"Not so much 'found' as 'got lucky,'" Jigano corrected, lips lifting in a wry smile. "In Deepfrost I came across a... an ice nymph, I suppose, or some kind of elemental fairy of frost. She gave me an egg, which hatched Isuma." He tilted his head curiously at his friend, raising a brow in mild surprise. "I haven't seen many other gryphons, it's true, but I've read about them in books here. Are they really so rare?"
He nodded agreement that the name was nice. "She's named for one of my friends from my world," he explained quietly. "Isuma... is a brave and wise woman, who stood by my side even in the face of great danger. She was still alive, last I heard of her, but this lets me keep her memory close in my thoughts, since I will never see her again." He gave a sad little smile to Sam's suggestion of a playdate, nodding acquiescence and appreciating the unconscious optimism that they would both return safe and sound for such an occasion.
"As do I," he agreed quietly. "I am not normally given overly much to optimism, but in this case... we must hope for the best. I would not abandon you, Sam, and I will not abandon them, either, without knowing what has happened to them."
He nodded agreement that the name was nice. "She's named for one of my friends from my world," he explained quietly. "Isuma... is a brave and wise woman, who stood by my side even in the face of great danger. She was still alive, last I heard of her, but this lets me keep her memory close in my thoughts, since I will never see her again." He gave a sad little smile to Sam's suggestion of a playdate, nodding acquiescence and appreciating the unconscious optimism that they would both return safe and sound for such an occasion.
"As do I," he agreed quietly. "I am not normally given overly much to optimism, but in this case... we must hope for the best. I would not abandon you, Sam, and I will not abandon them, either, without knowing what has happened to them."
