"GRAAAH!"

*sigh* that makes twelve reptile-men I've heard or witnessed dying. I haven't killed another, and I hope I won't have to. From the looks of things, although it should be obvious, this world acts slightly differently than Earth. For starters, every time one of the reptile men were hit a red number floated where they were hit, and fades away around two seconds later. Curious about it, I looked carefully at a bug as a stabbed it with a nail, and although very small, a red number appeared on the bug, too. The only other thing that seemed to be different, other than that blue screen I saw, were what I aptly name, air rocks. These rocks seemed to emit clean, breathable air. Around the remains of the eggs , I found these air rocks. I don't know if they purify the air or if they just create fresh air, but if it weren't for these, I'm pretty sure all of the reptile-men, myself included, would have suffocated.

I had found the exit, however it was blocked (hence the suffocation if it weren't for the air rocks). Having had a look all around the cavern, I know that this is the only exit. The only problem is, I don't know when I will be able to leave. Bored and needing a distraction, I tried as many ways as possible to pass the time, such as gathering information on the red numbers that appeared, or trying to make the blue screen appear again, which I failed to do, I even counted the number of reptile-men there were here, one-hundred-and-seventy-thr.. I mean,one-hundred-and-seventy-two. But even after all that, I'm still board. In the end, I decided to hide behind a stalagmite and wait for the exit to open. If it is the family, tribe or whatever it is that this group is called, then I have nothing to worry about and I can leave safely. However, if it is a predator, or perhaps an enemy tribe, then I will wait for the opportune moment to run away or fight the enemy,hopefully I'll be able to do the former if the need arises.

*RUMBLE*

And it looks like the wait is over. As I feel the vibrations through the ground, I peak around the stalagmite, only to notice that a cloud of dust appeared around the exit. I tense myself, ready to act the moment anything appears.

From the cloud of dust, several reptile-men appeared. Each reptile man was roughly fifty percent taller than me and the other reptile-men already in the cave. Their heads moved, looking around the cavern. With no indication, the reptile-men leapt forward, moving towards groups of reptile-men. They swung with the clubs in their hands, hitting between one and three reptile-men. These grouped up reptile-men were the ones who ate bugs, when they were hit, red fives,sixes and even sevens appeared.

Having witnessed the brutality, I hid behind the rock, hoping not to be found. Hoping to be hidden long enough to think of a way out, after all, there was no chance I could fight them. Alas, I only was hidden for five seconds before one of the larger reptile-men found me. I tried to flee the second i saw them, but I wasn't used to my new body. I could perform simple things like walking and eating, but running was an entirely different matter. I scrambled away, tripping and rolling along, hoping, praying for something, anything to help. All hope left my body as I felt something grab my tail, I flailed, trying to break free. But then, I felt a pain on the back of my head, I started to feel dizzy as my vision blurred, I collapsed, struggling as hard as I could to get just a little further away, crawling and clawing as hard as I could, until finally...

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I awoke, drowsy, unable to figure out where I was. As I regained clarity, I wildly flailed around, only to realise that I was on a fur of some kind. I'm... alive? I thought those larger reptile-men were going to kill me. With seemingly no threat to my life, I calmed down and looked around the cave. The cave is probably about as large as small room in a house, in this cave there are four other reptile-men. All four of them are still unconscious, but other than that they seems fine. A few seconds pass and a larger, and older now that I think about it, comes in through the only entrance to the cave..

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"Shluo crsn," the older reptile-man snarled, whilst they grabbed my arm and pulled me up,"Shly ychluch osuchu!"

I allow them to pull me out of the cave and into a tunnel, since there is nothing much I can do. As I was pulled through the tunnel, I noticed there were a couple of reptile-men in front of me getting the same treatment. Whatever is happening, I don't feel a sense of danger. If they wanted to kill us they would have already done it. Besides, if they didn't knock us out and separate us into smaller groups, I bet there would be more than a few more deaths.

After having walked for several minutes through the tunnels, I ended up at a sort of religious area. The cave I just entered has three exits, including the one I just came through, one to the left and one straight ahead. On the right side however, there is a sort of slope leading up to an altar. Behind the altar is a reptile-man with a fur cape-like thing. This is the first time I've seen a reptile-man wear clothes, for now I'll call this one the priest.

By the tunnel straight ahead I see two older reptile-men one was leading a group of seven younger reptile-men away. The only other older Reptile-man in the area is leading individual younger reptile-men to the priest and then sending them to the tunnel opposite me. I am lead to group of three younger reptile-men who haven't been led to the priest yet. The older reptile-men that brought us here left back through the tunnel we came from, probably to find bring more reptile-men who just woke up.

As I waited, I took note of what was happening each time a reptile-man was led up to the altar. First of all the priest would place their hand on the younger reptile-man's head, then they would chant some kind of incantation, followed by a several second pause. Afterwards a different incantation would be chanted and then the younger reptile-man would be sent over to the older reptile-man waiting by the tunnel opposite the one I came through. The first incantation always seems to be the same, but the second incantation has a different ending each time, I've only heard it three times so I can't be certain if that's always the case.

Finally it is my turn. I am pulled towards the alter, in the same manner the other reptile-men were, and left to stand in front of the priest. They place their four fingered hand on my head.

"Gnsnsnchgnshegna," they chanted, the same chant as normal.

You are being appraised

I feel a strange something wriggling through my head, unable to acknowledge what the blue screen is saying. I feel that something squirm through my whole body, it doesn't hurt, but it doesn't feel pleasant either, almost as if every part of my being is being examined by this... this thing. As I came to, I felt a wave of relief pass over me, the surprise on the priests face puzzled me, did something go wrong, normally the priest would only wait ten or so seconds before chanting the next incantation. Did something go wrong, was that wriggling thing not meant to happen?

"Osgh ignclu she Egraggo Gnosgnos." Before my guesses got too wild, the priest chants the second incantation, this time I feel a warmth flood my body, ridding me of the worry from earlier

You have been named

Your name is Egraggo Gnosgnos

So, this was a naming ceremony? I have to admit that I do feel 'something' from getting a name, but that earlier sensation fills me with fear. Now that I know that those blue screens show more than attribute increases, I wish I had read those two screens I missed.

I left the altar and headed down to the group of younger reptile-men that had already gained their names. It's a shame I can't communicate with the other reptile-men, I have too many questions, and not enough answers. I guess I'll just have to learn from listening and context, but the way they seem to create sound is so different, I can barely tell the difference between a growl and their language. Whilst trying to figure out the language, a group of seven was formed and we were led away by another older reptile-man, who came from the tunnel opposite the altar. I wonder where we will be taken to now?