Y stared into the campfire between Floors 15 and 16, absently picking at the scales on his hands. They’d spent much less time than usual talking to Jenny, mostly because Nikki had sniffled about not having any sort of pastry the whole time they were there. It had been… sad.

Kimi put her hand over his. “Stop.”

Avi, on Y’s other side, looked over. He saw Y’s hands and grimaced.

Y curled his fingers in, hiding the missing and broken scales. He turned to Avi before either could give him another lecture on why he should leave his scales be. “Avi, if you don't mind, if you trust me, would you allow me to speak to Nik?” he asked.

Avi blinked. “I…” He glanced at the cabin Nikki hadn't come out of since the party had rented it. “I guess? What will you say?”

“I'll simply explain she’s more than a chef,” Y shrugged, getting to his feet. His skin crawled at the movement. He had no idea how he’d survived so long as a kobold.

“I tried that,” Avi said, almost pouting.

Y smiled, hyperaware of the scales moving on his face but forcibly keeping his mind on track. “We have different ways of saying things.”

“Y,” Kimi called as he stepped towards the cabin.

“Yes?”

“Do not hurt my sister.”

He hesitated, almost pointing out the loopholes she’d given him, but decided that wouldn't be wise. Instead he bowed. “I would never.” He smiled again and continued on into the dark cabin.

Nikki was curled up on her bunk, facing the wall. She glanced over when the door opened, but let her head drop back down when she saw who it was.

Y sat down on the bunk opposite her and rolled his sleeves up. “What are you?”

She turned just enough to see him out of the corner of her eye. “Huh?”

“What are you?”

Her head dropped again. “I don't know any more.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“I'm a neko,” Y said, sliding his claws under a scale on his arm. He tore it out, wincing slightly.

“Well, not right now,” Nikki muttered. “Right now we’re half-dragons.”

“No,” he said calmly, tearing off another scale. “Under the scales there’s skin. If I remove enough of them I'm sure I’ll look like myself again.” He pried another scale out, testing if going slowly would release less blood. It didn't.

Nikki turned. “That’s not how it wowhoawhat are you doing?”

“I hate scales,” Y said, peeling another off his arm. “I am not a half-dragon.”

“Y, stop,” she ordered, putting her feet on the floor.

“They’re made of the same stuff as fingernails and claws,” he said, prying up another scale. He held it up and looked at the shining black thing before placing it with the others. “And whale baleen, I suppose.”

“Y.”

“Of course, I'm not just a neko.” He grimaced as two came out at once. “I'm a chemist. I'm almost as good at logic puzzles as my wife. I'm the product of three distinct cultures. I'm someone who wears glasses for the aesthetic.” He tore off another scale, his fingers now slick with blood. “And I'm going to need help removing the wings when my arms are clean. Because I'm not a half-dragon.”

“No, Y, absolutely not,” Nikki said, standing.

He slid a claw under the next scale and looked her in the eyes. “What are you?”

“I'm- Your friend!” she snapped. “I'm extremely worried about your mental health! I'm impressed at your pain tolerance, but I'm worried about the amount of blood dripping onto the floor!”

“Is that all?”

“I'm someone with the Sleep spell and healing magic, and I will use them!”

Y smiled, the movement feeling wrong on a draconic snout. “So you’re not just a chef with no ingredients?”

“Y, if you’re doing this just to prove a point-”

“Quite the reverse; I'm using the point as an excuse,” he said, clawing off another group of scales. He clenched his teeth, glaring at his arm. “They feel like ticks, scraping against each other every time I move. Pain is better than the constant crawling sensation. I promised Kim I wouldn't remove the ones on my face again, but…” He ripped another scale from his arm and looked at Nikki. “How are you not driven insane?”

She cast a minor healing spell, just enough to stop the bleeding. “Scales give a solid boost to armor.”

“Ah. You focus on their benefit more than their annoyance. Of course you do.”

“And they look cool.”

“I disagree.”

“I'm… gonna go get Kimi.”

“Please don't.”

“Then stop.”

Y paused, looking over his half-descaled arm. “Seems a shame to leave a job unfinished.”

Nikki cast Sleep on him.