The moment I spotted Camose perched above, the tightness in my chest loosened, replaced by a quiet wave of relief and a hint of disbelief. For a brief second, I simply stood there, looking up at it as if confirming it was truly there and not something I had imagined in panic.
Slowly, I raised my hand toward the branch, palm open in a gentle gesture.
"Come," I said softly.
To my surprise, the little snake responded without hesitation.
Camose shifted where it rested, loosening its coils from the branch with calm, unhurried movements. Its slender body slid smoothly along the bark as it made its way downward, each motion controlled and effortless. When it reached lower, it let itself drop lightly onto the floor, landing without a sound.
From there, it moved straight toward me.
There was no pause, no uncertainty. It reached my feet and began to coil around my leg, just as it had before, its smooth body wrapping upward with a quiet familiarity.
I let out a slow breath, only then realizing how tightly I had been holding it in. The tension that had built inside me eased as I watched the small creature climb without concern.
"You went up there?" I murmured quietly, following its movement with my eyes. "You scared us for a moment."
Camose continued upward until it reached my shoulders, then coiled itself loosely around my neck. Its body settled there with surprising ease, as if it had already grown accustomed to resting on me. The little snake lifted its head and turned toward my face, its golden eyes meeting mine once more. There was no sign of distress or awareness in its gaze, only a calm stillness, as though it did not understand the worry it had caused.
Behind me, I heard soft footsteps.
Charlie approached without interrupting, carrying a wooden bowl in his hands. The faint scent of raw meat reached me as he stepped closer and set it down near the base of the great tree. The pieces inside had already been cut small, prepared carefully for something much smaller than us.
I reached up slowly and lifted Camose from around my neck, careful not to startle it, and lowered it to the floor in front of the bowl. It settled there without resistance, its body loosely coiled as it looked up at me.
I crouched slightly and gestured toward the food. "Eat," I said, pointing first at the pieces of meat and then toward my mouth, repeating the motion in a simple attempt to make it understand.
The little snake watched my hand, then shifted its gaze to my face, as if trying to make sense of what I was asking. For a brief moment, it remained still, unmoving and silent.
Then its attention changed. Its head tilted slightly downward, and its gaze settled on the bowl.
Slowly, it began to move. Its body uncoiled and slid forward in a smooth motion, lowering its head toward the pieces of meat. It paused just above them, as if examining them, before opening its mouth slightly.
Then it began to eat. Small bites, one after another, deliberate and careful. Its movements were slow but consistent, almost tentative, as though it was learning the act itself for the first time.
I remained still, watching quietly as it fed, not wanting to disturb it. There was something oddly calming about the simple, steady way it ate, as if the small creature was slowly settling into this new world without haste or fear.
The next morning, I woke to a faint warmth resting against my arm. For a moment, I lay still, letting my senses adjust before opening my eyes.
Camose was curled around me.
Its small body was wrapped comfortably around my arm, its coils relaxed yet secure, as if it had chosen that place during the night and found it to its liking. The soft pressure of its presence felt strangely natural, no longer unfamiliar.
A faint smile formed on my face as I looked at it, the memory of the previous day lingering quietly in my mind.
I remained still, watching quietly as it fed, not wanting to disturb it. There was something oddly calming about the simple, steady way it ate, as if the small creature was slowly settling into this new world without haste or fear.
The next morning, I woke to a faint warmth resting against my arm. For a moment, I lay still, letting my senses adjust before opening my eyes.
Camose was curled around me.
Its small body was wrapped comfortably around my arm, its coils relaxed yet secure, as if it had chosen that place during the night and found it to its liking. The soft pressure of its presence felt strangely natural, no longer unfamiliar.
A faint smile formed on my face as I looked at it, the memory of the previous day lingering quietly in my mind.
Carefully, I reached toward it, intending to move it aside without disturbing it. My fingers closed gently around its small body, slow and cautious.
The moment I touched it, it reacted.
Its body shifted slightly, and its coils tightened around my hand.
I stilled.
"Camose…" I murmured softly, trying not to startle it as I gently attempted to ease it off. I lowered my hand slightly, hoping it would loosen its grip on its own, but it did not.
Instead, it held on. The pressure was not painful, but it was firm, deliberate enough that I could not simply pull away without risking harm.
I tried to ease it off carefully, loosening its coils bit by bit with slow, deliberate movements. For a moment, it would give slightly, only to tighten again the instant I thought it might release me, clinging stubbornly to my hand as if it had no intention of letting go.
"Camose, let go," I said softly, rubbing its head with my thumb in a gentle attempt to calm it. "I need to practice."
The little snake did not react the way I expected. It simply looked at me, those calm golden eyes fixed on mine, unblinking and steady, as though it understood but chose not to listen.
I let out a quiet sigh.
No matter how carefully I tried, it refused to release its hold.
After sometime, Charlie entered from the adjoining hall. "Good morning, young master," he greeted, his voice calm as always.
I turned my head toward him, my expression already worn with quiet frustration. "Charlie… help me with Camose."
He stepped closer without hesitation and crouched slightly beside me, reaching out with careful intent. For a brief moment, Camose remained still, its gaze fixed on him, its expression unchanged.
Then everything shifted.
The instant Charlie's fingers made contact, the little snake reacted. Its body stiffened, and its head snapped sharply toward him. A sudden hiss broke the silence, sharp and clear despite its small size. The calm golden eyes that had been steady moments ago hardened, turning fierce. Its coils tightened around my hand, not in fear, but in warning.
Charlie pulled his hand back immediately and took a step away, his reaction quick and controlled. Camose did not relax. It continued to stare at him, its small body held taut, a soft, steady hiss escaping from its mouth as if warning him to keep his distance.
Charlie lifted his hands slightly, signaling that he meant no harm as he stepped back another pace. "I do not think Camose likes being touched by others," he said carefully, his voice measured.
I exhaled slowly, the tension easing just a little, and began to gently stroke the snake's head again. "It is alright," I murmured, keeping my voice soft and steady as I tried to calm it.
Gradually, the tension in its body began to fade. The hissing subsided, and the rigid coils loosened just enough to feel relaxed again. Camose leaned subtly into my touch, its small head pressing against my fingers as if the brief flare of aggression had never happened.
I shook my head lightly, a faint, resigned smile forming despite the situation.
"I suppose I will have to cultivate like this."
Charlie watched for a moment, then gave a small, understanding nod.
"We can practice our control later today," I added, adjusting my posture carefully so as not to disturb the snake still wrapped around my hand.
For now, it was clear that Camose had already made up its mind about where it intended to stay.