Mother and son. Teacher and student. Leader and subordinate. 

Sahar and Mujahid wear many different faces around each other, but despite their familiarity (and close proximity), the two are surprisingly awkward around each other in casual settings. Throw them into a stressful situation, and Sahar will lead like the best of them with her son valiantly supporting her every move and advising along the way. Have them coordinate a negotiation, and they can make someone bargain away their firstborn when they combine forces. But, when they retreat back into their shared burrow-home, the two barely keep up a stilted conversation with each other when it’s time to catch up. They mutually believe that they have nothing in common with each other outside of practical skills, despite their similar personalities. In Sahar’s case, she can’t see her own son as her friend; first off, that’s her son. And second, she jumped straight from being her son’s teacher to being his subordinate (since he became a full soldier while she remained a peasant), so they never really formed that equalizing bond.

 

For Mujahid, he picked up quite a few mannerisms from his mother, but he also picked up her tendency to keep to herself (and social awkwardness). Don’t get him wrong, he loves his mother, but she’s never been cuddly with him. Never had the luxury to. He doesn’t expect her to be outwardly sweet to him (not anymore at least) but Sahar has always been quite… considerate of him. Not so much soft, but she grants him her time and attention in a way that she simply doesn’t waste on other cats. For Mujahid, Sahar is one of the one constants in his life. He knows instinctively, despite his learned independence, that so long as his mother remains strong, everything will be alright.

 

It has to be.