Isuma was not, Jigano knew, the most focused of minds, even now. He loved her for that as much as everything else about her, though, and wasn’t disappointed when her limbs moved against her will, even when she peeped dismay at the strange sensation. As soon as Oia’I’o released her he gathered her into his arms, stroking her soothingly until Kai and his sister were ready to continue.
After the last experiment, Isuma was less sanguine about leaving him behind, but he encouraged her to go with Haai and Astra, at least, and she followed reluctantly, looking over her shoulder as she expressed a flicker of doubt. This wasn’t as much fun as hunting, or tricking the dogs, or playing with the baby goats. But… she did like being with her fellow gryphon and the young luxere, and after a few moments her native optimism began to rise to the fore again as she frolicked alongside Astra and nuzzled up to Haai.
Jigano, meanwhile, went to stand by Loren, a pulse of worry slipping through the Attuned bond as the Launceleyn mage pushed his emotions down and away. It didn’t seem the time or place to explore them, however, so he simply kept his mind on Isuma until her cheerful rambling became too attenuated to hear anymore. ”I—“ he started to say, at the same time as the other men. He waited for them to finish before nodding to the tall woman. ”I also can’t hear her now.”
After the last experiment, Isuma was less sanguine about leaving him behind, but he encouraged her to go with Haai and Astra, at least, and she followed reluctantly, looking over her shoulder as she expressed a flicker of doubt. This wasn’t as much fun as hunting, or tricking the dogs, or playing with the baby goats. But… she did like being with her fellow gryphon and the young luxere, and after a few moments her native optimism began to rise to the fore again as she frolicked alongside Astra and nuzzled up to Haai.
Jigano, meanwhile, went to stand by Loren, a pulse of worry slipping through the Attuned bond as the Launceleyn mage pushed his emotions down and away. It didn’t seem the time or place to explore them, however, so he simply kept his mind on Isuma until her cheerful rambling became too attenuated to hear anymore. ”I—“ he started to say, at the same time as the other men. He waited for them to finish before nodding to the tall woman. ”I also can’t hear her now.”
