Safely near the bank, the body drifted passed them, but Ziya was not soothed. Because now the female creature was petting him and touching him! That pretty creature that dared to be pretty in his presence! He stiffened, sharp teeth baring in a snarl, and was seconds away from a tantrum when he remembered...
She had just saved him.
If not for her, that spotted cat might have gotten him, and then he would have been but a pretty mess in its belly.
Perhaps he could afford her a little leniency. After all, she wasn't as pretty as him so she wasn't truly a threat, was she? At the very least, she had proven herself useful. And maybe all this petting and chirping wasn't the unintelligent gibberish he'd first assumed; perhaps she recognized his superior beauty and was paying homage to it. Perhaps that was why she had saved him to begin with?
Yes. That sounded good, actually.
And so, with a slow breath out his nose, he relaxed and eased into the petting. "Ah, yes. Good." He reached out and pat her head with a webbed hand. "Very good. Good job, subject! You have done well! In fact, hmm...yes...I suppose after so close an encounter I could use a guard dog..."
He stroked his chin, musing, and then bore his teeth in a broad grin. "In fact, I could use an escort back home, since clearly there are wicked creatures afoot that seem jealous enough to accost me! The nerve of them, hmph. Fine then. Come along, female! You may take me home."