Jigano shrugged, letting the lost lead go with only a little disappointment. It would have been nice if Maea could have given him a lead, but without it he wasn't any worse off than when he headed out from the Temple.
Isuma's long tail curled around her forepaws, then uncurled as she examined Maea in return, clearly pleased at the girl's pale coloring so near to her own. When Maea turned towards the spark bird, however, Isuma stood, balanced precariously in the small woman's hands, and turned beseechingly back to Jigano. He sighed, fondly exasperated, and held his hand out so she could hop back and then be set down to chase shadows on the snow while the humans talked.
"Well," he mused, following her gaze to admire the spark bird - and the repaired perch she rested on. "It was a group effort, I believe. It took a company of half naturals and half outlanders, to fix it. Though... the sign on the notice board made it sound like she still came, sometimes. I hadn't realized she had been absent for so long." He shook his head, returning his attention to the pale woman with a healthy dose of respect and approval in his gaze at her ruminations. Embarrassment over such brave thoughts? Oh, that would not do.
"Some have," he agreed, thinking of one or two in particular. "But not all. Those still brave enough to wonder keep the spark alive for the future, regardless of how many Outlanders fall into this bubble-world. We provide different viewpoints to look at the problem from but..." he tilted his head, smiling at the shy girl in spite of his weariness. "It will take everyone's talents, natural and outlander alike, to free ourselves, I think. Having the courage and flexibility to see beyond what is to what could be is just as important as being able to fling fire or lightning at the problem."
Isuma's long tail curled around her forepaws, then uncurled as she examined Maea in return, clearly pleased at the girl's pale coloring so near to her own. When Maea turned towards the spark bird, however, Isuma stood, balanced precariously in the small woman's hands, and turned beseechingly back to Jigano. He sighed, fondly exasperated, and held his hand out so she could hop back and then be set down to chase shadows on the snow while the humans talked.
"Well," he mused, following her gaze to admire the spark bird - and the repaired perch she rested on. "It was a group effort, I believe. It took a company of half naturals and half outlanders, to fix it. Though... the sign on the notice board made it sound like she still came, sometimes. I hadn't realized she had been absent for so long." He shook his head, returning his attention to the pale woman with a healthy dose of respect and approval in his gaze at her ruminations. Embarrassment over such brave thoughts? Oh, that would not do.
"Some have," he agreed, thinking of one or two in particular. "But not all. Those still brave enough to wonder keep the spark alive for the future, regardless of how many Outlanders fall into this bubble-world. We provide different viewpoints to look at the problem from but..." he tilted his head, smiling at the shy girl in spite of his weariness. "It will take everyone's talents, natural and outlander alike, to free ourselves, I think. Having the courage and flexibility to see beyond what is to what could be is just as important as being able to fling fire or lightning at the problem."
