"Yeah, I'll remember. Don't worry, I'll bring it tomorrow. " Kaira said on a phone with a small smile. As she waited at the crosswalk.
The light turned green.
As soon as it changed, she stepped forward to cross the road, quickening her pace. She was running late.
Suddenly, a car, as if losing control, sped up.
Tires screeched. Metal groaned.
Panic spread as people screamed. Some recorded, while others called for help.
The car slammed into a pole.
Blood and broken glass were spread around the road.
"Hello... Kai? Are you there?..." a woman's voice filled with panic sounded from her fallen phone.
Kaira lay there in a pool of her own blood.
She could see blurry figures and fragmented sound.
As she slipped into darkness, she felt regret.
Thinking of all her dreams and things she wanted to experience.
"If the cub wasn't a female, you could have been dead. You filthy feral..." A sneering, arrogant voice sounded. It felt far and near at once.
"Stop, let him go. We can't afford anything happening to her. " another voice said, calmer and authoritative.
"Hmph" the man's dismissive voice sounded again.
Then she felt a cold but comforting embrace around her. She felt a sense of security.
She felt sleepy. She slowly drifted to sleep.
Her consciousness drifted in and out. Silence surrounded her each time, yet that cold embrace never left. Giving her comfort.
At first, she felt many intense emotions, but slowly she calmed down.
Her memories felt distant, like a dream she was slowly forgetting.
She was no longer human.
She was a snake. Fortunately, she could transform into a human later.
She learned many things as her new father talked to her.
He talks about a lot of things.
Today felt different.
At first, trapped inside the egg, she had feared moving and breaking the shell too early.
But then she heard him crying, voice trembling with worry as he asked of she was too weak or sick.
She started to move a bit every day.
"Today is the day." Her father, whose name is Aeron, said.
She then felt he was softly pressing her eggshell.
Excitement surged through her small body, and she pushed, making a tiny tear. She squeezed toward the opening, struggling but determined.
She tried to go out by squeezing through the tear.
"Impatient little female." Aeron laughed softly.
He then carefully peeled the shell away.
Kaira felt her father's care as he helped her remove the eggshell.
She felt a soft cloth wiping her. She then slowly opened her eyes.
Her eyes blinked open—blurry at first, then clearer.
Aeron looked down at her with a proud smile. He was handsome, with long black hair and glowing amber eyes.
"My child," he whispered, "Your name will be Ardis. You got my eyes, your mother will be happy to see it." Aeron said, smiling.
He set her on soft fur, then brought over a bowl.Blowing gently to cool the soup, he offered a spoonful to her.
Ardis leaned back, startled by her own reflection— a tiny red snake with amber eyes.
Aeron chuckled, misreading her reaction.Ardis, embarrassed, took a sip.
'Tasty!' she thought as she gulped all the soup down.
Aeron fed her with patience until she drifted to sleep.
When she woke again, he was weaving something—a basket.Her future transportation.
He quietly worked as his hands worked swiftly, weaving thick strands together with practiced skill.
Ardis woke up hungry again. Aeron had already cooked.
He fed her, then let her sleep. It continued for a month.
Then one day,
"My child, are you ready to meet your mother?" Aeron asked while feeding her.
'Mother?' Ardis thought. Ardis felt excitement and nervousness coil inside her.
What does she look like? Will she like me?
"She will love you. Don't worry. She is a kind female.", Aeron said as he gently massaged her full belly to help her digest.
Aeron carefully put her in the basket, layered with fur.
The basket was comfortable.
Ardis poked her head out. The room was underground, warm from the steadily burning fire.
Her room from the moment she was born. She had lived in the room.
Aeron glanced upward, then jumped lightly.Ardis gasped. He soared through the opening effortlessly.
'My daddy is so strong.' Ardis thought. She looked around.
They emerged into another room, bright with daylight. Warmth touched her scales.
A burly man with red hair, fox ears, and a tail entered. His cold gaze softened at the sight of Ardis.
"Astra is waiting for you. She must be the cub?" He asked, looking at Ardis.
"Yes, I will show her now." Aeron replied calmly.
Another man entered—similar in looks, but arrogant in posture and voice.
"So proud..." he said with mockery, but felt a hint of jealousy inside.
Ardis hissed at him. She didn't like how he spoke to her father.
"Enough. He is one of us now, Sylas." The burly man scolded.
Sylas huffed but leaned to peak at Ardis.
"She must be my daughter. Let me look at her." Sylas said with a curious expression and hidden expectation.
Aeron let him look inside the basket.
"Pretty cub" Sylas muttered, excitement slipping through his arrogance. "She has Astra's fur color."
"I need to go now. Astra is waiting for me." Aeron said proudly. As he walked out of the room. Heading toward another room.
Well, he does have the capital to be proud. As the father of the female child is more favored and their position in the family is improved.
Now he is second only to the head of the family.
He walked toward another room, but paused at the curtain. He was nervous.
"Aeron, why are you hesitating? Do you not miss me?" a beautiful voice teased from the room.
Aeron opened the curtain as he entered the room. On the bed lay a stunning woman.
She had dark red hair, green eyes, fox ears and a tail.
Astra smiled at them.