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Hello.
My name is Dinel. I look like that thing above, but female, and subadult. What you silly humans call "teenager". We live much shorter lives so that term won't make much sense to us.
I am here because I have a story to tell. I will be your unreliable hidden narrator (not so hidden I guess - I've just revealed myself to you... Dang! Much to learn I have)
Since I was so dumb as to tell you who I am right away I might as well present myself properly:
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I can talk because I have undergone surgery to my tiny head to implant a shiny toy called HOC1. It makes me think similar to a computer... and no, it's not perfect at all!
I can still remember the times before my implant but they are fuzzy dreams...
...and fading...
BEGIN MONTAGE:
INSIDE ARALODON EGG
Unreliable fragments of memory are recalling moments before a deep realization:
BREAK THIS SHELL. NOW!
Crack.
Fresh air. Fresh darkness. Fresh smell. She is born.
INSIDE ARALODON BURROW
MAMA is here. She nurtures and provides. Others are hatching and it's a race to who eats first. The wittiest establish a pecking order uncaring for the weak ones, should they disagree... PECK PECK PECK. Should they agree and attempt to compete... PECK PECK PECK PECK!
Should they choose to be pacifists... PECK PECK PECK PECK!
Mama does not stop nor support this behaviour; she just watches them. DINEL learns quickly that being assertive with her beak-lips is a quick way to earn respect among siblings. They can't yet see each other - it's dark and they are all blind - so the only way to not get lost and be pecked from behind is to SMELL.
Dinel builds a quick database of all 20 and some siblings' scents in her mind. She might not even care what the hell she is and what life means but her brain is hard-wired for social connectivity. More efficient than networked computers.
