Mazikeen laughs a deep, throaty laugh as Dayé snakes her head forward to nip at the thick scruff of the lioness. She reaches out with a lazy paw, playfully swatting away her friend. Keeping her claws in, of course.
She’s grateful for Dayé’s casual words of encouragement, though she’s not sure how to respond to them - just ducking her large head in acknowledgement. And when the wolf touches her gently in comfort, Mazikeen leans into the touch.
The urge to run from this bond is in the back of her mind but it gains no ground. Although uncomfortable with being honest, with the memories that haunt her of a rogue wolf and a monster, Mazikeen loves Dayé too much. It’s a blessing to not feel compelled to keep those walls up as strict as she does with outsiders.
She listens, rounded ears perked and curious as Dayé explains that she was born in Tephra to a lioness and a blue wolf. This combination of feline and canine suits her - and it makes Mazikeen grin a little at the parallel to the shapes they wear now.
She stops walking at the shore of the lake, just shy of where the water would touch her black paws. “Nowhere, really. The meadow I think, or somewhere close to it. My mom lived in Pangea but we stayed in the common lands with my dad." Maze had pieced together much of the secrets Agetta tried to keep. She understood why the white mare had them, and didn’t resent them. Even with the weight of everything outside their small bubble of a family, Maze was given a good start. She was loved by two parents that loved each other and she had her freedom to roam and explore. Which was how she met Dayé and eventually Sochi.
"He’s not a shifter but she’s a snow leopard.” There’s a soft reverence to her when she speaks of her mother’s favourite shape - a fondness easier to share when Agetta isn’t around. “Sometimes I feel guilty for finding a second family without my parents but I think they’re just happy I am.” And it wasn’t like either Agetta or Garbage didn’t have second families of their own. Or thirds...
Families were complicated.
“Do you have any kids?” Although she's vaguely aware this is potentially a rude question to ask, her orange eyes boldly find the brown ones of her friend - appropriately curious in this cat form.
@[Dayé]