"Wake up, snakey, were 'ere." One of the injured jabs me in the ribs. I hiss lowly, and look around. We were in a camp, bustling with activity. Men in armor moved about, women and men in servant and camp follower clothing wandered about, going every which way. The knight, whose name I still hadn't gotten, called me.

  "Over here, uhh... sir? I'm sorry, I just realized I haven't asked your name, lad." He said. Lad? And it is true, we haven't properly introduced each other. So, might as well.

  "I am Bites The Person, daughter of Drinks The Puddle. And, I am female." I say.

  He just stares at me, confused. Why? Either my name or gender. Females were larger, stronger, and generally meaner then males by a few feet. And I am one of the largest Scale Kin my father has ever seen.

  Or, it could be my name. Bites The Person, by human standards, is a VERY strange name, but amongst the Folk, it was reasonable. When we are young, we are named for Notable things we do. So, at the age of one, i got my fateful name by, as one might guess, latching onto someone's arm and not letting go.

  It wasn't in a mean way! It's just that we don't grow arms until we're 5 years old. So, one of the only ways to interact with the world is by... putting things in our mouths. So... when I was young... I bit Tomas.

  Now, we were both around 1-2 years old at the time, and what resulted was the baroness and my mother tried to break up the fight that started after Tomas bit me back, starting a brawl.

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  My mother was apologetic, the baroness was furious. My father was mortified, the baron was dying of laughter. Tomas and I were upset our fight gut cut short. Good times, I think with a smile.

  "I... ahem. I apologize, miss, uh..." He stutters, and stops.

  "Call me Bitesss. And, for reference, honorable knight, females of my species are markedly larger then males. May I know your name, asss we head to the priesstsss?" I ask leadingly. No need for him to think I was talking down to him. Human pride, I had found, could be problematic when something didn't conform to their views.

  "Ah, my apologies, it seems I've stepped in it a tad. And I haven't even introduced myself! By God, have I messed this up..." He mutters. "Ahem, I am Ser Carent of Balefest, serving under Baron Soffel. And of course, follow me. Not long now, I assure you. Do you need... Uh, assistance, madame?"

  "No, Ssser Carent. I will live. Now, let usss head on." I say, and he nods. Human treatment of females was always strange to me. They, at the same time, hampered and coddled them, treating them like glass, as if they couldn't kill a male if they wanted.

  To me, it was strange. Sure, on average, they were weaker then a man, but not by much, and that's what tools were for. Like a rock to the head. But females were seen as frail, unsuited to battle, or hard labor.

  There was no real reason for them to do this, but I digress. I had other things to focus on. We slowly approached the tents, and guards in the human churches colors approached and stopped us.

  "You lot, no weapons beyond this point. And you," he says, pointing at me. "You are not allowed in here. A priest will be out to see you." He said.

  As Carent opened his mouth, I hissed softly. "Rude, but acceptable, guard of the church." I state bluntly. The guard nodded, and stepped back into the tent. A bit later, a small woman stepped out.

  She was young, with brown eyes and blonde hair. The symbol of her faith, Nordic in origins, hung on her chest. She looked at me, and had to bend her neck at an angle to look me in the face.

  "You are the patent, yes?" She asked, her accent prominent.

  "Yesss, Honored Priest. Wounds to my body, and my head." I state. She nods, and waves me in the tent. The guard turns to argue, but she silences him with a look.

  I duck heavily, and hiss in pain, my eyes blurring. Soft hands prop me up, and I hear the priestess grunt with effort. Carent, seeing her plight, rushes to assist, and I am helped to a place where I can lay down.

  "Ok, perhaps a bit more of problem then predicted." The priestess said, catching her breath after holding me up.Slowly, as people surround me, I fall into a deep sleep. Before I black out, I feel the energies of the priestess suffuse me in its comforting warmth.