Kaya nodded slowly, processing this. Then she made a decision.
"Veer, Cutie, lower your weapons. She's not a threat." When they hesitated, she added more firmly, "That's not a request."
Reluctantly, they relaxed their stances, though both still looked wary.
Kaya turned back to Serra. "You want to join us. Why should I trust you? For all I know, you're a scout for one of the tribes hunting me, here to confirm my location."
Serra met her gaze steadily. "You shouldn't trust me. Not yet. Trust has to be earned." She reached into her pack slowly, giving them time to react if needed, and pulled out a rolled parchment. "But maybe this will help."
She offered the parchment to Kaya.
Kaya took it cautiously, unrolling it to reveal a map—far more detailed than anything Vayu had shown them. It marked tribal territories, trade routes, known settlements, and most importantly, it showed the mountain ranges with notations about safe caves, water sources, and dangerous areas.
