Five years later...

~Scorpion 

Ever since I was hatched, Mother and Father thought that I would be a great assassin.  According to what my parents had said the night before, either me or my brother, Shrub, would be given our first full assignment.

When Shrub and I approached our parents, I strided forwards confidently, but Shrub seemed to become even small than he already was.

"Scorpion, Shrub," Father said, "fight each other to the death."

Shrub and I looked at each other with surprise and I turned back to our parents and shook my head.  Mother and Father exchanged a glance and Mother said, "well, we know who would win any way."  Before I could register her words, they pounced towards Shrub, claws extended.