Jigano looked up at the shadow of a cat that fell over him, curious as to why Amalia had shifted position so soon after lying down. He did not expect her fierce promise, used to the gentle, even timid baker and Librarian he has come know and love. This was a new side to the girl, confident and reckless--
Only, it wasn't really so new, was it? He had seen flashes of this Amalia before, when she had acted swiftly to contain the wasp queen in their soon-to-be guild hall, and when they had gone questing for Safrin's library. Her fires were so, so bright when she let them burn, but all too often they were banked and hidden behind her self-conscious fears. He had glimpsed some of those insecurities in the woods beyond life, when she had received her grandmother's blessing. He had not realized then how something had shifted in him, a conscious determination to become a support for her, who had lost so much and relied on so few.
As you are mine, he confirmed, gentle welcome in his mental voice that even so left no room for argument. As Val had once been to him, and would remain in his memory, so Amalia now was. He ducked his head as she scooped him close, allowing the liberty even though Isuma peeped tired protest as her nap was interrupted. As the leopard set to grooming him - strange, uncomfortable, not particularly pleasant for a fox, but a gesture he accepted for her sake as part of the compromises of friendship - he turned his attention to checking on her wounded paw.
Will you tell me about your grandmother? he asked gently. She sounds like she was a remarkable woman.
Only, it wasn't really so new, was it? He had seen flashes of this Amalia before, when she had acted swiftly to contain the wasp queen in their soon-to-be guild hall, and when they had gone questing for Safrin's library. Her fires were so, so bright when she let them burn, but all too often they were banked and hidden behind her self-conscious fears. He had glimpsed some of those insecurities in the woods beyond life, when she had received her grandmother's blessing. He had not realized then how something had shifted in him, a conscious determination to become a support for her, who had lost so much and relied on so few.
As you are mine, he confirmed, gentle welcome in his mental voice that even so left no room for argument. As Val had once been to him, and would remain in his memory, so Amalia now was. He ducked his head as she scooped him close, allowing the liberty even though Isuma peeped tired protest as her nap was interrupted. As the leopard set to grooming him - strange, uncomfortable, not particularly pleasant for a fox, but a gesture he accepted for her sake as part of the compromises of friendship - he turned his attention to checking on her wounded paw.
Will you tell me about your grandmother? he asked gently. She sounds like she was a remarkable woman.
