this is one i’ve been asked a few times before, when those symbol memes were pretty popular, but since nina’s character is always changing, it’s an always relevant topic to write about. sorry in advance, because this will probably be a smallish essay!
so, like i said in nemo’s response last night, nina’s sense of self as well as her sense of right and wrong have warped greatly since she returned to the city. friendships and pack/brotherly bonds were very highly valued in her time in dreamscape. she had them with taran (the jirachi here), with her former alpha, saga. friendships were something that she figured distinguished herself from the animal that she used to be, that and love, because they were both very human ideals, things she was newly capable of, deeper bonds than just a mate or a sibling. and they were new! something to get used to, something that scared her away at first. there was a time when she cherished friendships. in a way, she still does, but she’s relapsed in a way that has left her really really hating her humanity.
and because of that, friendships are again held at a lower level than pack bonds, than alliances, than things that can keep her alive. human emotions are still as confusing as they ever were, but there are people she wants to keep around, people she wants to try with. it’s just hard, and not something she was made to be able to understand. there’s always going to be a bit of culture shock that comes with it, if that makes sense?
so basically, she doesn’t view friendship in the exact same way that humans do.