There was something oddly resigned in Evangeline's voice when she agreed with him, but though Kaj looked down on her with an expression akin to worry, he was careful not to intrude on her private thoughts. Evangeline was a rather secluded type, who seemed to value the sanctity of her own thoughts and memories. Kaj was not so insensitive as to push her to reveal her innermost workings. Instead he hummed in response, enjoying the brisk caress of the cold winter wind on his face. Enjoying the warmth of Evangeline's presence beside him, the texture of her skin as he pressed his lips to her jaw. She shuddered beneath his wing, and he frowned as he pulled away, tightening the grasp he had on her and flaring the feathers to cover more of her skin. Was she not used to such frigid weather? Growing up on a tundra, Kaj was more than comfortable with the dropping temperatures, but Evangeline was far smaller than he. Or was it something else? Did she find his touch repulsive?

He shares her validation well enough, distracted by the words as similarly as she had been by his. As she spoke so tenderly of a stallion he could not name, he was quietly overtaken by an emotion he had no experience with, a beast of burden that snarled and glared from his eyes at an invisible form that was likely not even on the peninsula. Jealousy? But why would Kaj summon up the envious monster as Evangeline spoke? What was held in her words that Kaj so desired to be traced back to his own relationship with her? Why was this Roanne fellow such a threat to him, when Kaj had never even laid eyes upon him before?

Clinging to a word he did not recognize, he gracefully stepped round a protruding root, edging closer to Evangeline inconsequentially. Or so he liked to believe. "Isilme? Is that the name of your previous home?" He so desired to learn everything about the mare beside him, and though Kaj liked to believe it was because she was an invaluable asset and friend to him, he knew with an odd sinking feeling of slowly budding realization that it was no such thing. Though she was on the right path of his mind, through a different topic perhaps, jealousy brought into verbal conversation.

"You see something I cannot, mijn leliemeisje. It is a symbol of friendship, one I would grant to those who desired to know my language and form a stronger bond with me. But I doubt many would desire such. Why should they be jealous when it is their own actions that prevent them from achieving it?" But he would abide her, carefully telling himself that she was not intending to reject him or be cruel in any way by refusing to learn his home language. Only for her to apparently refuse her own thoughts, claiming she truly did want to learn, and pleasure bloomed plainly on Kaj's face. "I'm very glad," he crowed softly, feathers rippling with delight against her side in a very conspicuous manner. "Is there anything in particular you would like to know?" For he would definitely sate her own personal curiosity far before engaging in any formal lesson.