Jigano did not run from the larger man's approach. He stood firm, though no small part of him yearned to be moving, to be out, to be back where the trail left by Amalia's kidnapper's led off into the endless sea of twisting trees. Kiada should have already been gathering supplies and allies, a group ready to head out soon, if they hadn't already left, but he couldn't imagine Deimos not being among their number. Even before the big man spoke Jigano could feel something cold and heavy wrapping around his chest, constricting his breathing as five simple words confirmed a fear that had only just risen to choke him.
He closed his eyes as Deimos continued, driving the thorns deeper, and when he opened them again they were bleak with pain and an anger he didn't dare admit to. "We went into the woods yesterday," he said softly. "Myself and Amalia and Kiada. We found Caiside there ahead of us, and a fox called Ianto who said he would show us the way... but when we followed him..." He hesitated, his expression tightening into even more grim lines, skin pulling tight across his skull. "We were ambushed," he growled, the hint of the beast beneath his words. "I sent Kiada to fly away and get help. Ianto abandoned us. I don't know if I was too small to bother with, or if I was allowed to go on purpose... But I'm going back." The blue eyes that rose to meet the Reaper's held the inexorable certainty of a glacier in spite of the man's slender frame. "And I could use your strength, Deimos."
He closed his eyes as Deimos continued, driving the thorns deeper, and when he opened them again they were bleak with pain and an anger he didn't dare admit to. "We went into the woods yesterday," he said softly. "Myself and Amalia and Kiada. We found Caiside there ahead of us, and a fox called Ianto who said he would show us the way... but when we followed him..." He hesitated, his expression tightening into even more grim lines, skin pulling tight across his skull. "We were ambushed," he growled, the hint of the beast beneath his words. "I sent Kiada to fly away and get help. Ianto abandoned us. I don't know if I was too small to bother with, or if I was allowed to go on purpose... But I'm going back." The blue eyes that rose to meet the Reaper's held the inexorable certainty of a glacier in spite of the man's slender frame. "And I could use your strength, Deimos."
