"I'm not sure the chair would survive!" Jigano exclaimed with a laugh at the image Rexanna painted. "You'd end up on the floor in a pile of kindling, and there she would be, purring on your lap - you wouldn't be able to move her if you tried!" He'd initially been afraid that she might try to knead like a kitten might - a daunting prospect since her forelegs ended in talons that couldn't retract and were needle-sharp. Luckily that was one aspect of her that was more birdlike than catlike, and her talons had grown duller over time as she walked on them and wore down the points with the daily wear and tear of playing and pouncing.
He gave her a nod - he would have bowed, if he hadn't been sitting, with his hands full of scissors and cloth - of gratitude for her beautiful gift, and chuckled at the welcome light of her smile. "I am, as well," he admitted. "After Long Night..." And Rexanna knew better than most what he had looked like, dragging Rory in out of the dark. "Thank you again, for that," he said quietly, his expression sobering. "You saved our lives, and I am grateful beyond words." His lips quirked wryly, remembering their earlier conversation about Rory. "I... don't think Rory knows it was you who let us in. He wasn't conscious, then. But..." he hesitated, then shook his head, trying to dispel the shadows that still lingered from that night. "But we could all do with something to celebrate," he finished softly. "A day of feasting, and dancing, and games, and a celebration of life, in all its myriad forms. Gods most fortunate, but we've earned it. And maybe it will inspire people to start coming together again, after the fractures from the Spire Assault."
He gave her a nod - he would have bowed, if he hadn't been sitting, with his hands full of scissors and cloth - of gratitude for her beautiful gift, and chuckled at the welcome light of her smile. "I am, as well," he admitted. "After Long Night..." And Rexanna knew better than most what he had looked like, dragging Rory in out of the dark. "Thank you again, for that," he said quietly, his expression sobering. "You saved our lives, and I am grateful beyond words." His lips quirked wryly, remembering their earlier conversation about Rory. "I... don't think Rory knows it was you who let us in. He wasn't conscious, then. But..." he hesitated, then shook his head, trying to dispel the shadows that still lingered from that night. "But we could all do with something to celebrate," he finished softly. "A day of feasting, and dancing, and games, and a celebration of life, in all its myriad forms. Gods most fortunate, but we've earned it. And maybe it will inspire people to start coming together again, after the fractures from the Spire Assault."
