Not even sure what's causing this, but it looks wrong:

<741hp 295m 229mv 11354tnl> s
In Front of Blackclaw Fort


A broad-brimmed hat with a feather in the hatband lies here.
A pile of blue cloth that is probably a cape lies here.
Hewn limbs bleed near the mutilated corpse of the muscular mercenary.
The severed eye of the muscular mercenary lies here.
(Invis) (Translucent) Wijhr is here.

<741hp 295m 226mv 11354tnl> pincer wi
Wijhr's body bends and avoids your pincer.
Wijhr has some small but disgusting cuts.

<741hp 295m 226mv 11354tnl>
Wijhr leaves west.
Wijhr has some small but disgusting cuts.

<741hp 295m 226mv 11354tnl> murder wi
murder wi
They aren't here.

<741hp 295m 226mv 11354tnl> They aren't here.

Several defensive shapeshifter forms work the same way- you have to come close enough to properly engage them.

valguarnera@carrionfields.com

If I'm not really engaging him, shouldn't I not be getting the "small but disgusting cuts" text that one gets in battle? I couldn't start combat with him that way, so I shouldn't be in combat, so I shouldn't have those echoes.

You're engaging him by your action. He is not engaging you, however, and can leave combat (or cast a non-combat spell) if he reacts before you follow up with normal combat attacks.

valguarnera@carrionfields.com