"Are you feeling better, my little nibbles?" Dad asked in our own hissing tongue.

  "I... I am better now, thanks dad... it's just... it was too much in a short time. First godfather Theodore, then what the Varret bastards did... I-I... dad... I..." I stuttered, unsure how to continue.

  Dad just nozzles me comfortingly, and gives me time to put together my thoughts. Eventually, I managed to continue.

  "My first taste of battle.... not the training with mom or my sisters, or the human guards and trainers... Dad... i-I almost died to a random rock! I-it hit me, right in the head, Dad! I fell unconscious, leaving Tomas alone and he could have gotten hurt or worse, an-" I pause, dragging a deep breath in.

  "W-when I woke up, 4 men were going to- to loot my corpse. They stabbed me, and i- I crushed ones skull with my fists. I- I got him to the ground and pummeled his face until it broke, then another came at me and tried to stab me so I stabbed him, and I think I shattered his jaw but I couldn't tell and-"

  I was Ramblin again. Dad just listened as I spilled my heart out. About the stress of my first battle, of my heartbreak at learning of Godfather's death, and our short, if hurtful and enraging captivity. Then, I went through my most recent memory.

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  "Bandits, dad. Rabble at best. If I wasn't there, it may have been trouble, but they had almost no armor. I delt with the melee fighters almost by myself!" I said, a fanged grin on my face. Dad gave Ms his own grin, his fangs on prominent display.

  "Good! Would you say you did better in this little skirmish, hmmmm?" He teased. My lowered head and eyes were my only reply. He chuckled, and continued. "But that's not all, is it? Tell me what troubles you, my little nibbles." He asked.

  "I-its when I went after the archers, dad. I sent our men-at-arms after the smaller of the two groups, and I went after the other. There were five..." I say, my eyes looking into the distance. I could almost see that woman, screaming, bloodied-

  I shake my head and refocus. "There was only one crossbow that had a chance of hurting me. A big siege crossbow. I- she dropped it, and... I just wanted them to run. Lessen the risk of getting hurt, you know? So... I grabbed her and-and-" I shuddered, and gaged a bit. "I ripped her arm off, dad. I held her arm in my hand, and- and the rest fled, like I wanted, but...I just ripped a person's arm off! She was bleeding against me, and she peed herself against me and i... I just vomited until I passed out..."

  Dad looked at me, and patted my shoulder. "It's ok. You aren't weak for it. There is no shame in it. It was a grim thing to do, but I think you had the right of it. Your reaction is completely normal. It is ok." He said.

  "Now, you've had a time off it. Doing something normal will help. Why don't you go to the blacksmiths shop and have him check over your armor? Maybe get a new knife, or maybe something else, on me." He said, smiling.

  "I-I will. Thanks dad... for everything. Listening, hugging..." I trail off.

  Dad just chuckles, and pats me on the shoulder. As he twists away, and I return to my full height, he smiles. "My dear daughter, what else are fathers for?"