The college promenade was a riot of noise and color, an undulating sea of chatter and laughter punctuated by the occasional shrill clang of a rented locker door slamming shut. The air carried the taste of autumn, crisp and promising frost, my favorite time of year. Amidst this chaos, Bel and I, partners in crime since middle school, though we’d only recently become more than that, navigated the busy sidewalk with practiced ease. “Hey, check it out,” I said, my words cutting through the cacophony as I nudged her with my elbow. A playful smile spread across my face as I gestured towards Mark, whose recent transformation from mop-headed misfit to broom-like trendsetter had become our latest source of amusement.

  “Hey, watch where you’re going!” I barely dodged another student barreling through the throng of people, his eyes glued to his phone like it held the universe’s secrets. “Remember when they didn’t let us have phones between classes?” I leaned down to kiss the top of her black-haired head.

  “You mean when we were in high school?” she asked. “Starting to sound like an old woman.”

  “Later, I’ve got to get to the gym,” I told Bel with a quick hug. “Kojanim’s gonna have my head if I’m late again.”

  “Go kick some butt,” she encouraged with a grin, already turning back to her crew of labrats.

  With a final wave to Bel, I slipped out of the bustling boardwalk and crossed the campus. The dojang wasn’t technically on the college campus, but it was close by, a humble building with more than its share of memories. A space dedicated to the practice of martial arts of all types. It had been a hard sell to allow the college to accept this as an academic course. There were numerous rules to allow this to count as a physical education course and even more to be considered an elective. As I approached, I could already feel the shift in the atmosphere, from the chaotic energy of school to the focused calm that awaited within.

  The training hall was my sanctuary, where I could channel my restless energy into something resembling grace, if you squinted hard enough. Today was no exception. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and determination. One of the things I liked about combat sports was that there were multiple ways to do something. And with the various styles I had been studying I got to pick and choose, improvise my way through a sparring session like a Jazz Musician finding his own way to own the stage.

  Most times that was. But sometimes that was a problem. The dojang I stepped into was a small space devoted to Taekwondo. It meant that, as a tournament style, it was a bit more rigid than I liked. But sometimes knowing how to play 2/4 time was an asset. I bowed at the entrance in respect and moved to the locker room to change into my Dobok, putting all my belongings in the provided locker. When I came out, I bowed respectfully to the Kojanim before stepping onto the mat.

  “Focus, Angel,” he intoned, a mantra he’d repeated since I first walked into his dojang, all knees and elbows and too much sass for my own good. He had a gentle smile on his face.

  “Got it, Kojanim,” I replied, the familiar thrill of anticipation zipping through me. Keep it simple, keep it in style.

  I started with a kata, forms flowing from one to the next, each movement precise and purposeful. This was meant to be a more active stretch than just the standard motions someone would do before a gym workout. It also helped to loosen a person up and get their heart beating a bit more.

  “Sparring time,” Kojanim called out, and I cracked my knuckles, ready to dance. It wasn’t very ladylike, but I enjoyed this part of the day. It helped to get some of the frustrations from math and science classes out of my head.

  I felt good about this session until I saw my Kojanim smile and point to the big guy. My sparring partner today was a towering wall of muscles. I dubbed him ‘Goliath’ because, well, why not? He looked tough, but I knew the secret wasn’t size; it was agility, cunning, and a lot of stubbornness, three things I had in spades. He certainly had me on height and, most certainly, on weight.

  “Ready?” I asked, more challenge than a question. I stood before him, my left hand resting lightly on my closed fist, bowed and moved into a combat stance. Goliath was only too happy to repeat the process, acknowledging me as his opponent.

  “Bring it, Teacher’s Pet,” Goliath grinned, using the nickname I’d earned for obvious reasons.

  The thumps of padded combat echoed through the dojang, a symphony of grunts and the dull thud of strikes from other students as they went about their sparring practice. Slowly the other students stopped what they were doing and stood to watch. Forming a circle around myself and Goliath. It had been a few weeks since we’d done proper sparring so we began to circle each other. Both as a form to loosen up muscles and to see if there would be any openings that would be immediately obvious to each other.

  “Ready for a workout?” Goliath asked.

