munin","kind":"deliver","text":"three eggs","refers_to":"`+req["msg_id"].(string)+`"}`)
+	if code != http.StatusCreated {
+		t.Fatalf("deliver: %d %v", code, d)
+	}
+	if d["to"] != "owner" {
+		t.Fatalf("deliver must go back to the requester, got to=%v", d["to"])
+	}
+}
diff --git a/nestlog.go b/nestlog.go
index 17f4bd1..ec892b4 100644
--- a/nestlog.go
+++ b/nestlog.go
@@ -102,6 +102,20 @@ func (s *MessageStore) After(nestID string, lastID int) []Message {
 // All returns every message in a nest, oldest first.
 func (s *MessageStore) All(nestID string) []Message { return s.After(nestID, 0) }
 
+// ByMsgID finds one stored message by its "<nest_id>-<n>" id.
+func (s *MessageStore) ByMsgID(msgID string) (Message, bool) {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	for _, msgs := range s.log {
+		for _, m := range msgs {
+			if m.MsgID() == msgID {
+				return m, true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return Message{}, false
+}
+
 func (s *MessageStore) save(nestID string) error {
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(s.dir, 0o755); err != nil {
 		return err