She tilted her head, holding the sparrow a bit higher, one brow twitching.
"Why the hell do you feel heavier?"
She narrowed her eyes.
Yeah. No doubt. He did feel heavier in her hand than before. Slightly. Just slightly. But enough for her instincts to notice. And not just heavier—his body looked… plumper?
Her eyes scanned him. The wings, though still scruffy, looked stronger. The feathers less patchy. Even his chirps came with a louder echo than before.
"…Are you growing?" she muttered suspiciously.
It didn't make sense. He'd barely eaten. Maybe one or two berries she reluctantly tossed his way out of boredom. No meat. No proper food.
So how in the hell was he alive, loud, and fat?
Was he eating in his sleep?
Or…
Her eyes narrowed.
Was he leeching off her?
The pitiful bird looked up at Kaya's calculating gaze and shivered. Just a little. Just enough.
In his small, fluttery head, a storm of dangerous thoughts spun like a tornado.
Was this it?
