Various little blurbs about Kochev

The forest chittered and chattered with glee when a soulless body was brought into its territories. It thought it would get a gift of life, a peace offering, a willing organism from the outside bringing its unborn child and itself to become part of the hive. But as it had just given them a soul to live with- The mother ran off. She had stolen from them, betrayed them, played with their trust. It was an atrocity, they had lost a child. The forest child. It wouldn't be raised where it should be- amongst its family. It was outraged at this thievery, horrified.

But when the child was born, and it instinctually connected itself to the hivemind, it calmed down. Despite being born on outsider soil this new creature knew where it belonged, it longed despite barely being concious. It knew, an innate instinct driving it to return to its rightful place. It wouldn't survive for long out there, but it would find a way to return. They all did, and if they didn't the forest would bring them back when their mortal bodies fell, because all spirits of the forest return to their home. Even those who are lost would find their way. And so it waited.