Iren popped his neck like he was preparing for something important, "Alright - I got you! Let's see . . . I guess the feature that most stands out to me is physical shape. Like, if that person's build or toned muscles stand out."
"So a big tall person?" Toval asked.
Iren shook his head, "No. Just if they are physically fit for their body shape."
"Okay. I think I get this." Richie nodded, "I think a person's eyes stand out the most to me. Like a man could have the most gorgeous eyes just as well as a woman. I mean, look at me! My eyes are stunning."
We laughed and Rodair finally spoke up, "Rodair finds a person who stands with conviction and purpose is attractive. Everyone has a certain stance . . . persons with this type are very hard to come by."
"Whoa man, that's pretty deep." Toval said with a smile, "For me, I think attractiveness comes from a person's talk. How easily they can converse. I could care less what a person looks like, but charisma is attractive."
"Are you talking about others or yourself?" Richie asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Ha ha, I'm being serious." Toval threw a punch, but Richie dodged.
"What about you Ezzie? You got something you find attractive?" Iren looked over at me eagerly.
I'd been quiet for a minute since I didn't want to disturb my sleeping unnamed companion, but now I looked up and shrugged, "I dunno. I've never thought too hard about it. . ."
"Okay but you've had to think someone's really cute before, right? Or at least had a crush on a guy or something?" Illana asked seriously.
"Well I mean, everyone has their features that qualify as attractive. If they're not physically attractive, there's something else that will make up for it in most people. But I've never 'crushed' on anyone before, so I'm not sure if that's relevant. "
My companion woke up and began nuzzling my cheek. Richie gave a look of disgust at the little whelp as Iren asked, "So you don't find anything that stands out on a person?"
"Well I guess I think tattoos and scars are a pretty prominent feature."
Everyone turned to look at Kovin's very evident scar. I rolled my eyes adding, "And no, it's not like I go all weak in the knees for any man who is scared and tatted. Just that I can't really get a scar or a tattoo due to my quick regeneration, so those are very interesting to me."
"Man, I thought we were going to have to cover your face or something. Although, I don't think you'd be interested in pursuing a girl like Ezzie." Iren said to Kovin.
I gave a quizzical look at Iren's statement as Kovin pursed his lips, "Excuse me?"
Richie spoke up, "And what exactly does that mean kid? Is my Ez not good enough for a guy like him? Ha! Ezzie doesn't need no man!"
I shook my head with a sigh at Richie getting worked up while Iren widened his eyes, "Oh good heavens, that's not what I meant at all! I just don't see Kovin going for a woman who is so independent, that's all. Kovin is more the protective type - Ezzie doesn't need any protecting."
Iren looked at Kovin eagerly, "I'm right, right? You like soft-spoken girls, right?"
Kovin rolled his eyes, "There's nothing wrong with an outspoken individual, but you are indeed correct. I find timid women to be very alluring."
Oh. That explains some things.
"So Illana would be more your pace, huh?" Toval asked jokingly.
Illana gave an indignant look, "I'm not timid!"
"No, you're spiteful." Richie commented.
This led them having a heated argument as Iren looked at the whelp biting my hair, "But seriously Ezzie, you should probably name that thing. It's rude to not name a pet."
"I suppose you're right."
I held the whelp up to look at me, her blood-red scales dazzling in the firelight, "Little one, would you like a name?"
The whelp nodded and blinked her wide obsidian eyes.
"It's creepy when it does that!" Richie grimaced at my little friend, completely forgetting his argument with Illana.
"It's actually very amazing that the creature can understand m'lady so easily." Rodair interjected.
I ignored them as I tried to come up with a name. "What kind of name would work for her?"
"How about Ruby? Her scales are blood red. Like 'ruby red'." Iren suggested.
The whelp hissed at the suggestion, causing me to laugh and Richie to say, "Perhaps 'Hiss' would be better suited."
"Hiss is not an appropriate name for a girl." Illana advised, "We had a flower called Poppy that grew in my homeland . . . They were red in color and some people would swear that the flowers were harmful when in actuality they were not dangerous at all."
I looked at the whelp, "Would you like that? Poppy?" The whelp tilted her head, but I could feel that she didn't quite like it.
The group kept throwing out names until it was time for us to hit the sack. We still had a long way to go, but I was determined to come up with a name for my little companion before I fell asleep. I was laying down, coming up with different names, but she didn't seem to like any of them.
"Okay little one, you're going to have to help me out, huh? Poppy wasn't so bad . . . You like to be snippy and cute a lot - maybe Snip or Snippet?" The whelp's eyes grew big and she pounced around in excitement on my chest.
I smiled, "Okay. So Snip?" She gave a grunt of disapproval and bit my neck lightly.
"Ouch. Okay so was it Snippet?" I asked cautiously. She began jumping again causing me to laugh quietly, so as not to wake Illana or Richie on the other side of the tent.
"Snippet it is . . . Goodnight." I said and she nuzzled up to my neck, licking the spot she had nipped. I couldn't believe that of all the names, she wanted Snippet . . . I guess I just didn't understand lizard logic.
After that night, we traveled on without stopping except for hour long respites. The air became dry and the soil changed from dirt to sand, causing my anxiety to flare up. We were close to being back - What would await me this time? Last time I was in the Bodach palace I was almost raped and killed, had to impersonate a man, and received a marriage proposal . . . I wasn't looking forward to returning.
Snippet tried to calm me down; she could tell I was growing anxious day-by-day. She'd been trying (unsuccessfully) to fly, which would sometimes make me crack a smile. I mean, she looked just downright ridiculous when she'd land in a series of somersaults, hopping back up in a huff and hissing at her own wings. She was just so freaking adorable. She'd grown a little too; she's no longer the size of my thumb but rather the length of my hand.
Richie tried keeping me calm too since he could tell I was getting nervous. He'd go on and on about all the good I've been doing as a champion, saying things like 'surely the hottie prince won't condemn you for one battle, right?'. I tried to see his reasoning, but instead I'd just sigh and walk away. There was nothing I could do but await the day we got there, which was growing shorter and shorter with every step we took.