At some point, she’s going to stop being surprised when Gale doesn’t mock her for being honest - right? Maybe? She’s only really met other shifters that think of their ability in the same way she does, not someone else who understands about something else entirely. Maze genuinely thought she would only be able to make friends with those that were like her, other members of the pack, and it’s nice to be proven wrong. Nice to know they have this in common.
Though she is curious, Maze gives her permission for him to show the sunset with wariness. She doesn’t like not being able to see the present, doesn’t like the idea that someone (even someone as nice as Gale) can have control over her in any way. And yet, her orange eyes widen when she takes in the brilliant sky he shares with her and a very soft and appreciative “Wow” escapes her. She much prefers this version to the one he had used in their battle - she tells him as much in her usual, blunt way and when the vision falls away she wears a smile that matches his.
There’s a part of her that is afraid of the dark, though it is almost always easily squashed by an overabundance of stubbornness. And she appreciates this small reprieve from it more than she’ll admit.
She’s managing to recover from that when Gale’s wings return, only white like before this time. Mazikeen cannot name the feeling that rises thick in her throat when she once again can see the mark where her bite had landed - and hearing his laughter has the same effect. Her heart rate picks up much the way it had when they were close together and it does not occur to her to try looking away from him to see if that will help.
The explanation about the shifting curse and madness in his family does not help her heartbeat to slow down - though now she knows this feeling. She’s somehow back to being worried about him.
This worry, while faintly annoying, helps distract her from the way her skin tickles as she notices his vivid blue eyes trail across her skin.
“I can’t either.” She offers with what she hopes is an encouraging smile as she steps a little closer, seawater dripping off of her body. They had fought in the Alliance, and there was the promise of a rematch between then, and yet she had a hard time thinking senseless violence was something her new friend was capable of. “But, if this Curse is the reason why you can change your wings, if it gets to that point, I’ll stop you.” She does not and cannot know what she would be facing if it were true - but there’s a finality in her voice fueled by that ever-present stubbornness. Whatever comes after mischief, whatever is worrying Gale so much, she’s not afraid of it. That fierce glint in her eyes is softened by humour before long, as is the growing theme between them, and she adds with a crooked grin “Any excuse to kick your ass.”
@[Gale]