There was much to prepare before the Deepfrost blizzards closed the paths between the Citadel and the portal in the Fangs, and if there were to be refugees from the Hollowed Grounds staying the Palace they would need their own stores of supplies. Jigano had been bringing firewood and grains in previous trips, and had just finished hauling a load of root vegetables and dried fruit to the rooms set aside for the LongNight refugees, rolling his shoulders with a theatrical groan as he bundled up once more and headed into the Leafchange cold of Halo. Isuma peeped encouragingly, the small cat-sized gryphon with her snow-leopard body and tail and snowy owl wings, head, and foreclaws occasionally perched on his shoulder and occasionally flitting ahead to look at something shiny or tasty. As always, her companion chuckled fondly at her antics as she led him back into Snowcloak.
"Shall we stop for a snack on the way back?" he called to her, and she reep!ed bright agreement, zipping back to land on his upraised arm and scamper back to his shoulder. "Alright, you pick the--Oh! Terribly sorry," he apologized to the man he'd nearly bumped into, a tall, dark-haired fellow nearly at his own height. "I should have been paying more attention." Isuma trilled in concern, leaning forward precariously to peer atChulane and make sure he was unhurt.
"Shall we stop for a snack on the way back?" he called to her, and she reep!ed bright agreement, zipping back to land on his upraised arm and scamper back to his shoulder. "Alright, you pick the--Oh! Terribly sorry," he apologized to the man he'd nearly bumped into, a tall, dark-haired fellow nearly at his own height. "I should have been paying more attention." Isuma trilled in concern, leaning forward precariously to peer at