  I smirked, my confidence shining through. “Bring it on, big guy.”

  We lunged at each other, a flurry of movement that blurred the lines between offense and defense. I slid deftly to the side, dodging Goliath's heavy fist, aimed at my face, the big idiot, and countered with a rapid jab-cross combo before snapping out a roundhouse. Way too many hands, not enough feet. Kojanim was definitely taking notes.

  I could feel the eyes of other students watching us from the sidelines. Goliath was all power and heavy hits, favoring his fists over his feet, the opposite of what Kojanim kept drilling into us. I'd seen him demolish boards like tissue paper during his last belt test, and it would only take one good reverse punch from someone like him to send me reeling, hogu or not. His punches were crisp and powerful. In a real tournament, the electronic sensors wouldn't care about finesse, just impact. I could tell he practiced his style religiously.

  What was it Bel would say? "Get good, just dodge." You got it, hun.

  Goliath retaliated with a punishing kick aimed at my midsection, but I twisted away, narrowly avoiding the impact. Not to be outmaneuvered, I countered with a lightning-fast series of strikes, a dance of fury and determination that left no room for hesitation. The dojang floor vibrated beneath our feet, a steady rhythm matching our struggle’s intensity.

  “Is that all you’ve got, Big Guy?” I taunted, my words providing more bravado than I had. I’d hit him several times, but he didn’t seem fazed. Plus, I had to be careful, his reach meant that I had to get in closer. Giving him more chances to knock my block off.

  Goliath grinned wolfishly, his eyes blazing with fierce determination. “You talk too much, Teacher’s Pet.”

  His movements became more fluid as we settled into the ebb and flow of combat. I moved from quick strikes, aiming for more precision and calculated blows, though hitting him hard wasn't my specialty. Then he rushed me and instinct took over, my leg was already chambering for a strike at his knee before my brain caught up. No! I aborted the kick, stumbling back instead, heart hammering for a whole different reason.

  Goliath paused, eyebrows raised. He'd seen it. He knew what almost happened.

  "We good?" he asked, not mocking for once.

  "Yeah," I managed. "Sorry. Got my wires crossed."

  I stayed defensive after that, letting him come to me, not trusting my own reflexes. Goliath fought back with primal ferocity, his raw power threatening to overwhelm my finesse, but at least I wasn't at risk of actually hurting my classmate. Luckily Kojanim didn’t need to step in, but that was a sure disqualifier. Goliath had already won this fight because of a careless mistake.

  The scent of sweat and effort hung heavy in the air, mingling with the almost palpable smell of adrenaline. Every sinew in our bodies straining with exertion, a testament to the clash of wills. The dojang walls seemed to soak up the sounds of our conflict, with only the students as witnesses to the battle. Arguably we were the best members of the dojang; we always placed well in events.

  “Still standing, Goliath?” I panted; my voice laced with a mocking challenge. My only real hope was for the big guy to overstep his bounds so I could punish him. His stance was solid, and he'd already repelled my attempt at a leg sweep, also not legal, but at least that one was just habit, not instinct screaming end the threat.

  With a feral growl, Goliath launched himself at me with renewed vigor, his movements brutal and unrelenting. I guess he’d gotten tired of hearing my mouth. I danced around his onslaught with practiced ease, this was familiar territory. At five-seven and 130 pounds soaking wet, all lean muscles and tomboyish figure, I couldn’t match his raw power. So, I switched to deflecting and parrying every motion, which is a testament to my training and skill.

  The fight continued unabated, an intricate dance of power and finesse played out on the canvas of the dojang floor. Each strike was met with equal force, and each dodge was executed with flawless precision. The air crackled with anticipation as we pushed ourselves.

  And as the fight continued to build, neither of us showed any signs of backing down. With every strike and parry, we’d carved out our own legends in this small space. At least, it was nice to think that. But we had to show what we had if we wanted to be picked for the tournament later in the month.

  "Time!" Kojanim's voice cut through the haze of adrenaline. I stepped back, panting, sharing a respectful nod with Goliath. I held out my gloved fist to him. He tapped it and nodded.

