Final answer:
Nature or the marshland is likely what has nurtured Kya like a mother, providing her with care and support in the absence of a traditional maternal figure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The entity that has always been there for Kya, nurturing her like a mother, is likely the natural world or perhaps a specific element within it, such as the marsh where she lives. Throughout literature, nature often plays a pivotal role in the nurturing and growth of characters, especially in coming-of-age stories or in narratives where traditional family structures are absent or disrupted. In Kya's case, the absence of a typical maternal figure may have caused nature to fill that void, offering her shelter, sustenance, and life lessons.