Mazikeen opts to take his admittance that she wasn’t what he expected as a compliment, considering that is what she had meant as well when she said the same words about him. And the prickle of unease and that in her fades away when she realizes he won’t be teasing her or mocking her for her honesty. When they aren’t going to fight right here and now - because if he had been rude that would have been one way of her finding her missing anger.
His laugh spreads a warmth through her that’s unexpected and yet enjoyable. Her mind doesn’t linger on it for long though, because it’s just then that she begins to feel a headache begin to form. She’s never held the fire aura for this long before and the strain is starting to make itself known. Still, however much she’s actually enjoying talking to Gale, Mazikeen will hold it for as long as she’s in his presence out of sheer stubbornness. It’s not really a weakness, surely, but it feels enough like it to her to encourage her to push through and keep them lit by the flickering orange glow.
Mazikeen thinks of the not-quite-shadows that she had seen during her travels to find Gale and she listens with interest as he explains his clash with one. She’s a little impressed he tried to take it’s sight, even if it backfired, but she decides to keep that to herself.
She does smile when he makes his comment about being an immensely talented warrior, though. It’s accompanied by a small roll of her eyes, but it’s a good-natured one that does not diminish the bright grin. The only thing that does cause it to fade is looking out into the blurred darkness of the island and thinking they may be being watched by some of these things right now. “I’ve seen them, from a distance but not up close yet.” An idea comes to her and she shifts her gaze back to Gale, a spark in her eyes not caused by the fire light. “If you want, you can rest and I could watch…” There’s only the slightest pause before she thinks about how this might sound and she continues in a rush. “Out for the island not watch you rest, I mean.”
If Mazikeen could hit herself for those fumbling words, she would. So instead she just presses on. Making her way back to that spark. “I wouldn’t mind hunting some shadows.” She says ‘wouldn’t mind’ as if she didn’t feel a surge of excitement just at the idea.
@[Gale]