This time, no one on his team had died.
It was a poignant, aching sort of thought, mixing the sadness of those he had lost in the past with the joy of those he embraced in the present. Sam’s hug had been a surprise, one he hadn’t known how to respond to, but this… this was something he chose, with a whispered prayer of an apology he could never earn to Yohgel’s spirit, a world and a lifetime away.
He was tentative, at first, unused to the gesture, much less being one to initiate it, but almost as soon as Rory leaned into him the lorekeeper’s doubts faded as he relaxed and laughed with his friends, letting their joy, their relief, their care for each other and for him fill up some of the cracked places in his heart that he had disregarded for too long.
Jigano reluctantly letAmalia slip away to greet another friend, his arms falling to his sides as a determined gryphlet climbed up his pants leg and finally hooked her claws into his sleeve. He helped lift her to his shoulder before she left bloody marks up his arm as well, scolding her gently as he shifted a little closer to Rory. It began as a subconscious lean towards the man who he had looked to for support and comfort, who he had sought to protect and comfort in turn, for the better part of two seasons. It ended with the conscious realization that he simply wanted to be near to this man who could chase away his shadows with a smile, and soothe his doubts with a touch. He started to shift his arm, to brush his hand against Rory’s once more—
But an unfamiliar woman with a very familiar name approached, and the hunter turned to her with an open joy that echoed strangely in the bard’s heart. He might not know her, but her presence made Rory happy and so Jigano found himself welcoming her with a smile as well. It was his first time truly seeing the woman whose body he had scented at the Spire, and he studied her curiously. She had no interest in him, that was obvious enough, and he arched a pale brow at her abruptness, but stayed back to let her greet his friends without interruption.
He didn’t need to, as it turned out, Amalia doing so instead as she bubbled with excitement that turned to song. The bard’s smile returned, pride in his friend warming him as she stepped forward to sing bravely, no longer hiding her lovely voice behind her shyness. He didn’t even think to look this time as he shifted his weight, somehow knowing that Rory would be there to lean lightly against as voices around them began to join in. He might not have known the words, but the melody was easy enough to pick up on, and what sort of bard would he be if he couldn’t harmonize a tenor counterpoint in pure notes? Isuma was less in tune, but she peeped cheerfully more-or-less along with the humans as she hopped to Rory’s shoulder and joined in with the rest, just glad that her companion and her friends were all happy again.
It was a poignant, aching sort of thought, mixing the sadness of those he had lost in the past with the joy of those he embraced in the present. Sam’s hug had been a surprise, one he hadn’t known how to respond to, but this… this was something he chose, with a whispered prayer of an apology he could never earn to Yohgel’s spirit, a world and a lifetime away.
He was tentative, at first, unused to the gesture, much less being one to initiate it, but almost as soon as Rory leaned into him the lorekeeper’s doubts faded as he relaxed and laughed with his friends, letting their joy, their relief, their care for each other and for him fill up some of the cracked places in his heart that he had disregarded for too long.
Jigano reluctantly let
But an unfamiliar woman with a very familiar name approached, and the hunter turned to her with an open joy that echoed strangely in the bard’s heart. He might not know her, but her presence made Rory happy and so Jigano found himself welcoming her with a smile as well. It was his first time truly seeing the woman whose body he had scented at the Spire, and he studied her curiously. She had no interest in him, that was obvious enough, and he arched a pale brow at her abruptness, but stayed back to let her greet his friends without interruption.
He didn’t need to, as it turned out, Amalia doing so instead as she bubbled with excitement that turned to song. The bard’s smile returned, pride in his friend warming him as she stepped forward to sing bravely, no longer hiding her lovely voice behind her shyness. He didn’t even think to look this time as he shifted his weight, somehow knowing that Rory would be there to lean lightly against as voices around them began to join in. He might not have known the words, but the melody was easy enough to pick up on, and what sort of bard would he be if he couldn’t harmonize a tenor counterpoint in pure notes? Isuma was less in tune, but she peeped cheerfully more-or-less along with the humans as she hopped to Rory’s shoulder and joined in with the rest, just glad that her companion and her friends were all happy again.
