What does Home mean?

The lake monster!

I'm an idiot, okay?

I should have checked the lake before jumping in...

Now, here I lie in the throat of a mutated python as I cut my way out.

Oh, what? No strangulation or drowning?

Seriously, the damned thing is eighty feet long, give or take, and is as big around as a school bus.

It literally swallowed me whole so, yeah, I'm cutting out of this snake and killing it in the process.

If there is one, there are more.

I've been communicating with Josie the entire time and, apparently, she had to prevent Holly from diving in to "save" me.

I pierced the esophageal lining and felt wild movement.

{Funny, you wanted to eat me but can't stop thrashing around while I'm cutting my way through you, ya damned Anaconda cast member reject!}

{Stop! Please}

I was suddenly back in the water, staring the snake in the eyes.

{I'm sorry! I didn't know that you could mentally speak.} I heard.

{ME!? What about you!?}

{You did jump into my lake...

We think to one another.

I've never met another being, aside from our own, that could similarly communicate.}

{Your lake?

Listen, lady. This lake is part of a piece of property that I have owned for over three hundred years.

Unless you want me to evict you, with indiscriminate force, I suggest that, A. We surface so that I can heal you and, B. You change your tone.

Also, everyone who came here with me is my family.

I don't know how you serpents view familial relationships, if at all, but trying to eat them will see you shredded, am I understood?}

{Of course.}

...

I swam to the shore and stepped out of the lake, shaking the excess water from my fur and ears.

The python emerged from the water and saw the others cowering... except Holly, who was desperately snarling and struggling to get out of Josie's grip.

"Holly!" I shout and she only, then, notices that I'm there.

"Daddy!" She cries as Josie sets her down.

She runs to me and leaps into my arms, crying."

{Firstly, I wish to apologize for trying to eat this one.

That will never happen again.}

{Of course it won't. I'll cut my way through you.}

{Right.

Still, I am terribly sorry and will attempt communication before deciding on prey.}

{No, you'll stick with wild animals only. Surely you're able to determine the difference.}

The python flicked her massive tongue and nodded.

{Yes, I can smell a vast difference between wildlife and your kinds.

I never realized that sentient beings exist who can't communicate through thought.}

{Right, I'm going to heal you now.

Be sure to tell the others to only hunt wildlife, or I'll kill each and every one of them.}

{I've already done that before we exited the water.}