  "I should disqualify both of you," Kojanim said sternly. He turned to Goliath first. "Punches to the face? That's a gam-jeom every time. You know better." Then his eyes found me, and I fought the urge to shrink. "And you. A leg sweep? That little stunt you pulled mid-fight?" He didn't say knee strike, but we both knew what he meant. "This is WT rules, not a street fight. In the upcoming tournament, that gets you disqualified and costs the team points." He looked at us both, expression hard. "Tomorrow, we drill dollyeo chagi until your hips ache. No more outside styles."

  "Yes, Kojanim," we said, bowing our heads in respect. We watched as the teacher moved to address the rest of the class.

  I looked at my opponent, offering my fist for another fist pump and giving him a gentle smile.

  “I see why Kojanim picked you to fight me,” he huffed. “You’ve got way too much energy and a lot of moves to pull on.”

  “You’re no slouch either,” I praised. He moved away from me, bowed deep and walked back towards the locker room.

  “Good work, Angel,” Kojanim praised, and damn if that didn’t make me puff up like a little kid getting a thanks from their parents.

  “Thanks, Kojanim,” I replied, catching my breath. “Same time tomorrow?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” he said, the ghost of a smile on his weathered face. “But remember what I said, no outside styles.”

  As Kojanim’s words of praise echoed in my ears, I gathered my things. I wiped the sweat from my brow and took a swig of water, feeling the cool liquid soothe my throat. Goliath had already grabbed his stuff from the locker rooms, his hulking figure disappearing out of the dojang as he gave a wave at those of us still in the class. I looked around at the quieting dojang, its silence a stark contrast to the cacophony of grunts and strikes just moments before.

  After the session, I took a moment to cool down, my heart still pounding. I closed my eyes, focusing on my breathing to get everything under control. Finally, when I felt that I was calm and centered, I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder, glancing back at the dojang one last time before stepping out into the evening air. The transition from the warm, familiar atmosphere of the dojang to the crisp twilight outside was always a little jarring, but in a good way. It was like stepping from one life into another.

  I took a moment to breathe in the fall air of the city. New York City in the late fall could be just as magical as any other place. I gave a rueful grin as I tried my best to cool down. The dojang with a bunch of sweaty students got to be so humid. Maybe they’d put in an air conditioner if we brought home a trophy from the tournament. Though the Kojanim preferred more traditional means of keeping the dojang air conditioned, if the windows couldn’t do it he’d bust out the big floor fan.

  “Angel, heading to the gym?” a voice called out as I day dreamed about all the good times I’d had here.

  “Nah, got something else on the agenda,” I replied with a grin, waving off a teammate without breaking stride.

  Bel’s realm was the science lab, a realm of Bunsen burners and beakers where she reigned supreme. I pushed open the door quietly, peeking in. There she was, hunched over a microscope like some kind of blond-haired Sherlock Holmes, her concentration palpable even from the doorway. I could see she’d tied her long hair up into a bun to keep it from getting in the way, and the glasses she sometimes wore were pushed up on her head.

  “Hey,” I said, leaning against the doorframe. She didn’t jump, not much startled Bel, but those milk chocolate eyes flicked up, locking onto mine taking a moment to refocus to the distance.

  “Angel! What are you doing here? I thought you’d be kicking butt or something,” she said, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

  “It was more dancing than kicking today. Kojanim wanted me to fight the biggest guy in class. He shrugs off blows like a brick wall. Figured I’d come to see what magic you were conjuring up in your mystical lab of wonders,” I teased, sauntering over to where she sat among test tubes and tangled wires.

  “Very funny,” Bel rolled her eyes before gesturing to the experiments. "The professor asked me to help out with the prep for the next chem test, and I got carried away. Overzealous TA that I am." She shrugged like being the only college sophomore TAing for the chemistry department was no big deal.

  “Ah, of course. Casual chemistry,” I echoed, nodding sagely while understanding exactly zero percent of it. “Does that mean jeans instead of dress pants? What’s the policy on safety goggles on casual chemistry days?”

  "Ha ha," she deadpanned but couldn't hide the spark of excitement lighting up her face. "What about you? How'd that tournament prep go?"

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  "I survived," I shrugged, shooting her my best 'heroic' pose, which earned another laugh. "Goliath tried to flatten me, but I'm still standing. Mostly."

