#mailen

Beautiful women of HZD

VARGA: It’s been three years, hasn’t it? More than? That should have made a difference, shouldn’t it?

VALA: I wouldn’t know...I’ve never been anyone’s first choice before. Or I have, and it was...weird. Too weird to count.

VALA: Kind of sucks when everyone assumes you know what you’re doing, when you...honestly? Really don’t have a clue yourself.

VALA: I guess that’s why I haven’t gone for it yet. I don’t like not being sure what kind of response I’ll get, and right now..I don’t know how she’ll react. 

Shark prince? SHARK PRINCE!!!! 

Haven’t completely figured out the backstory yet, but basically Iliana winds up in Hyrule with little to no idea how she got there or even where she is. She thinks she’s an elf at first because of the ears, and it isn’t until she nearly gets killed by monsters and drowning- encountering a woman named Mailen/Maiju who fishes her out of the river, that she learns she’s in Hyrule. Something Iliana... both does and doesn’t know anything about. 

No one's watching the hunters. They send them away and wait at Keener's Rock, which is even with Horizon's warped maps, not exactly next to the glacier. They can do whatever they want. But they've been sent into a situation where it's more likely to survive if you can depend on each other, which is a quality you would want in a werak that's out for big fights and glory. The White Teeth test the limits of young hunters, and either they overcome them or die. But surely a werak that places survival over everything else would accept survival at any cost? So, what if the White Teeth's initiation was never about surviving on their own, but to see if they were willing and able to bend the rules and depend on each other in life-threatening situations? The ancestors weren't separated on that glacier, they endured together. Why would you ask the opposite of your hunters under the cover of tradition, especially when weraks generally are about community, and being stronger together? You wouldn't want someone to watch your back who refuses to adapt to the circumstances. So technically Mailen failed it the moment she insisted on sticking to the rules.

She argues her weakness would've put Ikrie in danger, so abandoning her would've been the right thing to do, but the Banuk don't strike me as a tribe that would just throw lives away willingly, not ones--like in this case--they could easily save. And yes, they're a proud people, but taking pride in abandoning people which will definitely lead to their deaths? What do they have the weraks for, then, if not to help each other, especially those that are in need of assistance?

You could argue the White Teeth only accept the strongest hunters, but they're also described as "one of the greatest weraks" of which "not so many are left". "Great" implies they have a reputation, a reputation is built over time, and to last, people have to help each other. Even the--by their definition--strongest hunter can have an accident, and if no one's there for them, the werak will inevitably grow weaker, and finally vanish. So they must look out for each other if they want to survive. Which brings me back to the initial point: a test to see who lives and who dies according to the rules is not to weed out the "weak" but those who don't cooperate, who are not willing to adapt.

Finding Mailen.

• Aloy; Somali cat

Stockier than an Abyssian, my original choice, and if you go with the ruddy coat pattern it's just as effective. I like to think a ruddy Somali captures the first-glance side of Aloy; freckles, ginger hair, and a tough build from years of hunting and fighting.

• Ikrie; Norwegian Forest Cat

A bit pointer than, say, a Siberian, and smaller than a Maine coon. Still built for colder climates, with a softer look than other big breeds.

• Mailen; Siberian Cat

Mostly fluff, round and gives off a more serious vibe. Born and bred for the winter, a true Banuk breed if we're being honest.

• Nil; Javanese cat

This is one of the more personal opinion based decisions. Javanese just have that off-putting aura I get when I see Nil?? Still a gorgeous breed, sort of a sub-type of Siamese. Less vocal, still opinionated, imo a solid fit.

• Ersa; Russian Blue

Like a grown up version of Erend, even in breed. The Russian Blue looks like it's grown into it's predator body, with a more serious demeanor.

• Erend; British Shorthair

Round, goofy and friend-shaped. Built on the stocky side, and looks like it could take a few hits. Pair a blue coat with Ersa's Russian Blue and they make a good sibling duo.

• GAIA; Sphinx

Since GAIA is an AI and not a human, I figured the hairless breed would fit quite well. Plus, can u imagine how adorable cat!GAIA would be in a lil sweater.

• Elisabet; Abyssian

Gives off the same look as Aloy's breed, but as a more sheltered scientist, this breed is a much better fit for Elisabet. More slim than stocky, with the ticked ginger coat that mimics freckles.

• Avad; Oriental Shorthair/Turkish Van

I'm still split on this one, bc both breeds fit well. On the Van side, the markings just give off this Sun King vibe, with the ginger head markings ya know? But the Oriental has such a unique, royal facial structure that I'm torn.

• Sylens; Tonkinese cat

This cat breed tends to be on the compact/sturdy side with a dark brown gradient for their fur. It just felt like a really good fit for Sylens, plus as a branch of Siamese, they would be oppionated by nature. You could also connect the vocal breed to how Sylens seems to talk his way out of trouble and also get info out of people.

• Petra; Cymric/Manx

Both are incredibly muscled/stocky breeds and those nubby butts are adorable. I'd lean torwards the Cymric personally, since it's body type is more filled out. It looks like a tough, forge-working breed all right.

• Sona; Japanese Bobtail

A bit lanky, but still well muscled, just like a seasoned warrior.

• Vala; Pixiebob

The youngest of the family, so this breed fits the best. It still has the recognizable nubby tail, but with a softer look. She hasn't been on the frontline like her mother or brother yet, so the kit fluff is still prominent.

• Varl; American Bobtail

Not as lanky as it's Japanese counterpart, it fits the son of the war chief very well. Mirroring her body type, without the hunters build just yet.

• Bast; American Shorthair

A basic bitch, bc I couldn't care less.

• Aratak; Ragdoll/Birman

Longer-haired breeds to combat the cold, leaning towards Birman for the more serious looks they have. Plus, the standard colors for both breeds would be similar to Orea's Snowshoe.

• Orea; Snowshoe

I feel like the name explains it pretty well, with a softer more curious look than Aratak's breeds. And maybe I'm biased bc I love Snowshoe's but oh well.

• CYAN; Peterbald

Sort of like the Sphynx for GAIA, I just went with a breed that stood out to mark her as an AI.

• HADES; Lykoi

Scrappy and off putting. I love the breed, but it's a good match compared to the hairless AI's.

• Rost; Maine Coon

Him big!!!!

• Teb; Singapura

Tiny and in no way, shape, or form a tough fighter. Probably the smallest cat breed, apart from Munchkins; which fits Teb who barely seems to age in between the first and second time Aloy meets him.

• Vanasha; Turkish Angora/Persian

I really couldn't decide bc both are equally regal and intimidating??? But I'd lean for the Angora, since Vanasha has abs for days and is definitely not just another pretty face. Plus, Angora's are a much healthier breed than Persian.

• Talanah; Bengal cat

Resembling a true wild cat, there isn't much else to this. She's a hunter to the core, and should look like one.

• Olin; Exotic Shorthair