"RETREAT!" the command boomed across the chaotic battlefield. Jin Tao lifted her halberd and swung at the blue-eyed monsters again and again, but they refused to fall. The smell of blood and mud-filled her lungs with every breath. The only thought of killing Young Lord Yuan if he had survived pushed Jin Tao forward. Adrenaline burned through her veins like molten iron as she fought to keep the path to safety clear. She had to get as many people to safety as possible, or the Realm would be truly lost.
"SHIFU!" A voice called from somewhere behind her. Turning to the waiting troops, Jin Tao found the crowd pointing towards the sky. Jin Tao glanced up to see Ming Tao floating on his sword. What the hell was he doing here? He was supposed to be with Cao My and the ba- before Jin Tao could finish her thought, the hot sting of a sword slashed across her arm. Caught off guard, she cast a formation sending anyone within range flying. Turning back to the sky, she saw a glow was surrounding Ming Tao.
"Shao Zi!" she called. Ming Tao's eyes flew open, searching for the voice calling him. Their eyes met, and a soft smile appeared on her little brother's face. And the pit of Jin Tao's stomach sank. He said something she couldn't hear, and then everything went white.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jin Tao jerked as her head slipped from her propped hand. The smell of blood and mud still fills her lungs as she groggily looks around, trying to get her bearings. She was inside one of the many caves on Evergreen. The Everstone that speckled the cave's grey walls filled the room with soft white light with a green tint. There was a brazier to her left and a snoring bear cub to her right. She was home on Evergreen, not in the middle of the war. She was home, on Evergreen, not in the middle of hell. She was at home, but the adrenaline had followed her from her nightmare, making her blood buzz in her ears. Moths batted at the cage of her ribs, the confusion, and frustration of the moment was too real. Jin Tao massaged her temples as she took in a deep breath. She hadn't dreamt of that day in a while.
It had been so long that she couldn't remember the last time the dreamscape appeared. The sudden rush of emotions was so severe Jin Tao couldn't get her breath to regulate. Sitting up straight, she tried to calm the churning. But the more she centered in, the more the overwhelming feeling threatened to take over. The moths had made their way up her sternum, clawing at her closing throat. Just as the chaos threatens to take over, a voice breaks through the storm producing a wave of comfort in Jin Tao's bones.
"You're awake?" Ping Shu asks, turning the corner into the cave. Jin Tao watches as her wife approaches with a tray of snacks. Ping Shu's long thick hair swings around her hips as she walks across the room. Her soft pear colored dress swishes across the cave floor, breaking the buzzing Jin Tao's ear. Her throat begins to loosen, and the moths fluttering begin to dissipate.
"Are you going to keep sleeping here?" Ping Shu asks, sitting the tray on the table. The churning slows, and Jin Tao finally takes a deep breath.
"I was making the kids' medicine and dowsed off," Jin Tao muttered. Jin Tao focuses on the bowl of berries Ping Shu sits in front of the now wake cub. But instead of digging into his favorite snack Fu Bao stares at the frazzled Jin Tao.
Ping Shu sits down in front of the table. Noticing Fu Bao, she calls gently, "Fan Li."
Jin Tao looks up, and the concerned hickory-colored eyes dispell the last of the moths. From Ping Shu's presence alone, the anxiety that was brewing inside of Jin Tao disappears.
Ping Shu slowly reaches for the teapot, "It's cold in here. You should sleep in our room," she says.
The last bit of haunting leaves Jin Tao's eyes as she smiles, "Or you could just warm me up." Ping Shu scoffs as she pours two cups of tea.
Leaning against her hand, Jin Tao stares at Ping Shu. Her fair skin glowed in the light of the Everstone. Jin Tao watches her slender fingers as she wipes the spout of the teapot and arranges the snacks on the wooden tabletop. She moves with such grace and ease that Jin Tao finds alluring. She'd be collapsed into a panic attack if it wasn't for Ping Shu's timely appearance. There wasn't a time that they were together that Jin Tao wasn't surprised by Ping Shu's effect on her.
"What?" Ping Shu asks, handing the cup of tea across the table.
Jin Tao slowly takes the cup brushing against Ping Shu's hands, "I'm cold," she says gingerly.
Light dances in Ping Shu's eyes as she chuckles. Ping Shu pulls her hand away, eliciting a smile from Jin Tao. The desire to probe about the tired tint in Jin Tao's eyes makes Ping Shu hesitate to pick up her cup. But she ignores it in fear that her prying might trigger another episode. As she brings a cup to her lips, Ping Shu stares at the small balls of medicine in a silver dish on the table.
"How long are you going to make him take these?"
"As long as needed," Jin Tao answeres pointedly.
"And how long is that?"
Jin Tao pauses, as an image of Ming Tao flashes through her head, "I don't know."
"Don't go overboard," Ping Shu says. Jin Tao glares at Ping Shu as she sips her tea. Ping Shu glares back. A slight chill fills the room before Jin Tao admits defeat reaching for a pastry on the tray.