  “Appreciate it,” she quipped, but the warmth in her voice made it clear the feeling was mutual. She wrinkled her nose. “You should have showered before coming here. You’ve got a sweaty brow.”

  “And miss time with you?” I asked. I frowned. “But you’re right, I should have probably at least rinsed off after all that dancing, but who wants to really shower at school if they don’t have to?” I gave her a playful wink, settling onto a stool beside her, ready to watch her work her magic as the afternoon sun slanted through the windows, casting long shadows across the linoleum floors. It was moments like these, simple, quiet, ours, that I thought maybe this adult gig wasn’t so bad after all.

  With a chuckle, I shed my jacket, the scent of sweat and dojang lingering in the air. Bel gave me a pointed look, but her attention soon returned to her work. I watched as she carefully adjusted dials and scribbled notes, her focus unwavering. It was fascinating to see her so absorbed, her passion for science as clear as the liquid in her flask.

  As the sun dipped lower, An orange glow crept through the windows tinging the lab with its color. Bel’s hands danced with a nervous energy that was as infectious as it was endearing. I leaned against the edge of a table, my legs swinging idly as I watched her turn her attention back to the extra credit question for the teacher. “You realize these are normal students, right?” I asked. I’d been sitting on that chair for the better part of an hour. I was pretty sure none of the other students would get it.

  “But it’s really a simple solution, it just required a lot of prep work to explain it,” she insisted.

  “Easy for a genius like yourself? Or easy for people who have to take the course and pass it?”

  She pouted a little as she swung her backpack up onto her slender shoulders. I rose from the stool, moving towards her and kissed her on the forehead. “It’s easy,” she insisted again.

  “I believe you, Gorgeous,” I slipped my arm around her shoulder and directed her towards the door to the science lab. “Now let’s make like any couple and go home and binge TV shows.”

  “Uh huh,” Bel said, wrinkling her nose and pushing away from me. “You’re going to go home and take a shower.”

  “Shower and TV?” I asked. “The dorm isn’t that far off campus.” I didn’t wrap my arm around her shoulder, but I did move to stand beside her, opening the door and letting her through first. I swung the lab door shut behind us.

  “I think I can accept those terms, Luv.”

  “Alright, then I can reheat the pizza I ordered last night. You still like Don Antonio?”

  “How long have your parents been away?” Bel asked, her voice worried.

  “Just a week, why?” I asked.

  “So, you’ve been ordering out for all your meals, haven’t you?”

  “That’s not true,” I protested. “I order dinner and then the leftovers are breakfast the next day. Like any sensible adult I make sure to have enough to eat later.” It was true I wasn’t much of a cook; I could make some of the most basic stuff. Scrambled eggs, premade pasta you boiled in a pot, but that didn’t normally involve a lot of vegetables that couldn’t be microwaved. Naturally, I hadn’t complained when my parents had gone away for their anniversary and left me at home. Why should I? I was an adult. I caught Bel looking at me. “What?”

  “What’s the last vegetable you’ve had that wasn’t on a burger or was microwavable.”

  “Does lettuce count? I had some salad with lunch today.”

  She shook her head, walking to the front of the school. “Change of plans, you’re going to your house to get a change of clothes and then we’re going to my place so my mom can make you a real meal.”

  “Like another three days of bodega food and take out will kill me,” I laughed. I followed behind her, catching up and slipping my hand into hers.

  "I'm so jealous! I look at an apple and gain weight!" the blonde-haired woman said. "But you! You get to eat like a linebacker because you burn it all off! It's totally unfair.” She pushed open the front doors to the schools, looking over her shoulder at me as I followed. “Eventually that bad eating should result in cholesterol, irritable moods and other side effects of a high fatty diet.”

  “I burn a lot of calories.” I shrugged, took a quick couple of steps to catch up to her and the rushed past her to the bottom of the stairs. “Remember, my folks are also rail thin.”

