The girl was able to do what she had planned, but Zaya was puzzled when the child told her she needed to go to her human as soon as she could. The cat didn't understand why, since her human was on the ground and didn't seem to be in danger. But when Dala went behind the giant candle and it began to fall over–Zaya's pupils dilated in fear. Not for her own safety–but for the child's. Fire quickly consumed the pumpkin creature's insides, the moist flesh doing little to deter the flames. Her claws were still in the outer skin of it, and she began meowing loudly when she saw the smoke rising but no sign of Dala. There was shouting from behind coming from Naram, but she couldn't leave. Clawing up the burning pumpkin's face, she peered in just in time to see the girl fall. The guardian beast's body tensed and every hair stood on end. This was the most terrible thing to witness–the death of your charge while you were unable to protect them. The moment the child hit the bottom, she would be dead. 

Zolzaya couldn't allow that.

The cat's eyes glowed a bright green as magic overtook Dala as she was in freefall. Whispers and chants in an unknown tongue filled her ears as the world around her swirled into blackness. Somewhere outside the pumpkin, a burst of energy manifested, depositing the girl at a much safer and less lethal fall. With her task finally complete, the long-haired cat retracted her claws and twisted her body midair for a perfect landing. Landing on all fours, Zaya quickly scampered over to the distraught hunter, then turned to watch the gargantuan gourd go up in flames. Both her human and the little human were safe and sound. Naram stared in bewilderment at the sight as the smaller pumpkins scattered, piles of vines and split squash all over the ground. The mackerel tabby began rubbing against him, pawing at his leg. The anxiety and fear that had been so overwhelming faded, and he looked down at her with a sigh of relief. "Where did you run off to? I thought we agreed you would wait until I came back?" The man asked, scratching the cat behind her ears. 

Zaya stretched her neck and closed her eyes in contentment, though the nomad would never know how truly happy she was to see him too. The smell of roasted starch and caramelization of sugars filled the chilly Venti air as the fog finally lifted. The faint chime of a clock was heard in the distance, and all that was left were the three in the midst of a pumpkin massacre. Satisfied that her human was unhurt, she stopped her aggressive grooming of his hand to check up on Dala. Hovering over the girl, the cat began to prod her with a paw before moving on towards grooming an arm. Any injuries that the child sustained from being granted a passage to safety were healed, and the pain flew away. Zaya meowed softly as she inspected for signs of breathing.

She'd felt this feeling so many times. The rush, the fear, and the moment of her life flashing before her eyes. It almost was like an old friend, coming once again to greet her. Perhaps this was it. Perhaps she would die with a thunk to the ground over a stupid pumpkin. Over a mistake of her own choosing. That would be incredibly ironic. She saw the ground rushing towards her and closed her eyes.

-Gods, don't let me die cause of an oversized gourd. My hubris won't be able to handle it.-

Suddenly, everything felt like it was slowing down for her, whispers and chants in some strange tongue surrounded her and a black swirl overtook her. Dala expected to hit the ground by now. Then she felt it. Herself hitting the ground with a thump. But…it didn't hurt as she expected. Perhaps she died instantly? Confusion ran through her mind as she opened her eyes and realized she was still in the pumpkin patch. The cat was meowing softly and she reached out and gave it pets on the head. Then she grabbed it and started snuggling it.

"You're the best kitty in the world!" She declared, "You are the ultimate cat! Other cats WISH they could be as cool as you!"

Once she was done, she held onto the cat but looked towards the burning pumpkin. She had defeated it! With some friends of course but that fire plan of hers worked! And the cat and the owner had fought impressively. She held out her left hand while holding the cat in her right. Then she gave the middle finger to the pumpkin, as if to establish dominance over the dead creature.

"You deserve to die you third rate unwanted piece of pumpkin!" She shouted, "You're father is the bastard of a zucchini and your mother had rats living in her!"

She didn't actually know if that was true, she just wanted to insult the pumpkin in a creative way. The girl finally put the cat down, gave it a few pets then looked up at the owner. Dala crossed her arms and looked at him with a serious expression.

