Beneath the Strawberry Moon

They had survived the Woods and the Fae, retrieved their friends and guildmates (and some other man who had been in the Pit), and returned to the Settlement in triumph, or at least in one piece, which was all Jigano had wanted from the rescue mission. Even if it had turned out that most of their friends didn't need 'rescuing' in the traditional sense after all. He was proud of his people - both those who had freed themselves, and those who had been willing to risk danger and the unknown to go after others.

And he and Samuel had made a few plans for what they would do when they were safely back again. There were things they needed to talk about, and it was long past time for the bookmaker to meet Jigano's companion. He had left a note for his friend in the Guild to let him know he would come over the next evening, and now he stood outside the bookshop with Isuma balanced on his padded shoulder, her long tail wrapped around his neck for balance like a pale scarf. It wasn't the most comfortable accessory in the summer heat, but at least with the sun disappearing behind the horizon the worst of it was dissipating into a refreshing night breeze.

One golden-skinned hand tapped the shop door before the bard slipped inside, looking around for Samuel and Mia, and careful of any customers who might be perusing the shelves. "Hello?" he called quietly, tilting his head as he took in the many improvements that had been made to make the shop cozy and neat since they had first cleaned it out all those months before. "Sam, are you here?"