A leggy white fox ghosted over the snow, the coloring that made him stand out so eerily in the bright colors of autumn now cloaking him in near-invisibility. He carried something in his mouth that glittered in reflected starlight and he moved with a purpose through the glade, ears twitching at the night-sounds of winter - deepfrost, he had to remind himself. An appropriate name, and wonderfully poetic, though he supposed the other creatures moving under and over the snow didn’t appreciate it quite the same way he did. It was a season of sleep for some, hardship for others, and death for no few of the barrier’s smaller inhabitants. He might hunt some of them on his way back to the Atheneum later, but aside from a chill in his pawpads he felt good, neither hungry nor particularly cold yet. His winter coat was coming in thick and fluffy, giving him a bit more bulk and protection from the weather.
The air was still in the glade, the winds that pushed the fresh-fallen snow around elsewhere leaving the enchanted place untouched this night. Jigano paused as he neared the standing stones, nose twitching as he checked for scent or tracks of recent visitors, but sensing none he continued onward, pacing the circle curiously and examining the mysterious writing as he spiraled inwards towards the center in dignified pilgrimage.
The glowing stones gave the shrine an ethereal appearance, light reflecting off the snow and casting the entire area in a luminescence that would have been eerie if it hadn’t been so beautiful. It was awe-inspiring in a way that wasn’t likely an accident, and the showman in Jigano appreciated the presentation, even as he wryly accepted that he was very much impressed.
So it was that the white fox came to the altar, depositing his offering with dignity – an origami fox folded cleverly from silver-foil paper, one of the few sheets remaining of his dwindling supply – and then sat back, head bowed as he concentrated on his prayer.
Thank you, he thought, simply. For bringing me here. If any of you are listening with kindness, I would beg a boon of you in the days to come.
The air was still in the glade, the winds that pushed the fresh-fallen snow around elsewhere leaving the enchanted place untouched this night. Jigano paused as he neared the standing stones, nose twitching as he checked for scent or tracks of recent visitors, but sensing none he continued onward, pacing the circle curiously and examining the mysterious writing as he spiraled inwards towards the center in dignified pilgrimage.
The glowing stones gave the shrine an ethereal appearance, light reflecting off the snow and casting the entire area in a luminescence that would have been eerie if it hadn’t been so beautiful. It was awe-inspiring in a way that wasn’t likely an accident, and the showman in Jigano appreciated the presentation, even as he wryly accepted that he was very much impressed.
So it was that the white fox came to the altar, depositing his offering with dignity – an origami fox folded cleverly from silver-foil paper, one of the few sheets remaining of his dwindling supply – and then sat back, head bowed as he concentrated on his prayer.
Thank you, he thought, simply. For bringing me here. If any of you are listening with kindness, I would beg a boon of you in the days to come.
