[private] moon's rising and my blood is growing cold

[Mazikeen]

It wasn’t one of her proudest moments, but Mazikeen wore the bruises and cuts from taking her frustration out on a tree. It had been unyielding, no surprise there, and once she had exhausted herself she could not say whether she felt any better or not - but the exhaustion provided some relief. She wasn’t sure there was a way to feel better - but she was stubborn, if nothing else, and would not go back to the mountain with her tail between her legs and admit defeat. Not even after it felt like she had lost her whole identity. There had to be a way to learn to appreciate her equine form - and it had not yet dawned on her that maybe she shouldn’t be looking for answers for this particular riddle in a kingdom populated by other shifters. But this was her home, it’s what she knew, and before she started searching for answers elsewhere she’d see what else - who else - she could talk to here. So she finds her way into the open foothills, where the shadows are a little less oppressive, and inhales the cool spring air in deep, ragged gulps. Mazikeen calls forth her fire aura, which comes despite her exhaustion. She watches it from the corner of her eye as she stands still, letting the think arch of firelight flicker over her skin. She welcomes the break from the darkness and it helps that it doubles as a beacon, in case there's anyone else around who wants a break from this bizarre night too.

@[Casimira]