”Freedom always is,” came the contentedly murmured response to Amalia’s words, the bard turning his attention to the vista before them, the world painted in brilliance and light, life and vitality. Vitality that would, with time, return to the Hollowed Grounds now that seeds and animals and rain could cross the barrier again… but it would be a slow process unless Rae or Vi could be convinced to speed it along. For now he would settle for the renewed hopes and dreams of his friends and found-family, and Jigano smiled with relief and joy at the warm body beside him and the strong heart of the woman who leaned into his embrace.
He nodded silent agreement, his own priorities having shifted swiftly from exploration to rescue, and now to simply seeing his lost ones home safely. There would be other adventures in the future, other explorations, other dangers they would face, together and separately… but for now he had much to be grateful for, not least that his friends were whole and well. And his family had unexpectedly grown with the addition of Jyoti! He peered down at the little calf, watching her play with Amalia’s feet with bemused delight as he studied the pattern of stars, the echo of the distant cosmos, that sparkled throughout her skin. The mention of Ianto had him frowning slightly, however, raising his head to arch a brow at his companion. ”Catching the sun in a basket? However do they do that?” But there was something else she said that put a chill in his bones, and Jigano’s frown deepened. ”But… Ianto was here after all? So he did lead us into that ambush?” The question held a hint of steel behind it, a flicker of cold anger as the uncertainty of the red fox’s treachery gave way to surety. Things may have turned out well in the end, but the fear and pain the bard had felt in the two days he had drowned in his failure to protect his people would not so easily be washed away.
He nodded silent agreement, his own priorities having shifted swiftly from exploration to rescue, and now to simply seeing his lost ones home safely. There would be other adventures in the future, other explorations, other dangers they would face, together and separately… but for now he had much to be grateful for, not least that his friends were whole and well. And his family had unexpectedly grown with the addition of Jyoti! He peered down at the little calf, watching her play with Amalia’s feet with bemused delight as he studied the pattern of stars, the echo of the distant cosmos, that sparkled throughout her skin. The mention of Ianto had him frowning slightly, however, raising his head to arch a brow at his companion. ”Catching the sun in a basket? However do they do that?” But there was something else she said that put a chill in his bones, and Jigano’s frown deepened. ”But… Ianto was here after all? So he did lead us into that ambush?” The question held a hint of steel behind it, a flicker of cold anger as the uncertainty of the red fox’s treachery gave way to surety. Things may have turned out well in the end, but the fear and pain the bard had felt in the two days he had drowned in his failure to protect his people would not so easily be washed away.
