Thank you, wise one. I wish you luck on your journey, the snake sighed through the mental link, taking to heart the truth that had been imparted - that there was nothing more that he could do here, not for her nor for the guardian serpent. Not at the moment, at least, and not alone.
Amalia's warning came hard on the heels of that thought, and Jigano wasted no more time as he spun on his tail, body striking out with startling speed for so large a creature, lunging forward even as scales softened to feathers and wings stroked hard against the thick air, racing through the Fae-made tunnel in the debris and bolting desperately up the stairs to the top, to reach Amalia's shoulder and burrow his head against her hair, careful not to hurt her with his beak as he chirred a complicated mixture of reassurance, grief, and gratitude.
Amalia's warning came hard on the heels of that thought, and Jigano wasted no more time as he spun on his tail, body striking out with startling speed for so large a creature, lunging forward even as scales softened to feathers and wings stroked hard against the thick air, racing through the Fae-made tunnel in the debris and bolting desperately up the stairs to the top, to reach Amalia's shoulder and burrow his head against her hair, careful not to hurt her with his beak as he chirred a complicated mixture of reassurance, grief, and gratitude.
