Isuma purred as he scratched and petted at her, little paws waving in the air in sweet, simple joy. She snuggled into the crook of his arm, perfectly happy to be held close - and offering her own small warmth as well, feathers and fur proving to have trapped the sun's heat quite nicely and now sharing it with Rory as she relaxed against his coolness. She squeaked as her paws were captured, kicking lightly back against the poking fingers but making no attempt to escape the game and Jigano had to stifle a laugh at the feelings of joy that lapped through their bond, brightening his own mood as well.
He was relieved when a long-fingered and work-calloused hand joined his, trying not to think about what he might have felt if Rory had held back. It hadn't happened and, for once, he didn't dwell on it when he could focus on the simple, important task of warming his friend's hand back to life and strength again. The hunter was shivering, and Jigano wished he had brought his cloak to drape over his friend's shoulders while they waited for the fire to cook the food and chase the chill from the room.
A brow rose at the quiet statement, and he looked to Rory's face for confirmation of what he had heard. As tired as the voice had been the blue eyes were looking livelier, and Jigano smiled in return. "Of course," he murmured, unconscious echo of Rory's words to him. He regretted losing the hand that he had held, but Isuma was a worthy distraction - and, more, her tummy was soft and warm and would continue the work he had begun. She wiggled happily and stretched growing limbs until she looked like a fuzzy noodle with her belly fur sticking up in tufts between Rory's fingers. "Then I will learn on Bakshi," the bard decided, pleased to learn more about his friend and the horses he cared for. "And you can teach us from Talys's back. Talys would probably think I'm hopeless," he admitted, a rueful grin lightening his expression as he watched his friend and companion entertain each other, and folded his empty hands back into his lap. "And we would never get anywhere." He tilted his head to the side, enjoying the fire's heat behind him as he tried not to notice the way its light caught red and golden highlights from Rory's hair, even untended as it was. "But what do you mean about Esaia being uncomfortable?" He might have been ignorant on horses, but if Rory was willing to teach him, the lorekeeper was more than willing to learn.
He was relieved when a long-fingered and work-calloused hand joined his, trying not to think about what he might have felt if Rory had held back. It hadn't happened and, for once, he didn't dwell on it when he could focus on the simple, important task of warming his friend's hand back to life and strength again. The hunter was shivering, and Jigano wished he had brought his cloak to drape over his friend's shoulders while they waited for the fire to cook the food and chase the chill from the room.
A brow rose at the quiet statement, and he looked to Rory's face for confirmation of what he had heard. As tired as the voice had been the blue eyes were looking livelier, and Jigano smiled in return. "Of course," he murmured, unconscious echo of Rory's words to him. He regretted losing the hand that he had held, but Isuma was a worthy distraction - and, more, her tummy was soft and warm and would continue the work he had begun. She wiggled happily and stretched growing limbs until she looked like a fuzzy noodle with her belly fur sticking up in tufts between Rory's fingers. "Then I will learn on Bakshi," the bard decided, pleased to learn more about his friend and the horses he cared for. "And you can teach us from Talys's back. Talys would probably think I'm hopeless," he admitted, a rueful grin lightening his expression as he watched his friend and companion entertain each other, and folded his empty hands back into his lap. "And we would never get anywhere." He tilted his head to the side, enjoying the fire's heat behind him as he tried not to notice the way its light caught red and golden highlights from Rory's hair, even untended as it was. "But what do you mean about Esaia being uncomfortable?" He might have been ignorant on horses, but if Rory was willing to teach him, the lorekeeper was more than willing to learn.
