Of course he couldn't see anything obviously changed in her eyes - he'd never studied them so closely before her Ascension, so how would he know what was different now? The darkness, lit mostly by glowstones and stars, hardly helped matters, but his curiosity made it instinctive for him to try. He didn't let the moment linger too long, careful of propriety and just as concerned about the drawbacks of her condition, though her smile and reassurance set him a little more at ease, even though he wasn't sure he would ever be able to make a similar decision, knowing what he did now about the cost.
"Then I am glad we are friends," he said, squeezing her hand with a smile, not trying to be charming but simply sincere.
The moment was interrupted - or, perhaps, enhanced - by the appearance of the luxere as they made their way through the night, providing their own light. They were in no hurry, their procession a stately progress through the trees, and though Isla's grin caught Jigano by surprise and he drew in a sharp breath at the revealed fang, he didn't pull away when she leaned against him. She had changed, yes, but she was still his friend, and if his support could help her in the confusing days to come as she explored what it meant to be what she had become, then he was glad to give it.
He wouldn't make the same mistakes twice.
"I have no idea," he admitted, voice just as quiet. "The books I found mentioned nothing about where they come from, only that their presence is vitally important to surviving the Long Night. I suppose, once that time of danger is passed, people are too focused on getting crops in the ground and surviving the early starving times of spring to worry about them anymore." He grew silent for a moment as the deer reached the edge of the clearing. The big one in the lead - he was almost certain it was their friend from before - raised his head to snuffle the air. His gentle brown eyes fell on the pair seated on the rock and he shook his great head - in welcome, in greeting, in thanks, Jigano didn't know - and stepped out into the glade, dipping his head to lip up some hay. The two smaller does behind him joined him a moment later, the small herd grazing contentedly at their evening feast.
"Perhaps they hibernate, in a way?" The bard suggested, voice and expression soft with wonder and delight at their nearness. "As some animals sleep the winter away, perhaps they have hiding places and sleep during the summer?"
"Then I am glad we are friends," he said, squeezing her hand with a smile, not trying to be charming but simply sincere.
The moment was interrupted - or, perhaps, enhanced - by the appearance of the luxere as they made their way through the night, providing their own light. They were in no hurry, their procession a stately progress through the trees, and though Isla's grin caught Jigano by surprise and he drew in a sharp breath at the revealed fang, he didn't pull away when she leaned against him. She had changed, yes, but she was still his friend, and if his support could help her in the confusing days to come as she explored what it meant to be what she had become, then he was glad to give it.
He wouldn't make the same mistakes twice.
"I have no idea," he admitted, voice just as quiet. "The books I found mentioned nothing about where they come from, only that their presence is vitally important to surviving the Long Night. I suppose, once that time of danger is passed, people are too focused on getting crops in the ground and surviving the early starving times of spring to worry about them anymore." He grew silent for a moment as the deer reached the edge of the clearing. The big one in the lead - he was almost certain it was their friend from before - raised his head to snuffle the air. His gentle brown eyes fell on the pair seated on the rock and he shook his great head - in welcome, in greeting, in thanks, Jigano didn't know - and stepped out into the glade, dipping his head to lip up some hay. The two smaller does behind him joined him a moment later, the small herd grazing contentedly at their evening feast.
"Perhaps they hibernate, in a way?" The bard suggested, voice and expression soft with wonder and delight at their nearness. "As some animals sleep the winter away, perhaps they have hiding places and sleep during the summer?"
