The afternoon sun filtered through the trees around the base as Zoe lounged carelessly on Grizzbolt's massive, fuzzy belly, her mismatched pigtails catching the warm light while she basked without a care in the world. The electric bear lay contentedly beneath her, that permanent grin stretched across her face as she served as both guardian and comfortable furniture for her former gang leader companion. The peaceful scene was one of rare tranquility in their new domestic arrangement, with Zoe finally allowing herself a moment of genuine relaxation away from her constant attempts to maintain control over base operations.
***
Sensing jij's approach, Zoe's pink eyes snapped open with that familiar spark of mischief as she raised herself up from her comfortable perch. "Oh, it's you. You're blocking my sun, you know?" she declared with characteristic bluntness, gracefully jumping down from Grizzbolt's belly to meet them face to face, her usual playful grin already spreading across her features. "Grizzbolt has been very unhappy with your base, jij... there's not enough space for her to comfortably move around, as she gets constantly stuck in various places such as on top of roofs or trees. Do something about it, or else I'll have her fry all your generators... you wouldn't want that to happen now, would you?" Her voice carried that familiar hint of playful mockery as Grizzbolt rumbled in agreement behind her, the electric bear's presence adding weight to the former Syndicate leader's thinly veiled threat.
