He sniffed again and added with the sa casual tone,
"So? Did you get the antidote to that herb finally?"
Kaya turned her wrist, lifting the small pouch hanging loosely by her side. She looked at it thoughtfully, then brought it close. A faint scent. Of course.
"You an this?"
He bent forward and gave it a sniff, nose scrunching slightly before recognition struck his face.
"Yes! That’s it! Where did you get that herb anyway?"
His eyes were round now—alard, or intrigued—it was hard to tell.
Kaya’s eyes narrowed at his change of tone. Her voice cooled further, the air around her seeming to still. "Why? Is it poisonous?"
He paused, his carefree expression faltering.
He shook his head, his expression losing all traces of playfulness. A rare seriousness etched into the lines of his face as he spoke, "I’m not sure about it, but I know this herb is used in high-grade antidotes. The kind that can neutralize even the deadliest poisons... maybe even the one you were exposed to."
His voice hung low in the cold air, and for once, there was no chirp behind it.
Kaya’s gaze dropped to the small pouch in her hand, her fingers tightening around it. The soft scent, the slightly crushed petals—it all made sense now. She frowned, her eyes narrowing slightly as she stared at it like it had kept a secret from her.
Her body—yes, she hadn’t felt that crushing headache or the faint nausea that clung to her every morning. Her limbs weren’t as heavy, and her chest wasn’t tight. Her heartbeat had found a steady rhythm today.
Kaya slowly blinked, the realization dawning on her quietly.
The sparrow tilted his head slightly, watching her reaction, concern flickering in his gaze.
Still holding the pouch between her fingers, she raised it closer to her face, inhaling it this ti—not just noticing it, but trying to understand it. The scent was oddly soothing. Calm.
She didn’t say a word. But her body, the way it relaxed just a little, had spoken enough.
And behind her, the sparrow stayed still.
After a mont, he asked in a confused tone,
"But... where did you get this? I an, it’s nearly impossible to get—hella tough. People die trying to get their hands on it. Like... ninety-five percent don’t make it back."
Kaya stared at the pouch, her brows furrowed, confusion settling deeper in her chest.
What kind of vulture was this?
How the hell did he get sothing this rare? Sothing people literally died chasing? And more importantly—why give it to her?
Why her?
If he had it... why not keep it safe with him? With his people? With soone who actually mattered to him?
Why give it to a stranger—to her, who had no ties, no claim, nothing that would explain a gift like this?
Her fingers tightened slightly around the pouch. It felt too light for the weight it suddenly carried in her mind.
Kaya looked at the sparrow, who was trembling ever so slightly, his feathers fluffed up as if trying to guard against the invisible cold of fear.
She sighed—long, tired, almost annoyed at herself—and without a word, pulled off the hide shawl draped around her shoulders. It was still warm from her body. She stepped closer and carefully placed it over him.
The sparrow blinked, his beady eyes wide with confusion. He stared up at her as if seeing sothing foreign. Sothing dangerous cloaked in kindness.
His small hands clutched the hide closer, hesitant, then suddenly—he took a cautious step back.
"Wait," he said, voice tightening with suspicion. "Are you... are you going to wrap up in this hide and then... hit with a stone?"
His eyes darted, as if scanning the area for throwable rocks.
"Yes! That must be it!" he blurted out, nodding to himself. "And here I was... thinking you suddenly beca softhearted. Kind, even. Ha! Foolish ."
Kaya’s eyes narrowed. Her voice ca low and edged, like a blade just pulled from its sheath.
"Keep talking nonsense, and I will find a stone."
The sparrow’s mouth shut instantly.
Kaya looked at him, exhaustion tracing the edges of her expression. She sighed, rubbing her temple slowly as if trying to ease the growing pressure in her head. Then she wiped her face with both hands, collecting herself before speaking again.
"Okay," she muttered, her voice low but firm, "so... have you seen anything strange lately?"
The sparrow blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in her tone. He shook his head quickly, feathers slightly ruffling as he did.
"No," he said, a bit too fast. "Nothing really. Everyone’s just busy preparing for winter.
But Kaya’s eyes didn’t leave his face, quietly searching for the truth behind his words.
Seeing her gaze intensify, the sparrow quickly avoided her eyes, glancing to the side like a child caught hiding sothing.
"Well... the snake—I an, Vayu—is just sleeping like usual. Sa with most of the beastn, nothing odd there." He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, his feathers twitching ever so slightly.
"But Cutie..." he paused.
Kaya’s frown deepened at the ntion of that na, her voice sharpening. "What about Cutie?"
The sparrow visibly flinched at her tone. He hesitated, shifting from one foot to another, clearly debating whether to speak or not.
"Um..." He looked at Kaya, eyes darting to the side before settling on her again. "I know this might sound strange but... do you know Cutie from before? Like—have you t him before? Or known him... before you t him again?"
Kaya didn’t respond imdiately. Her gaze settled on him, calm but unreadable, the kind that always made his feathers prickle slightly. Then she asked, her tone steady, "Why? Is there anything strange you’ve noticed?"
The sparrow nodded slowly. "You see... just yesterday—um, Rin—you know, the Nikala tribe beastman... he was cooking a al for you." He fidgeted with the hem of his sleeve. "And it was... um, the at of that cow. You know, the dead one the lion tribe hunted and gave away for free? Yes, that one."
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