“Grow in? You're not born with your scythes?"

“We have scythes when we hatch but they are a good deal smaller, duller and more manageable."

That seemed logical, he assumed. After all, it would be dangerous if a young child had a sharp knife permanently affixed to each hand. Just a moment, hatch? Have you said "hatch"?

“Yes. Insect monsters typically lay eggs. Is that unexpected?

They must be eggs, I suppose, so okay.

“They are not actually that large. My father said I was a good deal smaller than a human baby when hatched, but grew quickly. My kind normally lays one to a few eggs, then for protection the mother covers them with a frothy material that hardens when dry. When we hatch the material softens and we squeeze our way out.”

“ALL that is kind of hard to imagine..."

“You'll see it yourself one day, provided you aren't foolish enough to try to leave again."

He hung his head and sighed. "Yeah... I'm kind of past that. At Least with you I won't be raped by a stranger..."

She cocked her head slightly.

“Was that sarcasm? It is hard to tell.

You did not appear to be serious, but did not appear to be lying either.”

He groaned in renewed frustration. "I don't even know how to answer that."

She seemed to readily accept that, addressing him with an even more serious gaze. "Then answer a question of mine Carter. Do you despise me? Do you despise monsters? Is that why you are opposed to our deal?”

Carter took a moment to organize his thoughts. He hadn't expected Taki to turn the conversation to this matter on her own. "I don't despise you," he admitted, “or other monsters for that matter... not really. I owe you, and I'm thankful for what you've done for me, I even find you interesting, if strange. It's just that when I left Jiro I dreamed of being able to Live my own life, a human life, in a city, with a septic system!"

“A what?"

“Never mind..."

“Then do you dislike the forest?"

"No... it's not that. I mean really it's a lot more comfortable than I expected, at least since I started living in your tree house." His expression grew puzzled, “somehow the mosquitoes don't even seem to bite me when I'm with you."

“That is because other creatures recognize monsters as superior beings," Taki explained, "they dare not feed on us or in our presence.