For an instant, she mirrors the luxere: bright and poised to flee. Exactly what Seiji hoped to avoid. Inwardly, he winces. Outwardly, he is calm, his dark eyes following the movements of all below him with measured acceptance. Then the woman speaks, and her voice is kind. Perhaps she forgives him.
Smiling, Seiji nods. “I have never seen it before,” he answers, “but it sounds very dangerous.” He glances up at the deer then, their breaths pluming around them in wary silver clouds, and whistles another fragmented verse. And another, glancing at the stranger, wondering if she might join in. She seems to know about the luxere. They would probably like it better if there were some song to accompany the lonely notes.
When he falls silent, Seiji slides gracefully down to another branch, his movements slow and measured. “What happened to him?” he asks, tilting his head. “The red deer?”
Smiling, Seiji nods. “I have never seen it before,” he answers, “but it sounds very dangerous.” He glances up at the deer then, their breaths pluming around them in wary silver clouds, and whistles another fragmented verse. And another, glancing at the stranger, wondering if she might join in. She seems to know about the luxere. They would probably like it better if there were some song to accompany the lonely notes.
When he falls silent, Seiji slides gracefully down to another branch, his movements slow and measured. “What happened to him?” he asks, tilting his head. “The red deer?”