"Don't get so lost! You're cat was looking for you worried!" The child said, "When your cat calls, you need to come to her. Got it? Also what's her name? I don't wanna keep calling her your cat all the time."

At last the girl opened her eyes, and her arms wrapped around the cat in a hug. Zaya was being pulled closer and cuddled like a soft toy, but she was unbothered. Busy purring and grooming the girl, the guardian beast was pleased that all was well. Naram was not too far behind, standing a few meters away to watch the heartfelt reunion after what could have been Dala's last moments. Zaya settled comfortably in the girl's grasp as the child did something with her other hand. The obscene gesture was lost on the cat, but the sentiment was shared. The tirade of insults towards the slow-roasted pile of pumpkin went right over Zaya's head, but it made the nomad snort in suppressed laughter. It was a hard fight, but they won. Following a few more loving pats from the child, it was now Naram's turn to be on the receiving end of her tongue.

The hunter put his free hand on his hip and raised an eyebrow at the scolding. While he had never intended to leave the cat alone or get 'lost', this wasn't the time for arguing. The mackerel tabby bounded towards him, brushing against his legs again as if the first time hadn't been enough. Sighing again, he smiled and picked her up like a baby. "Yes, yes. If I had known the place would turn on its head, I would've gotten out sooner." Turning his gaze to the blonde girl, Naram's  hazel-green eyes met hers. "Her name is Zaya." He said, answering her question. "I don't think she's ever met a person who she didn't like. I'll keep you by my side the next time we go outside together, alright?" His last sentence addressed the long-haired cat, to which Zaya replied back with a trill. After holding for a few more minutes, he could sense the cat wanted to be let down, so he knelt and she sprang from his hands.

Trotting towards the smoldering remains of the great pumpkin, Zaya began sniffing it before reaching out to take a bite. "Zaya! Zaya what are you–? Wait!" Worrying that the cat was getting herself into trouble, the nomad caught up to her in a few quick strides to see her busily chewing on the edge of the pumpkin's eye holes. The cooking process had softened the hard skin and one could easily break off chunks of fully-cooked pumpkin. At the sound of her name, the cat turned her head–revealing an orange-yellow smear around her mouth. She licked her lips, then went back to eating her newfound snack. Naram was more surprised that a cat would be willing to eat something that wasn't meat than anything, and out of curiosity he took out his hunting knife to carve off a piece. It was…not bad actually. Not as flavorful as what he was accustomed to, but it wasn't terrible.

When he felt the cat had indulged herself enough, he picked her up and moved her away from the rest of the squash. "Alright, that's enough for you. You'll get a stomachache if you eat any more." To Dala, he said: "Thank you for watching Zaya for me. She doesn't get the chance to meet other people often as we travel far from large cities and towns." Holding a hand up to say goodbye, Naram left the garden with his cat. It had been a nice diversion, but it was time for them to get back on the road and head north. The hunting would be more plentiful there, then they would return south following the herds of game. 

After petting the cat a couple more times, she watched as the cat rushed over towards her owner who finally revealed her name. Zaya. It was a beautiful name. Dala watched the two make up and agree to not be separated again. Good. Family who were separated couldn't help each other out and she didn't want the two getting into trouble because of that. The cat hopped down from the nomad's hands and rush over to the pumpkin. Dala followed, curious to what the cat was doing. When the cat took a bite, Dala herself knelt down and took a piece of pumpkin and chewed. The taste wasn't that bad. There weren't any spices to create a powerful flavor but it was well cooked and the texture was decent. The child started shoving lots of pumpkin into her mouth. Might as well eat!

Once she was done, she wiped her mouth with her sleeve and watched as the nomad and Zaya began to leave. She stood up and gave the two a wave goodbye, a little sad to see the pretty cat leave. The girl began to leave the garden herself. Her parents would be worried if she didn't return some time that night. The last thing she wanted to do was worry them. As she walked away from the fair, she gazed up at the stars wondering if she'd ever meet those two strangers.

"We'll definitely see each other again." Dala said to herself, "And I'll be cooler then."

With this thought, she ran off towards her stash of stuff and where her friends Charise and Emerald were sleeping.