"Sorry to keep you waiting," smiling, I pulled out a small package from my pocket and opened it up. "I had so business I needed to attend. You don't mind, do you?"
"Caw," Xiao Niao cocked its little head at before cautiously hopping to my outstretched hand. Peering at the napkin of seeds and crumbs, it pecked at a seed experintally, before eating one.
"Here," setting the napkin down on the ground, I crouched as I watched the bird cheerfully eat the feed.
"Don't overeat or you'll be too fat to fly again," gently tapping the top of Xiao Niao's tiny head, I continued to watch the bird eat the seeds with great gusto. "Ah, for such a little bird, you sure do eat a lot."
However, it made happy to see that Xiao Niao had such a great appetite. Just a week ago, Xiao Niao was just a helpless bird lying half-dead on the side of the trail.
Based on it's damaged wing and the other injuries around it, I could only assu that so had cruelly shot down this bird with a rock.
I couldn't believe soone would do sothing like that to a small animal, and then not eat it or sothing.
That's not saying that Xiao Niao was that appealing, but hey, food is food.
However, after looking into Xiao Niao's teary little eyes, I caved and tried to help the bird out.
So, after a week of ticulous care and treatnt, this little bird was already itching to take off in flight.
After all the things that I've done for you, Xiao Niao, you're only thinking about leaving .
Ah, Is this what it feels like to be a parent? Such a bitter feeling.
Once Xiao Niao was done eating, it looked up at with its glossy black eyes, as if asking for more food.
"Geez, are you a little foodie," sitting down, I propped my head up against my fist as I watched the little guy hop around. "A whole bunch of seeds, gone within a second."
After hopping for a bit, Xiao Niao tried flapping its wings a bit to gain so height. However, it could only go so high before, fluttering back down, clumsily.
"Ah, that was good, Xiao Niao," I cheered the little guy on. "Maybe after a few days, you will be able to fly up to that branch," pointing up the lowest branch of a nearby tree, Xiao Niao seed reinvigorated as it tried to fly once more.
Xiao Niao was able to gain so more height this ti. However, it was short-lived as it ca fluttering down once more. "Caw," Xiao Niao huffed as it turned around and hopped back over to .
"There, there," soothing the grumpy bird, I brushed the top of Xiao Niao's head. "Those healing herbs I gave you earlier should've helped your recovery, so no need to fret."
"Caw," Xiao Niao hmphed and sat down before looking up at . "Caw."
"Oh? Is Xiao Niao curious about my day?"
"..."
"I'm going to take your silence as a yes," poking at Xiao Niao's beak, it looked back with an annoyed look but didn't say anything. "Ah, what should your mother do, Xiao Niao?"
Xiao Niao looked at with a baffled look. Almost like, 'who's mother, you crazy girl.'
"Eh, don't look at like that. Don't you crows pay back your debts, huh? So pay this one back by being filial, okay."
Xiao Niao seed to roll its eyes at but didn't say anything.
Ah, Xiao Niao looks so much like Senior Sister when it does that.
"Anyways, today Senior Sister seed pretty upset with ," hugging my knees, I rested against the side of my face, facing Xiao Niao. "I was late again to class this morning because I overslept. And got a little lost along the way trying to take a short cut, haha, but what do you expect from ?
The teacher for today, Instructor Rui, doesn't like . Mainly cause, I skip his classes and stuff, but I listen when I decide to show up. Well, kind of.
Lectures aren't my kind of thing. If anything, it makes want to nod off.
Hah! But if I did that, Senior Sister would punish for sure.
Maybe I should learn to sleep with my eyes open? What do you think, Xiao Niao?"
Xiao Niao gave a blank stare unblinkingly.
Wait, do birds blink at all?
"Well, anyway, I got in trouble, and Instructor Rui scolded after class. Then Senior Sister made apologize to Instructor Rui with a scary tone, especially when she has eyes that seem to pierce into your soul.
You should've seen it, Xiao Niao. It would've given your little bird heart a heart attack," sighing, I shook my head at the imagery.
"I apologized, unwillingly, of course, and ran off to et you. However, Senior Sister reminded that I had a lot of howork to do and that I should study.
Now, weighing the options between you and howork, I believe the choice was obvious.
So, aren't you happy, Xiao Niao? Your mother is putting her life on the line for yours.
