Millie could have never thought of her cousin like that. Fresh meat. The lion stared at Zinnia like her cat eyed the toys he played with, and for a moment Millie thought of chiding the big cat just the same. It wouldn't be her fingers and toes that would satisfy the hungry urges of the skeletal predator, and she nodded in agreement, ready to move on.
The young witch put her hand on Zin's arm, happy to follow her cousin through the pen. Animals seemed best to her this way, perhaps with a bit more skin and organs, but tamed. Caged, to be seen safely. Deep down, she knew no harm could come to them, the exhibit couldn't possibly allow such a thing to occur. Here she could relax alongside her cousin, seeing the animals but not worrying so much about their wild behaviors.
"No matter what they are, I like them far better than the lion," she said, and her smile was born of a genuine relief. Millie could relax a little better, even laugh at her cousin's poor attempt at humor —which was always funnier than her jokes. Her eyes jumped up when she saw the long-necked animal, having followed them she supposed, craning its head down toward Zin. Now this one, she knew. "Look at the giraffe, I think he's coming to say hi."
Suddenly, the young witch wished she had some food for the animal, thought she couldn't fathom what it might eat. If it still ate anything, the magic that kept its bones together could just as well keep it nourished and healthy. "After this, I want to go look outside again. I thought I saw a sign that explained the magic of it all, seeing them up close has made me incredibly curious how these creatures all stay together."
Never one to miss a chance to learn something, Millie shifted impatiently until her cousin had finished with the giraffe, who had taken to putting its head near Zin's belly. It might have been good luck, perhaps, if the giraffe had been real. Or perhaps it was actually, and the skeletons were simply an elaborate transfiguration. Now the young witch was dying to know, the desire burning in her stomach.
It was just as warm as her love for Zinnia, and her unborn child. Millie would spend an eternity waiting for them if need be. All she really wanted today was to spend time with her closest family. Something even an animal might understand.
The young witch put her hand on Zin's arm, happy to follow her cousin through the pen. Animals seemed best to her this way, perhaps with a bit more skin and organs, but tamed. Caged, to be seen safely. Deep down, she knew no harm could come to them, the exhibit couldn't possibly allow such a thing to occur. Here she could relax alongside her cousin, seeing the animals but not worrying so much about their wild behaviors.
"No matter what they are, I like them far better than the lion," she said, and her smile was born of a genuine relief. Millie could relax a little better, even laugh at her cousin's poor attempt at humor —which was always funnier than her jokes. Her eyes jumped up when she saw the long-necked animal, having followed them she supposed, craning its head down toward Zin. Now this one, she knew. "Look at the giraffe, I think he's coming to say hi."
Suddenly, the young witch wished she had some food for the animal, thought she couldn't fathom what it might eat. If it still ate anything, the magic that kept its bones together could just as well keep it nourished and healthy. "After this, I want to go look outside again. I thought I saw a sign that explained the magic of it all, seeing them up close has made me incredibly curious how these creatures all stay together."
Never one to miss a chance to learn something, Millie shifted impatiently until her cousin had finished with the giraffe, who had taken to putting its head near Zin's belly. It might have been good luck, perhaps, if the giraffe had been real. Or perhaps it was actually, and the skeletons were simply an elaborate transfiguration. Now the young witch was dying to know, the desire burning in her stomach.
It was just as warm as her love for Zinnia, and her unborn child. Millie would spend an eternity waiting for them if need be. All she really wanted today was to spend time with her closest family. Something even an animal might understand.
![[Image: uHwnE8q.png]](https://i.imgur.com/uHwnE8q.png)