"I could use someone with your abilities on my quest."

"Your quest?" Poot was intrigued.

The chomp told him about his adventures, and how he'd discovered something fishy was going on in Cakelandia. This corroborated with Poot's own experiences.

"But I'm no altruist, you see", said Poot.

"My motivations are mostly selfish. I don't hold the kind of lofty ideals that drive you, so I don't really care about saving the world. It can go up in flames for all I care - I'd love to stand by and watch it burn. So the real question here is, if I tag along with you, what's in it for me?"

The chomp thought about this for a bit.

"Do you have friends or family?" He asked eventually.

"Not really. My family disowned me because of my condition. I never really found it easy to make friends. One has to be close enough to a chomp to make a friend, and most keep their distance. Understandably so."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Does that... hurt?"

Poot was stupefied. No one had ever cared enough to asked him this question before.

"Yes... yes, I suppose it does. I've always thought of myself as someone special, and I've used that to mask my loneliness."

"Well then Poot. The one thing I can offer you is glory. Think of how famous you'd become once you help me save Cakelandia. Chomp-kind would love you despite your rank odor. Earn that love and affection through your actions performed in service of others instead of yourself."

Poot looked like he was still on the fence.

"Think of all the pretty chompinas who would give you kisses and rub butts with you once you become a hero."

"Ok. I'm sold!"

"Great. Let's start by helping me get this patoot out of the pond."