She had been such a timid, shy creature when he had met her, as delicate and skittish as the luxere they had made music for. She had worried, and walked in silence, alone even when surrounded by friends - by decision and choice, not because anyone wished to exclude her, but because she had held herself apart for reasons he was only slowly beginning to untangle from this complex, curious woman who had become as close as family to him. Her head was bowed too often, her voice so soft as if she was afraid it would be heard... or at least, it had been.
Jigano was not the only one who had been changing, however. He watched the sister of his heart walk with easy confidence to the edge of the platform, inviting him to join her as if he had not arrived first, as gracious as any queen upon her throne. His lips quirked in a fond smile at how she was blossoming, and he rather thought her grandmother would be proud of the woman who sat, self-assured and confident, before him.
Settling beside her he nodded agreement, eyes turned to the forest and the village that blended into its branches below them. "Beautiful... but not for us," he said softly, remembering the warchief's knife-edged smile. "We are all of us Outlanders here." Intruders, interlopers, invaders... but by choice rather than circumstance alone. He sighed, his regret a physical knot in his chest, but Amalia would not let him and he carefully did not look at the small flying whale who was trying so hard to hide. He leaned back against his sister's shoulder, smiling lightly as his eyes turned to take in the glory of gold painted against the clouds in the late afternoon light. "Isuma will be thrilled to have a baby sister," he murmured back, laughter in his voice. "I just hope she isn't jealous at no longer being the youngest!" Given the little gryphon's sweet and sunny personality he had trouble imagining it.
I was worried sick about you, my Ama, he admitted in the privacy of their thoughts, his mindvoice soft. I was terrified that I had lost you... that I had failed you. I am sorry that I could not protect you. There was deep guilt, and an aching regret beneath his words, but there was pride, too, that she had not needed to be rescued. That the leopard-girl had rescued herself, and emerged stronger for it.
Jigano was not the only one who had been changing, however. He watched the sister of his heart walk with easy confidence to the edge of the platform, inviting him to join her as if he had not arrived first, as gracious as any queen upon her throne. His lips quirked in a fond smile at how she was blossoming, and he rather thought her grandmother would be proud of the woman who sat, self-assured and confident, before him.
Settling beside her he nodded agreement, eyes turned to the forest and the village that blended into its branches below them. "Beautiful... but not for us," he said softly, remembering the warchief's knife-edged smile. "We are all of us Outlanders here." Intruders, interlopers, invaders... but by choice rather than circumstance alone. He sighed, his regret a physical knot in his chest, but Amalia would not let him and he carefully did not look at the small flying whale who was trying so hard to hide. He leaned back against his sister's shoulder, smiling lightly as his eyes turned to take in the glory of gold painted against the clouds in the late afternoon light. "Isuma will be thrilled to have a baby sister," he murmured back, laughter in his voice. "I just hope she isn't jealous at no longer being the youngest!" Given the little gryphon's sweet and sunny personality he had trouble imagining it.
I was worried sick about you, my Ama, he admitted in the privacy of their thoughts, his mindvoice soft. I was terrified that I had lost you... that I had failed you. I am sorry that I could not protect you. There was deep guilt, and an aching regret beneath his words, but there was pride, too, that she had not needed to be rescued. That the leopard-girl had rescued herself, and emerged stronger for it.