  Bel wasn’t as active as my family, of course not everyone would be. My parents were cycling and marathon enthusiasts and so they never packed on muscle, just lean, efficient machines. They were always entering us in events like that, and while I could run and cycle it wasn’t my first choice. Bel and her family were planetarium, science museum types. The only exercise they got was walking from point a to point b. Which in New York was a great means of staying healthy. So, it made sense that my girlfriend was probably more worried about her weight than I was. Her family had always been calorie counters. Just eat a slice of pizza and go run for 26 miles, that was my parents’ motto.

  As we walked down the street, we joked about the upcoming exams we would be taking. It was getting pretty close to the end of the school year and then we’d have to start applying for more tuition and loans, the most beloved part of any student’s life. And I was absolutely lost on what I wanted to do with my future. Right now, I was leaning towards being a P.E. Teacher, it seemed pretty simple and just about anywhere could teach me how to tell kids to do sit-ups. I’m sure Bel already had planned her doctorate and all her thesis picked out based on instructors and the particular curriculum she’d get into.

  I looked left down the street toward the oncoming traffic, seeing that there was a break in traffic, I grabbed my girlfriend’s hand and started into the street. This late in the day in New York it was almost impossible to get across without at some point jaywalking, but we could at least start with the green light, maybe shout some choice words while ‘walkin’ here’ and go about our way. Still, I checked both directions to make sure some crazy taxi wasn’t trying to score bonus points by aiming for pedestrians.

  I turned to look back at Bel as I dragged her across the finish line. There, almost against the flow of traffic, was every New Yorker's worst fear. A white truck, out of control, out of nowhere. My body reacted before I could say anything, pulling the smaller girl further onto the curb and throwing her towards the subway. My body was already in motion, and while I had pulled her from in front of the truck, I was smack dab in front of it. I turned to follow and dive for the cover of the underground stairs.

  I quickly sat up, my eyes blinking as I scrambled to cover myself. "Aaahh!" Surprisingly, there was no pain. I was alive! Somehow, I had dodged the truck! As I gathered my thoughts, I noticed the sounds of birds chirping and the wind rustling through the trees. It felt almost like I had been transported to Central Park. But if it had hit me hard enough to send me from Midtown to Central Park, I should be jelly. I didn’t need to be Bel to know that I should have been scraped like a bug from a windshield.

  "Hello?" I called out, feeling bewildered. If I had really survived being hit by a truck, shouldn't I be in a hospital? But this place looked nothing like any hospital I'd ever seen. Towering trees surrounded me with thick bushes at their bases, unlike the manicured lawns of Central Park. Where was I? Trying to stand up, my feet sank into the soft ground, and the air carried scents of fresh grass and sweet honeysuckle.

  "Not near the school," I muttered to myself, trying to make sense of my surroundings. "So where am I?" Taking a tentative step forward, I stumbled, my balance was off. Looking down at my feet, expecting to see my sneakers, I gasped in shock. Instead of normal feet, I saw scaly red toes with claws, three of them, jet black like coal. And then there were my breasts? I had boobs! Like, actual boobs instead of the sports-bra-optional situation I'd been working with my whole life!

  "Oh no," I whispered in disbelief before noticing my hands, or rather, claws that matched my strange new feet. Startled, I spun around, accidentally slamming my tail into a tree trunk behind me, causing a sharp pain to shoot through me. Collapsing to my knees, I cradled a new appendage in my arms. A tail. I had a tail? "Great, now I have a tail. The fuck did I hit? That really smarts," I grumbled as tears threatened to fall, surveying my bizarre new form and surroundings. Sitting there nursing my bruised tail, questions flooded my mind. Where was I? What had happened to me? Was I still the same person? And most importantly, where was Bel? Had she been safe from the truck? Did I manage to pull her out of harm's way in time? If she was okay, that's all that mattered!

  Scanning the landscape, I spotted what looked like fireplace smoke rising in the distance. At the very least there was some form of civilization within limping distance. Maybe I’m in a coma. No one really knows anything about them, right? So that means this is a dream! A really, really vivid dream. However, dreams don’t usually come with this level of tactile feedback, like the scratch of scales against... scales. Yup, my arms were covered in them, too.

  “Am I a dragon?” I whispered, half-hoping someone would pop up and tell me I nailed it. When no one did, I heaved a sigh. “That martial arts training better pay off in this place cause I am not getting eaten by the first troll I meet.”

