Jigano didn't answer Seiji's question in so many words, but he tilted his head to mirror the man's gesture and was pleased when the slender outlander followed him, almost as if he understood what the fox was trying to say. It wasn't difficult going, at least, the path worn by other feet, though some trails went to the shrine in the glade, another smaller trail led off towards the woodland and a very different sort of shrine, and still more appeared to be made by those seeking luxere in these shortening deepfrost days.
But the fox knew the one to take to reach the sparkbird perch, even with a baby gryphon using him as a sled, and he led the way on confident paws and with a jaunty angle to his ears as he trotted slowly enough forSeiji to keep up. It wasn't long before they came to the newly-erected structure, still an impressive undertaking, especially in the cold of winter.
Jigano had neither expected nor needed any reward, but he was touched by Seiji's generosity, especially when the young man had so little to call his own. The white fox bowed his head gravely in thanks, even as the gryphlet finally let go of his tail and scampered forward to investigate the apple almost before the human's hand had left it. Setting her little beak to its stem she tried to shake her head, but the weight of the fruit defeated her attempt to 'kill' it. She settled for pulling mightily on the stem until it broke free and sent her tumbling back into the snow with a victorious squeak.
Amused by her antics, but watching Seiji setting out his own offerings, Jigano tilted his head to the side in consideration, then took the apple gently in his narrow jaws. It was an awkward fit, but he only needed to carry it a little ways, setting it beside the human's other offerings and stretching his long body out into a bow beside Seiji's kneeling form, offering his own prayer of hope to the mysterious creature before rising to shake himself and look up at his companion with curiosity, as if to ask what he would do now.
But the fox knew the one to take to reach the sparkbird perch, even with a baby gryphon using him as a sled, and he led the way on confident paws and with a jaunty angle to his ears as he trotted slowly enough for
Jigano had neither expected nor needed any reward, but he was touched by Seiji's generosity, especially when the young man had so little to call his own. The white fox bowed his head gravely in thanks, even as the gryphlet finally let go of his tail and scampered forward to investigate the apple almost before the human's hand had left it. Setting her little beak to its stem she tried to shake her head, but the weight of the fruit defeated her attempt to 'kill' it. She settled for pulling mightily on the stem until it broke free and sent her tumbling back into the snow with a victorious squeak.
Amused by her antics, but watching Seiji setting out his own offerings, Jigano tilted his head to the side in consideration, then took the apple gently in his narrow jaws. It was an awkward fit, but he only needed to carry it a little ways, setting it beside the human's other offerings and stretching his long body out into a bow beside Seiji's kneeling form, offering his own prayer of hope to the mysterious creature before rising to shake himself and look up at his companion with curiosity, as if to ask what he would do now.
