Remi had been the one to suggest the three of them get together, and Jigano had stopped by the Guildhall to propose this day for their meeting. With the alchemist's agreement, he had sent the letter to the Manor letting Loren know that they would all be there.
And now the day had come.
The sun was shining but the air was bitter with the whisper of Deepfrost just around the corner. Most of the leaves had fallen, leaving even the magical Glade looking bare and a little forlorn without the softening blanket of white to turn it into a pristine wonderland. Earlier in the day Jigano's vulpine nose had sniffed a heavy wetness to the air that he suspected meant snow before before the next sunrise, and he wistfully remembered the luxere he and Isla had called together.
It had been hard to drag himself out of bed, even though he hadn't really been sleeping. Lethargy filled his limbs and wrapped cotton around his thoughts, making it hard to focus. But Rory had to get up to tend to the goats and horses; there was a fence to mend where a beam had rotted through in the Leafchange rains and Esaia had been full of fire in the brisk morning light, needing attention and a good run to calm her down. Without Rory beside him in the bed to keep him warm Jigano had forced himself up to help, knowing that even if he had no appetite the animals still deserved to eat. Living with a farmer had certainly drilled that through his head, and once he was up and moving it seemed he might as well stay that way.
With the morning chores done he had made his way to the Glade and the Oasis within it, carrying a large, clinking bag that he left carelessly beside him as he settled on a dry rock along the shore and closed his eyes in a half-doze while the sun moved overhead, its light revealing the pallor of his once-golden skin and the lack of shine to his hair. Though he was wrapped snugly in a long cloak of white and grey fur the warmth eluded him. Isuma was perched on his shoulder, her fluffy snow leopard tail curled around his throat like a scarf while she nearly blended into his cloak, and a raven sat beside them on a low branch, keeping watch for others to approach.
And now the day had come.
The sun was shining but the air was bitter with the whisper of Deepfrost just around the corner. Most of the leaves had fallen, leaving even the magical Glade looking bare and a little forlorn without the softening blanket of white to turn it into a pristine wonderland. Earlier in the day Jigano's vulpine nose had sniffed a heavy wetness to the air that he suspected meant snow before before the next sunrise, and he wistfully remembered the luxere he and Isla had called together.
It had been hard to drag himself out of bed, even though he hadn't really been sleeping. Lethargy filled his limbs and wrapped cotton around his thoughts, making it hard to focus. But Rory had to get up to tend to the goats and horses; there was a fence to mend where a beam had rotted through in the Leafchange rains and Esaia had been full of fire in the brisk morning light, needing attention and a good run to calm her down. Without Rory beside him in the bed to keep him warm Jigano had forced himself up to help, knowing that even if he had no appetite the animals still deserved to eat. Living with a farmer had certainly drilled that through his head, and once he was up and moving it seemed he might as well stay that way.
With the morning chores done he had made his way to the Glade and the Oasis within it, carrying a large, clinking bag that he left carelessly beside him as he settled on a dry rock along the shore and closed his eyes in a half-doze while the sun moved overhead, its light revealing the pallor of his once-golden skin and the lack of shine to his hair. Though he was wrapped snugly in a long cloak of white and grey fur the warmth eluded him. Isuma was perched on his shoulder, her fluffy snow leopard tail curled around his throat like a scarf while she nearly blended into his cloak, and a raven sat beside them on a low branch, keeping watch for others to approach.
