A long, slow intake of breath. The feeling of his fingers encasing hers, the gentle squeeze, the warmth in his voice. In his gaze. Maea closed her eyes and savored the moment, allowed it to light up the dark landscapes of her soul. It was true, she realized. She was home. Not lost anymore, not cast out on her own, left to fend for herself in a place she didn't know. This was the Hollowed Grounds. The Fields, where she had walked and danced, played and toiled from her very first breath. And this was her friend. One of her first, a kind man who reminded her a little of her brother. A mentor, a leader, someone she could trust in and rely on.
It was a good place to be. A good point to start from. Opening her eyes she returned his smile and felt the joy surge again, a feeling like sunlight and laughter and sweet, crisp apple cider on the tongue. If they hadn't been standing amidst the ruins of a festival she might have laughed aloud, but it didn't seem entirely appropriate. So Maea held herself back, and merely considered the question as she followed him towards the stone, fingers picking at the strands of tall grass where she passed. There was so much she wanted to know. So much, all of it, everything! But she had no point of reference. She wanted to know about Sam, about the Voice, about all the new names and what the guild had been up to since... gods, was it really a whole year? It didn't make sense, didn't feel right somehow. How could so much happen in just a few days...
Looking at Jigano, she took in the night around them. The darkness, the shadows, the sliver of moon weaving silver into his hair and clothes, playing with the curious glow of the lantern he carried. There was something she wanted to tell him, something about a dream she'd had that didn't fit with the rest. A secret she had to share... but it might hurt him to hear about it, so she put it up for later.
Just let us enjoy the peace for a little longer.
"What are you doing out here?" was all she could think to ask. "Everyone else has gone home, yet you linger. Why?"
It was a good place to be. A good point to start from. Opening her eyes she returned his smile and felt the joy surge again, a feeling like sunlight and laughter and sweet, crisp apple cider on the tongue. If they hadn't been standing amidst the ruins of a festival she might have laughed aloud, but it didn't seem entirely appropriate. So Maea held herself back, and merely considered the question as she followed him towards the stone, fingers picking at the strands of tall grass where she passed. There was so much she wanted to know. So much, all of it, everything! But she had no point of reference. She wanted to know about Sam, about the Voice, about all the new names and what the guild had been up to since... gods, was it really a whole year? It didn't make sense, didn't feel right somehow. How could so much happen in just a few days...
Looking at Jigano, she took in the night around them. The darkness, the shadows, the sliver of moon weaving silver into his hair and clothes, playing with the curious glow of the lantern he carried. There was something she wanted to tell him, something about a dream she'd had that didn't fit with the rest. A secret she had to share... but it might hurt him to hear about it, so she put it up for later.
Just let us enjoy the peace for a little longer.
"What are you doing out here?" was all she could think to ask. "Everyone else has gone home, yet you linger. Why?"
