Ru Feng’s fingers fidgeted as he watched the old woman carefully clean Nong’s wound. The arrow she’d broken off laid on a blood soaked towel next to her. There was so much blood. He really was a useless fool.

The old woman continued to work and applied a green paste onto the injury. She was precise and steady. The waiting killed him. Despite what Nong had revealed to him in the forest – a part of him wanted to hear her voice again.

He tried to distract himself by looking around the room they were in. It was modest and built of wood and straw much like the other houses he saw in the village. He was standing by the threshold to the bedroom. There was a shelf lined with a variety of bottles to his side. Beside it a small table had a pot of tea that no one drank. Nong currently slept on a small bed in front of him where the old woman was working. And there was a window above them overlooking the mountains.

“It will take some time to heal,” The old woman said calmly. She finished by wrapping a bandage around Nong’s shoulder and then slipped her shirt back on.

“Thank you,” He said in return.

She bottled up her medicines and wiped her hands clean. Then she covered Nong in a warm blanket and gently brushed back her curly hair.

“Poor thing,” The old woman scowled. “Her mother should have listened and never run off,”

Ru Feng’s brows raised. “You knew Nong’s mother? Are you a Bird Witch too?” He asked.

The woman regard Ru Feng with thoughtful eyes.

“We’re of the clan yes…but only a few of us can actually use magic. Like this one and her mother who was a friend of my sister’s,”

She picked up the arrow.

“This village…it has been protected and hidden for many years. No one must know of its location…or of the surviving clan. If they do…well…” she dropped the bloody arrow into his palm.

The old woman picked up her cane and led Ru Feng to the living area. She gestured to the fire place. Ru Feng tossed the arrow into it watching as it crackled into ashes.

An herbal smell tickled his nose. The old woman brought him a hot cup of tea.

“This tonic will help with your injuries. After which, you may refresh yourself and rest here. Then you may go on your way,” She moved to leave but stopped at the front door.

As if she knew what Ru Feng was going to ask her.

“You called me the tiger…” He said.

The old woman nodded. Her eyes downcast.

“Can you…help me?” He asked quietly.

The woman didn’t respond immediately. The fire’s crackling seemed to rumble in the silence that stretched between them.

“I’m afraid…from darkness you were born…and to darkness you shall return,” She said solemnly.

Then she closed the door behind her.

Her words repeated in his mind. He brought the cup to his lips avoiding his reflection in the liquid and drank it in one gulp.

---

Ru Feng was fully recovered after three days. But Nong was still unconscious. He visited her frequently, gently tending to her wounds as the old woman – Grandmother Mao, had instructed. The villagers had given him a set of new clothes so Ru Feng offered to help them with their tasks. He found that the menial chores eased his troubled mind.

It seemed that Grandmother Mao was the only one who knew his true identity. If she did tell any of the villagers – he couldn’t tell. Everyone treated him with kindness and smiles. If only they knew what he would turn into in the end. Time was short after what the mysterious woman had revealed to him back at the temple. He knew Prince Edan was safe…but the King…could it be? He dreaded to find out.

On the fourth morning, he found Grandmother Mao outside her hut stooped over a bunch of straw. “Are you ready to talk?” She had asked him. “I may not be able to alter your destiny but my ears do work,”

So he reiterated all that had happened.

“So she’s the one who has taken residence up at the temple. She is not one of ours. No one knows where she came from,” the old woman said. Her nimble hands were weaving the straws into a basket.

“But she can still cast the spell?”

Grandmother Mao tilted her head in thought, “What do you know about Nong’s vision?” She asked instead.

Hesitantly, Ru Feng replied, “She told us that the beast may be slain by one who wields the powers of a god,”

At this, Grandmother Mao nodded. “And you know who that is right? That may be all we can do now,”

Ru Feng felt his heart squeeze. He might have guessed it already. Nong was the last one left that could use magic. She was the one who wielded the powers of a god. She could kill him. She was destined to. He sat watching Grandmother Mao fold the straws together bending them to her will.

Like fate was doing to him.

Suddenly, Grandmother Mao lifted her head. Her attention went to a young girl leading a grey horse towards them.

Ru Feng followed her gaze, immediately recognizing the mare that had taken him and Nong to the Lotus ruins. Grateful for the distraction, he went up to meet the animal. Managing a small smile he said, “How did you get here?” He softly scratched the horse’s back. The girl handed him the reins shyly.

“It appears this horse has been granted passage. She now knows the way to and from here,” Grandmother Mao said coming up to Ru Feng. “If what you’ve been telling me is true…then two triggers have come to pass. It’s too dangerous for you to stay here any longer,”

Ru Feng nodded in understanding.

Grandmother Mao took the reins from Ru Feng’s hand pausing to give him a comforting pat.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t help you. Go and say goodbye to your friend. For the next time you meet…you may no longer be,”

Ru Feng quietly entered Nong’s room. Her color had come back. She looked like she was just asleep and would wake up with a gentle touch. He sat by her side watching her for a moment he wished could last forever. He was doomed to only hold her in his memories. But he thought at least they were his and no one else’s. Her beautiful face. Her long, curly hair. He would remember it all.

Sighing he slid his hands into hers. His thumb brushed her fingers.

“I forgive you Nong. And I’m sorry for having put all this on you. You didn’t deserve that burden,” He said quietly. “I’m leaving now. But you’ll be safe here. This village is where you’re mother lived. They’ll tell you all about her. You’ll be happy here,”

His voice began to wobble.

“I’ll…do my best. I’ll do all I can. And if we must meet out there…my life is yours,”

He adjusted the blanket on her then left without looking back. His heart twisted at his hopelessness. His story had ended before it had even begun. There was no one in this world that could help him. He found his horse at the edge of the Bird Village, climbed on, and galloped back to the dark ruins alone.