Jigano didn’t fight being wrapped in a tight embrace, only wriggled enough that he could press his head to Rory’s cheek, soaking up his tears against his forehead with something between relief and worry. His whines turned to soft croons of reassurance, white brush wagging in the strength of emotion as he let himself be held and wished that he could do more.
Amalia, he needs us both, he sent to his fellow Attuned, his mental voice low and strained with the effort of reaching out willingly to another with his mind. It wasn’t something he was comfortable with – not even close - but in this place and time, between himself and Amalia… Amalia, the closest person he had to a sister and so, so very different from lost Jenny and bright Yohgel… yes. Her he would allow in without fighting it.
But he hadn’t needed to, it turned out, the dark-eyed woman already moving before he could ‘speak,’ sensing Rory’s need and reacting in her own way. Fierce, protective Amalia, shy and self-conscious and hiding so much behind dark eyes, but loyal to a fault and there when she was needed. And where she was needed right now was with her arms wrapped around Rory, while Rory held Jigano, the three of them sharing the hunter’s pain and fear in the hopes of lessening it, and letting him know how very much he was cared for no matter the storms that rocked their world and their hearts. And for as long as Rory needed them, they would be there for him, letting him cry and giving him their warmth and support in the dappled shade of the Oasis and the trilling song of birds that masked - almost - the sounds of angry voices and bustling work around a Spire that had once stood sacrosanct and untouchable.
Amalia, he needs us both, he sent to his fellow Attuned, his mental voice low and strained with the effort of reaching out willingly to another with his mind. It wasn’t something he was comfortable with – not even close - but in this place and time, between himself and Amalia… Amalia, the closest person he had to a sister and so, so very different from lost Jenny and bright Yohgel… yes. Her he would allow in without fighting it.
But he hadn’t needed to, it turned out, the dark-eyed woman already moving before he could ‘speak,’ sensing Rory’s need and reacting in her own way. Fierce, protective Amalia, shy and self-conscious and hiding so much behind dark eyes, but loyal to a fault and there when she was needed. And where she was needed right now was with her arms wrapped around Rory, while Rory held Jigano, the three of them sharing the hunter’s pain and fear in the hopes of lessening it, and letting him know how very much he was cared for no matter the storms that rocked their world and their hearts. And for as long as Rory needed them, they would be there for him, letting him cry and giving him their warmth and support in the dappled shade of the Oasis and the trilling song of birds that masked - almost - the sounds of angry voices and bustling work around a Spire that had once stood sacrosanct and untouchable.
