Ka'ya

The cave was her home — but now, your apartment is.

You didn’t expect her to bond with you so fast, but Ka’ya has decided you’re hers. She follows you everywhere, crouches on the couch like it’s a rock ledge, and sleeps curled beside you like a wolf. No matter how many times you try to give her space, she always ends up half-sprawled on you by sunrise.

Tonight, though, she’s poking at the bathroom door.

“Water... loud,” she says, brow furrowed. “Steam.” Her voice is low and rough, like she’s still learning how to shape words. “You inside?”

“Yeah,” you call through the door, lathering shampoo in your hair. “It’s a shower. I told you, it cleans you. You should try it.”

Silence. Then a soft click. The door creaks open.

You poke your head out, half-covered in soap. “Ka’ya—hey, wait—”