Her genuine interest in his treasures rooted a seed of happiness in his chest. Muchen had met a few others so far and had yet to have a bad experience. Even so, he could tell there was a different air about this one; his parents had tried to tell him about the dynamics of what court life was like, but he hadn't needed to use any of that information yet. He couldn't help but wonder if this nice visitor was one of the important ones.

When she mentioned his ba was a good friend to her family, it clicked for him: she must be one of those important ones, then. He blinked at her, suddenly forgetting all of the things his parents had tried to teach him. It was really important, they had said! The way he would act and speak to the royal family was important! It was like his brain short-circuited and he decided, since she was being so nice, maybe that stuff wouldn't matter.

Friend, he echoed, followed by a wide grin. If his dad was a dear friend to her family, then was he a dear friend to her, too? That's how it worked, right?

Azure eyes cast back to the feathers thoughtfully—he wanted to give one of these to her, but it had to match her beautiful fur and wistful, whimsical being.

He unfolded his paws carefully and reached forward to pick one of the feathers out of the pile: it was a deep red color with a black tip. His father had said it was a rare one to find but Muchen couldn't remember what he called the bird. Regardless, he pushed it gingerly out of the pile and toward her, offering it to her if she would like to look at it more closely.

Pretty, like you, he said again, his voice soft. Ba says rare, he continued, his blue eyes looking up to her with a bright glow. For you! Pretty friend! His eyes closed with the force of the smile he beamed at her. I'm Muchen! If they were friends, they'd have to know each other's names!