That explained quite a lot about the other man's lack of confidence, really. How he was somewhat...innocent, for lack of a better word. Or perhaps it was the perfect word. "You're getting the hang of it," Jigano teased, seeing the embarrassed blush and deciding against pushing any more compliments just yet. "And this definitely qualifies!"
Lacking hands, there wasn't much the horse could do to help besides stay out of the way, so he set about nosing into the bushes, trying to find a place he could hide his ghost-white coat in the midst of all that green. The light faded slowly as Samuel scattered the corn, but as soon as he had finished the night overtook them, silver moon casting the clearing into shades of grey and black shadows. Jigano shivered, skin twitching at the eerie timing that was almost certainly not a coincidence, but kept up his confident facade. Samuel seemed to take strength from it, and sometimes pretending long enough could make a thing almost real.
"The net is all yours, my friend. I admit, I wish I could be the one using it as well but... that whole 'opposable thumbs' nonsense." He grimaced - or tried to, finding himself stamping a hoof instead. He shifted, turning to the side so Sam could reach the net, and while the redheaded man was hefting it the horse tried to encourage him. "You'll be fine, though. The ends feel weighted, but it's not that heavy. Just... don't be in a hurry. Toss it gently. And--" Whatever he had meant to add was cut off as he jerked his head up, twisting to look towards a sound - a song - in the distance.
One that was rapidly approaching, along with a red-gold glow reflecting off the surrounding foliage.
"Hide!" he hissed, four feet prancing in excitement. He nudged Samual towards the big stump - one side just barely large enough for a short man to crouch down behind - then shouldered his way back into the bushes, ducking his head behind a broad tree. It wasn't the most subtle of hiding places, but the deep shadows did a remarkable job of picking up the slack.
And no sooner had they made an effort to get out of sight than the beautiful song came clearly through the woods, wordless and melodic. The glow intensified, then resolved around a bird the size of a large chicken but far more elegant, and with a swan's long neck. Fancy plumes curled back in a crest from her dainty head, and a long, fanlike tail trailed behind her. Every feather was outlined with living fire, throwing off gentle sparks that fell harmlessly on leaves and grass but didn't so much as singe the forest as she passed through. She was graceful and beautiful, and her song stopped as she let out a delighted chirrup when she came to the glade and saw the corn scattered there.
The firebird landed lightly, bending to peck at the corn and swallow it down greedily. She quickly lost all interest in the forest around her, searching for and gobbling down the golden kernels, each step taking her closer and closer to where Samuel had chosen to hide...
Lacking hands, there wasn't much the horse could do to help besides stay out of the way, so he set about nosing into the bushes, trying to find a place he could hide his ghost-white coat in the midst of all that green. The light faded slowly as Samuel scattered the corn, but as soon as he had finished the night overtook them, silver moon casting the clearing into shades of grey and black shadows. Jigano shivered, skin twitching at the eerie timing that was almost certainly not a coincidence, but kept up his confident facade. Samuel seemed to take strength from it, and sometimes pretending long enough could make a thing almost real.
"The net is all yours, my friend. I admit, I wish I could be the one using it as well but... that whole 'opposable thumbs' nonsense." He grimaced - or tried to, finding himself stamping a hoof instead. He shifted, turning to the side so Sam could reach the net, and while the redheaded man was hefting it the horse tried to encourage him. "You'll be fine, though. The ends feel weighted, but it's not that heavy. Just... don't be in a hurry. Toss it gently. And--" Whatever he had meant to add was cut off as he jerked his head up, twisting to look towards a sound - a song - in the distance.
One that was rapidly approaching, along with a red-gold glow reflecting off the surrounding foliage.
"Hide!" he hissed, four feet prancing in excitement. He nudged Samual towards the big stump - one side just barely large enough for a short man to crouch down behind - then shouldered his way back into the bushes, ducking his head behind a broad tree. It wasn't the most subtle of hiding places, but the deep shadows did a remarkable job of picking up the slack.
And no sooner had they made an effort to get out of sight than the beautiful song came clearly through the woods, wordless and melodic. The glow intensified, then resolved around a bird the size of a large chicken but far more elegant, and with a swan's long neck. Fancy plumes curled back in a crest from her dainty head, and a long, fanlike tail trailed behind her. Every feather was outlined with living fire, throwing off gentle sparks that fell harmlessly on leaves and grass but didn't so much as singe the forest as she passed through. She was graceful and beautiful, and her song stopped as she let out a delighted chirrup when she came to the glade and saw the corn scattered there.
The firebird landed lightly, bending to peck at the corn and swallow it down greedily. She quickly lost all interest in the forest around her, searching for and gobbling down the golden kernels, each step taking her closer and closer to where Samuel had chosen to hide...
