“You make it sssound asss though your’ placsse isss an unwanted one. But of courssse, It’sss nothing I would understand.” This last was said with a slight hint of mockery. He wouldn’t understand, ha! This mere cub thought that it was something so complex that someone as ancient as Kaa couldn’t understand! He had to remind himself that the man-cub couldn’t possibly know anything of him. It almost seemed as though Haku were trying to protect Kaa from what ever it was that pained her in addition to herself. The idea was laughable for several reasons, the first being that Kaa didn’t need any protection and the second being that Haku would try to protect a complete stranger from his own source of pain. Kaa chuckled at his own thoughts; sometimes a mind can be a funny thing he thought.

The chuckles soon gave way to a brief spout of laughter which did not mach his sarcastic tone from only a second ago. The laughter was almost musical in its strange, whispering way. The tone of the laughter was obviously not mocking or derogatory and Kaa quickly apologized saying “I’m sssorry, I don’t mean to laugh, there’sss no way for you to know anything about me.” He gave a few more chuckles before continuing “I doubt very much that I wouldn’t underssstand. Forgive me, but our sssituation isss probably funnier than either of us realizsse.” He took a deep breath then let out a sigh.

“But we’re not talking about me are we? It would no doubt bore a young girl like you to tearsss. Pleassse, indulge me. Perhaps I can help?” Well, so much for subtlety. At least he hadn’t sounded rude; he hoped he hadn’t sounded rude. He suddenly realized just how much he risked by openly offering help. The slightest misunderstanding could yield terrible results between them. Kaa wanted this new “friendship” to last and grow. It wouldn’t be beneficial to either of them if his words drove them apart.

“But if you don’t feel I can help…” He trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.