As angry as he had been about what had happened in Amalia's basement, and as wounded as he had been by those he had considered friends, his anger at Edrei came in waves that had finally begun to ebb as he was forced to acknowledge that she wasn't at fault. Or at least, that she had done nothing he hadn't, on some level, expected. He didn't blame Isuma for hunting live prey, and he couldn't blame Edy for wanting to avoid responsibility.
Well. He probably should. She was an adult now, after all. But part of him still tried to treat her as a child... even if he was getting a crash course in why it was dangerous to do that.
Isuma backed a few steps away from both humans, folding her wings tight to her sides and trying to flatten into the leaves - a spot of bright white and blue against the reds and yellows around her - as the snarling and snapping commenced in earnest.
Jigano leaned on his staff and waited, already anticipating what was coming, but keeping his mouth shut until the Queen had found the words she wanted to say. He winced as the first words cut deeper than he'd expected, echoing the howling of his own heart towards those very 'basement buddies.' Ronin must have been in a sharing mood when he'd finally stomped up to the Manor gates that night...
"Is that what he told you?" he asked softly, knuckles white on his staff as he tried to force them to stillness. "Not that it's wrong... but I thought we'd agreed together that he'd be a good choice." He bit his tongue against the other words that wanted to pile out, clamoring against the back of his teeth. Of all the snarling and yelling and anger, all the disappointment and frustration and disgust... Edy's was the most deserved.
Well. He probably should. She was an adult now, after all. But part of him still tried to treat her as a child... even if he was getting a crash course in why it was dangerous to do that.
Isuma backed a few steps away from both humans, folding her wings tight to her sides and trying to flatten into the leaves - a spot of bright white and blue against the reds and yellows around her - as the snarling and snapping commenced in earnest.
Jigano leaned on his staff and waited, already anticipating what was coming, but keeping his mouth shut until the Queen had found the words she wanted to say. He winced as the first words cut deeper than he'd expected, echoing the howling of his own heart towards those very 'basement buddies.' Ronin must have been in a sharing mood when he'd finally stomped up to the Manor gates that night...
"Is that what he told you?" he asked softly, knuckles white on his staff as he tried to force them to stillness. "Not that it's wrong... but I thought we'd agreed together that he'd be a good choice." He bit his tongue against the other words that wanted to pile out, clamoring against the back of his teeth. Of all the snarling and yelling and anger, all the disappointment and frustration and disgust... Edy's was the most deserved.
