Something Mazikeen is continuously learning (because she often forgets) is that shifting isn’t the same for everyone. It is easy to forget, especially lately when she’s been spending so much of her time with her children and their cousin - all of whom seem to follow the same general rules as she does. When she’s in her shapes, she can still speak - she is still herself. If there are instincts she is repressing in the process she really can’t bring herself to mind.
Sometimes those instincts would be handy but for the most part she was glad to have control. And, lately, she was especially glad for it.
So it is surprising when the bear opens its mouth to reply but there is just a series of grunts and growls instead of words. Mazikeen’s orange eyes widen a little and her grin grows - all the more when the bear becomes a mare.
It seems like the start of an invitation for a conversation so she takes another step forward but leaves it at that. There is far too much caution in her to boldly approach strangers anymore - or many of her friends. “You seem pretty good at it to me.” It’s not the most impressive compliment she’s ever given, but it is an honest one.
And then, because she can’t help the curiosity and hopes this mare with the growling laugh won’t mind, her next question is - “Is it normal for you to not be able to speak as a bear?” There's no judgement in her tone, or at least she does not intend there to be. She's trying to remember if she's met someone else before who could only 'speak' as the animal they had become and she is sure she's never come across it as a possibility before.
@keeper