The frill spreading is actually a good opening for her-without warning, Nhim snakes her head forward and bites Shem, clamping down his neck behind his ears, where there aren't any spines yet to get the way. She growls and shakes him roughly, but it's not a killing bite. Instead, it's part reprimand, part show of anger, and part insult-it's the same sort of bite an adult gives to an aggravating nestling that needs to be put in its place.