Where there had been darkness, now there was light. Windows that had been carefully covered over glowed through their protections now, and one of the nurses came excitedly into the room where a white fox rested beside a blond hunter. Still wary about revealing his transformation to others, the fox waited until she had left before he jumped to the ground and flowed into the shape of a man again, looking back to his friend with a tilt of his head and a brow cocked in invitation.
He walked at Rory's pace, Isuma scampering at their feet, and he sucked in a breath of shock at seeing the Temple door standing open now, and light streaming in. It wasn't the light of the sun, but it was a gentle, welcoming glow all the same, and he had to resist the urge to run to it and assuage the sharp twinge of curiosity that thrummed in his chest once more, after it had been missing for what felt like far too long.
Outside, a little ways from the Temple where the perch had been constructed it now stood complete, crowned in beauty and feathers of skyfire that crackled and glowed with radiance.
It had not been in vain.
Tears prickled at his eyes as he reached out to touch Rory's hand, eyes searching for Amalia and Edrei to share their triumph. Even if they might not recognize the fox in the man, still they deserved congratulations and to share in the relief that washed through him.
More was yet to come as they approached, feathers given to them by the Spark Bird herself, gifts of light and fire that had Jigano bowing deeply in respect and gratitude. "Thank you," he said softly, kneeling to pick his up and staying there a moment in gratitude before he rose to reach a hand out toAmalia, a smile breaking across his face as he gave gave voice to his thought from earlier. "It was not in vain."
He walked at Rory's pace, Isuma scampering at their feet, and he sucked in a breath of shock at seeing the Temple door standing open now, and light streaming in. It wasn't the light of the sun, but it was a gentle, welcoming glow all the same, and he had to resist the urge to run to it and assuage the sharp twinge of curiosity that thrummed in his chest once more, after it had been missing for what felt like far too long.
Outside, a little ways from the Temple where the perch had been constructed it now stood complete, crowned in beauty and feathers of skyfire that crackled and glowed with radiance.
It had not been in vain.
Tears prickled at his eyes as he reached out to touch Rory's hand, eyes searching for Amalia and Edrei to share their triumph. Even if they might not recognize the fox in the man, still they deserved congratulations and to share in the relief that washed through him.
More was yet to come as they approached, feathers given to them by the Spark Bird herself, gifts of light and fire that had Jigano bowing deeply in respect and gratitude. "Thank you," he said softly, kneeling to pick his up and staying there a moment in gratitude before he rose to reach a hand out to
