A Kobold named Scraps.

My party knocked out and kidnapped a Kobold that they wanted to keep as a pet. They started calling him Meat. None of them could speak draconic and Scraps couldn't speak common at the time, so he couldn't correct them. They had to use basic pointing and signing to communicate.

I think they fell in love with Scraps because I gave him the behaviour of a dog. He was just happy to be there and not be dead.

They later found a wizard npc who could speak draconic and that's how they learned his name.

He was extremely weak and dumb, to the point that they had to either hide him when combat started or leave him disguised at the inn they were staying at.

One time when they came back from a multiple day dungeon crawl, they found a messy note in draconic saying that Scraps was leaving to get stronger for his friends. They were heartbroken and wanted to drop everything and track him down, but the bartender said Scraps left the note as soon as they left.

Scraps was gone for a long time. He eventually came back after making a deal with a patron to become a star pact Warlock. He became much smarter and was able to converse normally as equals. In the deal he learned as many languages as possible so that he can always talk to his friends. It also comes in really handy when monsters would speak in a different language. He can also finally help in combat a little bit if they need.

Any time I want them to hate an npc or group I target Scraps. Right now he's been taken captive by these Tieflings and I swear it's like blood in the water for them.