<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'">By all accounts, the human was well within his rights to force the naga off his property. His instincts leaned more toward the bestial than that of his human counterpart, and if he understood anything at all, he definitely understood the concept of territory. In the wild, particularly in the sometimes brutal rain forest from which he had come, encroaching on another's domain was high on the list of what not to do. A mortal man was ordinarily no match for a serpent on the defensive, but wounded as he was, K'qalikh was in no position to cause any real damage unless he opted to strike and envenomate him.<br/>
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But he wouldn't. Not only because the man had done nothing to deserve it, but also because of all things, the man had offered him refuge and assistance with his injuries. In his condition, despite an innate sense for self-preservation, he simply could not afford to pass on the possibility of aid. Thus far, the human had done nothing to indicate that he meant any harm. K'qalikh had little choice but to take the calculated risk.<br/>
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The stables might have been easier to reach, but as the human withdrew that option, he left the naga with the task of dragging himself inside the residence. K'qalikh nearly groaned at the daunting prospect. Moving with arrowheads burrowed into his scales proved immensely difficult. He had managed before solely due to the need for survival but now, adrenaline reserves crashing, it felt impossible.<br/>
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"I... I seem to have no other option." Wincing, K'qalikh pulled himself upright once again, this time to follow where the stranger led. It was slow going, the serpent pausing every so often to rearrange his massive lower body in such a way that his weight didn't press the invaders deeper into his body. He had already left enough blood in the grass.<br/>
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Minutes passed. Combating the pain, the naga willed himself forward in bursts of speed counterpointed by moments of sluggishness, determined to make it inside where the hunter could not find him again. Though it felt like ages, the pair reached a door leading inside and K'qalikh, exhausted, managed to get the vast majority of his vibrant tail inside before his body gave out. His scaly lower half buckled and down he went. Too tired to catch himself, K'qalikh twisted on the way down, ensuring he fell on his shoulder rather than his front. It looked unlikely that he would manage to move any farther, and with his long body coiled in every which direction, he presented a formidable obstacle. <br/>
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Holding a tenuous grip on his consciousness, K'qalikh peered up at the human - his new post - for all of a moment before exhaling deeply and twisting his lean body to lay on his back. "Water first," he requested, soon adding "please" in an attempt not to offend. "I have not rested for days."</span>