  I slowly rose to my feet taking stock of my new body, curvy in ways I was familiar with, yet not. “I think someone was too happy with the slide bars.” The whole package was definitely something out of a fantasy RPG. I could see that I had a bit of a snout, which meant I probably had a lizard-like tongue. Sticking it out, it was certainly much longer than it needed to be and was indeed forked. The sudden burst of taste was amazing. I put my hands on my head, running into horns, and my black hair was gone.

  “Great. Horns. Because why not?” I ran a hand over one, feeling the ridges. “On the bright side, I guess I won’t need a Halloween costume this year.” And that was when I realized I was standing naked in the countryside. “I hope no one complains about my casual nudism.” Despite the tail, scales, and well most of my body having changed, a casual glance at my breasts showed that I had boobs and the nipples to go along with them. I didn’t want to be caught naked in the woods but I didn’t see any real options right now.

  There was a noise behind me, causing me to tense up, slipping instinctively into a defensive stance. But when I spun around, there was nothing, just the rustling of the wind through the trees. Still, it was enough to kick my heart rate into overdrive. I wasn’t a wilderness kid; I was certainly more of a pampered princess, I liked to run down to the coffee shop for a scone and a frappe if I wanted.

  “Okay, chill, Angel. You’ve handled bullies and pop quizzes. You can handle being a... a whatever-the-heck-this-is.” I let out a shaky laugh, though no real humor existed. “Just gotta find Bel and figure out how to hit the undo button on this thing. Please let me be on Earth still.” I didn't know what the better prospect was: turned into a dragon-lady and thrown into some wilderness, or having gone mad in my coma. Neither was a great thing for a college student still trying to figure their way out in the world.

  I started walking with a reluctant glance at the rising smoke in the distance. If I was going to get any answers, they wouldn’t come from standing around talking to myself. But man, I really hoped they had a map. Or at least someone who could point me back to New York. If I was more handy I could probably do the whole Adam and Eve thing and get leaves to cover myself. Or would that be weird? To be the one dragon-lady in the world ashamed of their nudity? Was that why I’d showed up in this world naked? I groaned under my breath. I just had no idea what to do.

  “Alright, scales and tail, time to make moves,” I muttered, trying to psych myself up. My feet, now with three toes and armed with claws, dug into the soft earth as I started toward that smoke. The cobblestone streets and exotic aromas called to me a siren song for the utterly lost. But I wouldn’t prance in there like some fairytale creature looking for breadcrumbs. No way. I had to find Bel, and this New Yorker wasn’t about to let a little hiccup get me down. And I certainly wanted to at least get a dress. And a bra. I never thought I’d wish to have my old boobs back.

  “Hey, Scaly Butt!” a rough voice suddenly barked.

  I froze, my instincts flaring up. There, stepping out from behind a massive oak, was a green skinned woman with muscles that meant serious business. And a mohawk that could only be called a wohawk! Like in... woah! That's a mohawk. The green skin on her face indicated she was clearly as inhuman as I was. She was also, even from this distance, larger. I think she might have beaten Goliath in size. I stared at her, trying to will her to be friendly.

  “Lost, Kobold?” the woman snorted, crossing her arms while appraising me with a grin that showed off her tusks. She had a shield slung on her back and a large sword on her hip; her torso was covered in what looked like chain mail and she had animal furs made into a sort of cloak. She didn’t hold her weapon in her hand, but I felt like she was still not someone to cross.

  “What’s it to you?” I replied, squaring my shoulders. The heck was a Kobold anyway? “I got a name and it’s not ‘Scaly Butt’, and I’m not a Kobold. I’m just a lost person, trying to find my way back to... well, not here.” I figured if I had to fight her, it would be like fighting Goliath, but only this one was armed. So, if I could talk my way out of this, that would be for the best.

  And to make matters worse, another creature was stepping out of the thick forest. My eyes went wide as I sized up the size of this guy. She was big; he was even bigger. Was that a ten-foot-tall walking cowman? My instincts told me to turn tail and run and do it quickly.

