Ini's Links
Before joining the circus, Ini had never met a person like Raine before. Everything about her was so alien that Ini couldn’t make paws or tails of her for the longest time. Raine is still an enigma to Ini, but now that they have known each other for a little more than a year she has realized a few things about her, namely: 1) if Raine fits, she sits, 2) ‘no’ isn’t part of her vocabulary and 3) Raine and Mienie seem close… Ini doesn’t like that.
There is a certain disdain Raine feels towards Ini that she herself cannot quite place. The tension that came when Ini joined the circus and the short lived hostile behaviour the Yuan-Ti had towards Ditka did not sit well with Raine. The only reason she tolerated her was because Ditka had wanted them to get along, thus she feinted friendly at first. Raine chose to be better acquainted with Ini's panther companion Blitzy instead, partially to spite the beastmaster. Their relationship over the course of time has developed into one of bickering siblings. Raine carries a crudely made sock puppet with her that bears resemblance to Ini, which she places on her tail to tease the latter with.
Having been taught since hatching that humans are bellow yuan-ti and they can’t be trusted, Ini did little to hide her disgust when she and Ditka first met. In Ini’s mind she never actually had agreed to join the circus (although she had never refused the offer either), but suddenly Ditka was welcoming her with open arms and showing her the ropes. Over time, it became harder to deflect Ditka’s warmth and kindness and after a few years, Ini no longer felt any negative feelings towards her. Ini still doesn’t consider Ditka a friend as she is unfamiliar with that word and its meaning, but she does enjoy listening to Ditka’s stories and insists Ditka invites her when she is planning on sharing one.
Ditka would be lying if she said she understood Ini in any way whatsoever- but that doesn't matter to her. She doesn't need to understand Ini (or Blitzy for that matter) to want to give the both of them a strange but welcoming home in the circus. Ini is hard to read and doesn't let others in on what she's feeling, or perhaps the distance she keeps is what she's genuinely feeling. Ditka doesn't know- but she does know that she considers Ini a part of the family and she'd be willing to help with just about anything if Ini ever asked. She never really does, so instead Ditka makes sure to have a spot saved for Ini when it's storytime.