You must be touched, right?"
Xiao Niao gave another blank look before looking away.
Was that a 'tch' I heard from you, Xiao Niao! Ah, how can you throw down my heartfelt affections for you like that!
Aiyah, no appreciation from this black-bellied child.
"Well, Xiao Niao, it's been fun talking to you," picking up the bird, I placed Xiao Niao in its designated nest that I made for them.
Goodness, Xiao Niao. This mother feeds you, bathes you, and even houses you, and you can't show a sliver of sympathy?
"Stay safe, Xiao Niao. You don't know what beasts and traps roam about at night, so don't leave your nest unless necessary. Oh and, don't use your wing too much. We don't want stress to hinder your recovery," I warned before seating up another protection ward around Xiao Niao's territory.
This ward should ensure that spirit beasts would ignore this area.
"Alright, I have to go now, Xiao Niao! I'll see you tomorrow!"
Following along the goof-proof trail that I made for myself, I safely navigate my way out of the woods and back onto the main path.
"Now, to find my way back to Yu Lan Peak."
---
"I've concluded that I will never make it ho," pitifully laughing, I crouched under a stone ledge as the rain poured down slowly.
It was only mid-afternoon when I left Xiao Niao, but now I don't even know what ti it is!
At first, I thought I was seeing things after I pasted the sa statues several tis.
Heck, they could've been a set for all I know.
But after making a few markings on the statue, it was very evident that I was sohow going in circles.
Ah, and to make matters worse, I sohow missed a pothole and sprained my ankle!
Oh, and of course, the rain had to start on a clear day.
My laughter slowly turned into sobbing as the situation beca more hopeless as the rain showed no signs of stopping. Heck, I even heard thunder above. "Wu wu, I'm never going to make it back!"
I'm going to die out here, completely lost within my sect like a fool! And Xiao Niao would beco a poor orphan!
If Senior Sister finds my dead body, I'm sure she will bring back from the underworld before killing again.
"Haha, she's going to be so mad at ," I laughed through my tears.
Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice through the pouring rain: "Junior Sister, is that you?"
"S-senior Sister," looking up, I could Senior Sister carrying an umbrella as she bent down to look into my shelter.
"Junior Sister, what are you doing here?"
"I-I got lost" bowing my head in sha, curled up even tighter as an icy wind went through.
I heard Senior Sister give a tired sigh: "Well, I'm here now, so you can't get lost. Can you walk?"
"I-I, um, sprained my ankle"
Another tired sigh ca from Senior Sister. "... this girl... Well, it's too dangerous for to carry you back. Especially in this weather."
Another clap of thunder above further empathized Senior Sister's point.
"It can't be helped," Senior Sister massaged the area between her brows. "Scoot over."
Doing as Senior Sister ordered, I moved over to the side to allow Senior Sister to co in. Space wasn't too deep, nor was it very high, a sowhat shallow cave. However, it proved enough space for Senior Sister and to squeeze together and avoid the storm outside.
Sighing, Senior Sister tossed the wet umbrella to the side of the cave as she sat down beside , legs crossed.
I tried to make myself smaller and avoid touching Senior Sister. I wasn't sure how mad she was at .
But despite my efforts, it was inevitable that there would be so physical contact.
"Stop doing that. You're going to strain your foot."
Reluctantly relaxing my posture a bit, I pulled my knees to my chest. "Senior Sister."
"Eh."
"Are you mad at ?"
"Eh."
"I'm sorry."
Senior Sister let out another sigh. "It's fine. It's in the past."
Looking over at Senior Sister, I see that she had her eyes shut.
Without thinking, I rested my head against her shoulder as my eyes began to sting a bit as my throat grew tight. "I am sorry, Senior Sister. For everything."
Senior Sister's body stiffened, and I expected her to push away. Instead, she shifted her arm and wrapped it around my shoulder. "I know."
"I'm going to get punished when we get back, aren't I."
"Eh."
"Oh." Surprisingly, I didn't feel worried about what was to co when I would return; perhaps it was the cold rain outside that numbed my senses, or just being ntally exhausted from all that has happened today.
Leaning a bit more into Senior Sister, I felt my eyes drift closed.
Ah, it's sowhat nice being alone together.
Reviews
All reviews (0)