  The cowman chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that I’m sure would have felt comforting if we were friends. “Well, Not Scaly Butt, you’ve encountered a pair of seasoned adventurers. We’ve seen Kobolds before, and you look like one. Why don’t we make a deal to help each other out?”

  “Seasoned, huh?” I arched a brow, my tail flicking behind me. “What’s in it for you two?”

  “Adventure, loot, and maybe some Kobold affection for the camp?” the Orc woman winked, clearly enjoying the situation.

  “Is that something you’d ask others?” I shot back, a playful challenge in my tone. “That sounds like fighting words. Do I gotta beat it into you that I’m not a Kobold?”

  The Orc’s face split wider in a grin. “Oh, I like this one, Titan. We’re taking her with us.” She rested her hand on her sword while grinning.

  “Gex, we’re a little busy hunting down bandits,” Titan said. “We can’t exactly take her with us.”

  “Well, we can’t leave a monster wandering alone in the woods,” Gex said. “You know as well as I do that the Demi-Human welcome committee will kill her or throw her in irons to be sold.” She turned to me, moving closer. “So, like it or not, you’re coming with us, Scales.”

  Slavers? I thought with a blink. This place, wherever it was, had slaves? And I was something they’d want to capture to sell? I blanked on what to do as the woman Gex now stood before me. She was big. Way bigger than I anticipated.

  “Uh, no, I don’t want to be enslaved.” With Gex standing right in front of me it was easy to tell just how big and muscled she was. Her green arms looked like small trees with coiled rope under them. If I was to compare it to things I knew back at home, she had the muscles of a gym rat. Someone who had spent countless hours sculpting and refining their muscles. She’d probably, by the looks of her shield and sword, developed those muscles fighting. Which meant that she wasn’t going to be slow or clumsy in a fight. I sighed, shaking my head. “My name is Angel,” I said, more in defeat than anything else. I could probably fight Gex, winning was most likely out of the question. And that big guy? No way I was going to have any chance against him.

  Gex’s eyes twinkled with a mischievous glint as she extended her hand, a silent peace offering. I hesitated, then reached out, grasping her hand firmly. A truce, for now. The cowman, Titan, gave a gruff nod of approval before turning to lead the way deeper into the forest. Back the way I had come I noticed.

  “Smart choice,” Gex said. She came forward, touching my head and casually rubbing between my horns. I couldn’t help but make a noise at that. A noise that was halfway between acceptance and pleasure. I pushed her hand off of my head. “Easy now, Scales,” she said. “No disrespect meant.”

  “Yeah, well ask permission before rubbing my head,” I muttered. “What did I say about not being Kobold?”

  “Looks like a Kobold, sounds like a Kobold.” She put her hand on my head again. “Probably a Kobold.”

  As we set off together, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the path. Somewhere in the distance, an otherworldly howl sliced through the twilight. Our adventure was just beginning, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get wild. I just hoped that Bel found me soon. I shivered as a cold breeze played over my scales. “Any chance I could get a shirt or something?”

  “Why would we do that?” Gex laughed. “I like the view.”

  “Gex,” Titan chided. “Just give her a spare.”

  “Here,” she said, tossing me her animal skin cloak.

  “Thanks.” I wrapped the makeshift blanket around me for warmth and for modesty. “Is it always so cold around here?”

  “You are a naked Kobold on the surface,” Titan said, casually. “It’s probably going to be cold everywhere. Just bear with it for a bit, Angel. At least until we can get you more appropriately sized clothes.”

  So, what was the green skinned woman? I wish I had Bel's knowledge for nerdy and geeky stuff. "So, I'm going to guess you're not a Human?" I asked, I hated how stupid that made me sound but there was no help for it. I pointed at Gex. "And the big man I can tell is a cow man."

  Both of the seasoned adventurers turned to look at me. "Uh, no," the woman answered. "I'm an Orc, and watch it with the 'cow man' stuff. He's a Minotaur. Seriously, Scales, where are you from? I would have thought a Kobold would know Demi-Humans from Humans."

  “I’m from far away,” I mumbled following behind the Orc and Minotaur. Minotaur I recalled something about that in Greek legends or something, I’d only vaguely paid attention in classical mythology. So what? I was somewhere that had Minotaur and Orcs. Where the hell was I?