Cutie's gaze lingered on the snake for a long moment, unblinking and sharp. Kaya didn't notice anything unusual—she was busy stretching her arms and shaking off sleep—but Cutie felt it. A strong, unmistakable scent. The scent of a serpent. And not just from the snake, but from Kaya too.
Normally, that faint scent clung to her because she carried the snake around. But this time... it was stronger. Too strong to ignore. He wasn't a fool. He knew what it meant.
From the way the snake moved, from the quiet heaviness in the air, Cutie could tell—this creature and the sparrow had most likely regained their original forms. Or at least part of them. And yet, they were still here. Still following Kaya. Still pretending to be small, weak, harmless.
Why?
Why stay with her?
Why hide?
