"Understand alone." She props the torch up in a pile of rocks arranged for this purpose and goes and sits against the wall, her arms wrapped around her knees.

"If I am alive, I live. If I live, I will die. If I live, I was born. Humans are born to parents from parents, by parents, with parents. Understand?"

"Mm."

"No."

"Understand live? Understand born?"

She doesn't answer.

He stares at her for a few seconds.

He sits in the corner.

After a few seconds she teleports next to him, still curled up. "Sorry," she says, quietly. "I not okay."

"I sorry. I no want hurt or give pain. Is difficult to say, I am not good at saying. And family is...big. Understand big and small?"

She scoots over and leans against him and nods. "Mmhmm."

"If thing means big, if it is big emotion, if we need it, it is important. Food is important, sleep is important, family is important."

"Mmhmm."

"Kobolds not you kobold were family. My family are gone now, they no come. I want make new family, with people I like. Understand?" 

"...oh." She climbs carefully into his lap and rests her head on his chest. "I understand."

"Kobold have my home and my food if you need. No more sad Derek or kobold." 

Hug?

Yes, yes very much hug.

Does he seem like he's crying? 

Probably not.

She's not, but only barely. They might be here for a while.

With time, Derek does calm down. The hugs don't quite stop, but he does compose himself.

"Thanks kobold. We go home?"

"Yeah."

This involves un-hugging, and she's reluctant. But after a few minutes she stands up and puts a portal in the cave wall leading to his living room.

They go. He sighs.

"Murderer. We need help victims." 

She snuggles up again as soon as that's possible. "I listen, I help. Not know other do."

"I can smell murderer, you can magic go...we can find murderer. Find is go and see if here or there, is...no understand where thing is and then learn."

She nods. "Go where yesterday murder?"

Nod.

She steps back so he has room to stand, and offers her hand.