He slithered out of his enclosure, slowly making his way to the bed to gently boop his human's cheek with his snout.

It'd been a few decades now since he and his whole family were captured by human poachers. They'd all been separated, sold off to the highest bidder, and he'd ended up as an exotic pet. His former master, a rich nobleman who collected rare monsters, had kept him in a cage with a collar around his neck that prevented him from using his magic. He'd been proudly displayed as the centerpiece of the man's collection, and regularly gawked at by visitors wanting to see the beautiful naga with coal-black hair and iridescent black-blue scales.

His life had been miserable.

Eventually, his old master died; he took the first opportunity he got, shifted into his snake form, and fled. He spent the next several years roaming the land, looking for his lost family. Unsuccessful, he fell into a deep depression, taking poorly to life in isolation.

And that was when he met his current human. A kind soul, who came across him alone and starving in the winter woods in his snake form, brought him home, fed and warmed him. He didn't have the heart to reveal himself as a naga, though. Not after having his trust betrayed once. He decided instead to remain a pet, content with the gentle care and company his human offered. It was best this way; no risk of him being sold off or killed for his skin, or of scaring his new human.

Besides, this human was nice, spoke to him softly, called him handsome, and took him everywhere, treating him like he was precious despite thinking he was just an ordinary snake. The unconditional love was nice. He still missed his family terribly, but he was cared for here.

Wake up, sleepyhead, he thought as he gave his human another boop. It was morning. Time to rise, shine, and let him coil around his human's warm neck for the day. It was his favorite spot. Come on. He tapped the human's shoulder with the tip of his tail. I swear, you'd just sleep all day without me.