Faris looks at her in mild surprise, though it may be hard to read on an alien face. "We die," he says, quite simply. "I do not know what makes one host suitable and another not. We have learned through... trial and error?" He's not sure if that's the right phrase, but continues. "Shontine and humans are suitable, for example, but I could not simply wrap around a tree."

"A K'da gives his host companionship," he answers, as though that should be obvious. "There are also tactical benefits to having a hidden ally than cannot be disarmed, and K'da natural talents are also beneficial to the host. For example, when riding a host's skin, we can see over certain barriers. My temporary host referred to it as 'seeing through walls'."