Kaya told the story. All of it.
Waking up in the forest, confused and disoriented. The encounter with the snake beastmen who tried to capture her. Her first meeting with Veer—injured, bleeding, left behind by his flock.
"I didn't want to help him," she admitted, glancing at Veer. "I was planning to just... survive on my own. But he wouldn't stop following me. Wouldn't stop talking."
"I was charming," Veer interjected dryly.
"You were annoying."
The drake's rumbling laugh echoed through the cavern. "I like this human. She does not lie to make herself sound heroic."
Kaya continued. The journey to the peaceful tribe. The unexpected safety they'd found there. Meeting Cutie, though she glossed over certain details—the drake didn't need to know 'everything'.
"And then the snakes came," she said. "Not random. Not hunting for food or territory. They came specifically for us. For 'me', I think."
"Why do you think that?" the drake asked.