"Okay. I won't," Jin Tao Says, bitting into the soft red bean cake, "You don't have to look at me like that." Fu Bao, who had finished his treat, stares back and forth between the two women. "Don't you agree furball?" The cub stares at the two for a few seconds more before politically crawling under the table and into Ping Shu's lap.
"Hey! You trader! Remember who feeds you!" Jin Tao says, crumbs flying out of her mouth. Unfazed Fu Bao cuddles closer, causing Ping Shu to chuckle.
Flinging footer at the lovely duo, Jin Tao continues, "Ungrateful fuzz grain! Who found you in the woods, fed you, bathed you?"
"Me," Ping Shu says, brushing crumbs off her dress. Fu Bao nods, agreeing.
"You?" Jin Tao asks. Ping Shu nods, "Really?" Jin Tao slowly sits down, trying to recall that crisp fall day, "Why do I remember differently?"
"You did find him. But I bathed him and fed him." Ping Shu says, petting Fu Bao on his head.
"Right! I knew I did something," Jin Tao says. Before stuffing the rest of the cake into her mouth. The anxiety from the nightmare had wholly left the room as the three settled back into their domestic rhythm. Ping Shu took turns between sipping her tea, flipping through a book, and petting Fu Bao between his ears. Jin Tao pondered if she should tell her wife about the nightmare but feared Ping Shu would begin to hover. The idea of concern daunting the red-brown eyes and pursing the bite-size lips made a boulder slam against Jin Tao's heart.
Closing her eyes, Jin Tao leans her head against her hand, listening to the sound of Fu Bao's snoring. It had been a while since Ming Tao showed himself in that form. But there was no reason to bring melancholy to Evergreen today. Just as Jin Tao's eyes began to droop slowly, the quiet comfort was interrupted as Luo Yang entered the cave. The tall woman stood straight and walked light. From her seaweed colored dress to the plain wooden pin sticking through the bun at the top of her hair. Luo Yang carried the air of tranquility. The only wild thing about her was the sizeable Everstone ring adorning her thumb. Along with the signature braid of the students of Jin Tao, they marked her as a member of Evergreen, free to come and go as she will.
"Shifu, Shimu." The eldest disciple said. Kneeling beside Ping Shu, Luo Yang passes a scroll tied with a dark blue ribbon to Jin Tao.
"What is this?" Jin Tao asks groggily.
"It's from the Celestial Summit," Luo Yang responds. Jin Tao unwillingly unties the scroll before throwing it into the brazier. A voice begins to read the message.
"Greeting's Eternal General. This is an invitation to the 4th celebration of the United Army's victory at the Chrysanthemum Fields. This year's host is the Yuan family of the Celestial Summit and will be held in one month's time. We are looking forward to your arrival pl-" annoyed Jin Tao tosses her tea onto the coal, cutting the message before its finished.
"Celebration?" Jin Tao says, flinging her cup onto the table. "They know how many lives were lost during the war, and they are still calling it a celebration, ridiculous."
"The Yuan's have always been like this," Ping Shu says as Lou Yang refills Jin Tao's cup.
"Still, it's unnecessary for all this fanfare every five years. They must think five years is a long time and we've already forgotten the last celebration." Jin Tao says mockingly.
"At least we didn't attend the others," Ping Shu responds.
Jin Tao raises her cup, "But we still had to deal with the aftermath of all of them. Lao He was ready to kill Yuan Ze Chan for weeks," She downs the hot, bitter tea, "If I hadn't placated him, we'd of had another war."
"Yes, spending two weeks talking about the old days and drinking was a huge sacrifice," Ping Shu says sarcastically.
"Should I decline?" Luo Yang asks.
"No. If we don't go this time, I fear Yuan Zhang Guan (Headkeeper Yuan) will send someone to invite us personally. I don't want them on my mountain," Jin Tao responds. She now realized the nightmare from earlier hadn't been for no reason. This time twenty years ago, the Realm was on the verge of being taken over. Something that her brain had long failed to notice, her heart remembered true.
Ping Shu called, "Fan Lin," Jin Tao looks up to find Ping Shu's curious gaze. So she smiles, hoping that it's reassuring before turning to Luo Yang.
"Tell the book worms we'll attend," Jin Tao says, setting her cup on the table. "Where is Xiao Liu(6)?"
"He followed Si(4) Shumei and Er(2) Shumei into town." Luo Yang says.
"He knows today he has to take his medicine."
"Should I bring them back?"
"No," Jin Tao leans back into the pillows around her, "Just bring him here when they get back."
Lou Yang nods her head before rising and leaving the cave. Ping Shu stares at Jin Tao. Her sable colored hair blended into the wine-colored pillows pulling your focus to her face. Ping Shu was relieved to see serenity cover Jin Tao's features. Her full lips were slightly turned up, and the furrow between her brows had smoothed out. Ping Shu knew that Jin Tao didn't like the idea of being in the Yuan's presence. But it was necessary that Evergreen at least pretend to socialize to keep the peace.
Feeling Ping Shu's gaze, Jin Tao spoke without opening her eyes, "Don't worry. I'll be fine. We'll all be fine."
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