Jiehong awoke slowly to the feeling of something brushing against his face. He groaned, hands twitching in… fur? His eyes fluttered open to take in the black body of, yes, fur that surrounded him. Warmth emanated from the creature. A wolf? No, this creature had some level of spiritual energy. He glanced down towards his hands, noting the dried blood and slight pain lancing through him as he unconsciously stroked slender fingers throughout the fur, pausing when he came upon a particularly matted section. 

The dark, ebony fur was entangled with what smelled like blood, and it brought Jiehong back to the previous evening. His mind flickered to recall the young girl who had been protecting the creature, despite being hurt herself. He stood up carefully, then moved to look through the barrier in hopes of catching a glimpse as to the whereabouts of the girl. His green eyes moved rapidly across the area, though she was nowhere to be found.

He sighed, moving a hand to lightly brush a strand of hair out of his face. A small whimper from behind him and the sound of shifting dirt made him spin around to face the creature. Its eyes opened, the crimson irises glancing over toward the man, and its black paws shifting to try to stand. 

Jiehong rushed over, hands out cautiously as he neared the creature, uncertain now that it was awake if it would want him close to it any longer. He knelt a few paces away from it, a palm up, as calming energy emanated from him. 

“It’s alright, I won’t hurt you,” Jiehong spoke gently, though he recognised that the creature did not understand him. He yearned to somehow convey that he was safe and that he wished to help.

As if in understanding the creature moved forward slowly. It huffed a small breath from its nose and moved close enough to nuzzle its muzzle against Jiehong’s palm.

A melody of laughter poured from Jiehong as he felt the damp nose of the creature against his palm. It stung his wounds, but it was the most contact he’d had in a long time. Other than the strange man from the other day, he thought–this causing another peal of laughter to break loose from chapped lips.

He hummed and winced slightly as the creature continued to lick gently at his palm. 

“You are rather cute… even with the stained fur and sharpened teeth.” Jiehong smiled and glanced across the expanse of the thing before he brought his eyes back to his hand. His hand which was now… 

“Oh! You healed me… thank you.” He spoke softly in realisation. Jiehong of course knew of the existence of such creatures, but it had been many centuries since he had come face to face with one. 

The creature stopped licking at his hands shortly after the blood was gone and barely a scratch was left. Instead, after what looked like a slight bow of the creature's head, it began to lick at its own wounds. 

“Well, I guess you have no use for me bandaging you up,” Jiehong muttered curiously. He did, after all, wish to be useful in some way, especially after having spent so much time alone. 

“You are such a pretty creature. I wonder if you have a name… I guess such things are given by those who keep you… so perhaps you do not.” he mused, his mind rummaging through the possibilities.

“This one should give you a name. It would be rude after all for me to not be able to refer to you as anything.” Jiehong chuckled, sitting cross legged on the floor as he watched the creature. 

“I think I’ll call you Jinzha.”

At this the creature, Jinzha, stopped the licking, and raised their head, moving to lay in front of Jiehong. Almost as though in thanks, they bowed their head, resting it on the lap of the God. A slender hand ran along Jinzha’s neck, scratching behind the creature’s ears. Agrimoney and Angelicas began to sprout in among the remaining vines and weeds, visible against the white tresses of Jiehong’s hair. Perhaps, this new friendship would be beneficial for the young God. 

They sat this way in peace and meditation until suddenly, Jiehong glanced up, tilting his head slightly as he felt a shift in the barrier that surrounded his domain. He glanced down at Jinzha, the creature tilting their head in unison with him almost in question as to what had made the God move. Jiehong shifted to standing and motioned for Jinzha to follow him. He opened the door to his temple and ushered the creature in, speaking quietly but quickly. 

“Please, stay here, I shall return,” he whispered and softly closed the door before moving to appear as though he was tending to his garden. Jiehong swifty brushed away Jinzha’s pawprints and started tilling the earth. 

“Jiehong,” a voice intoned, a moment later, the sound carrying a weight and confidence behind it. 

“Your majesty,” Jiehong responded. He bowed at a full ninety degrees before allowing himself to rise and take a second to glance at the person before him.

The Empress stood before him, her tall, slender frame adorned in red and white robes. Golden ornaments graced her arms and neckline, as they shone in the light. She pulled her red stained lips into a strained smile, one that was almost pitying, almost mocking, and yet ever regal. Her deep brown eyes were almost doe-like in nature but also possessed a razor glass edge to them. Dark chestnut locks framed her face in an elegant updo. Her hands clasped in front of her, highlighted her intense beauty and sharp sense of authority. 

“I do hope you are finding things… well,” she spoke, her lips curving slightly in an almost wry look of distaste as she glanced around the area. She raised her eyes to focus on his face, taking in the smear of blood with a raised brow before they landed on his hair. Intelligent eyes immediately picked up on the flowers there.

“Of course, Your Majesty. I hope you are in good health,” Jiehong responded, hands clenched slightly by his sides as he tried to remain strong even in the face of her. She had always put him on edge–her presence often accompanied something biting at the back of his mind, but Jiehong shook off this feeling by assuming that was the nature of having such power.

“Your garden seems to have seen better days.” She motioned to the dried up dirt and dead weeds with an almost amused light to her eyes. 

“But fear not, you have the festival for Jun Wei tomorrow, which will allow the beauty to return.” Her eyes met his, a reminder and a warning shining in them. 

“Of course, I shall endeavour to do my best.” Jiehong bowed his head slightly in an earnest promise as his hands clenched tighter into his own robes. The reminder of his loss of beauty was indeed painful. The Empress smirked, watching as the little flowers littering his hair wilted. 

She seemed happy to see the slight light to his eyes dim alongside his flowers. 

“You won’t disappoint me, will you?” she intoned. She phrased her words as though they were a question, however their sharp almost taunting edge cut through Jiehong as the threat it was meant to be.

“Of course not, Your Highness,” he spoke, mind flicking back to the creature in his temple, hoping that she would not notice the change of spiritual energy in his domain, hoping she would not notice Jinzha. He didn’t think he could handle the creature being taken from him, not when it brought the potential of quelling his loneliness, even temporarily.

“Jun Wei wishes for golden gleams of yellows. I told him that will be more than fine for someone as capable as you. I know how much you love growing your little flowers, so I do expect the best. I’m sure you will make it a success. After all, you know how disappointed I would be if anything… ugly was to occur,” she spoke, poison laced in her tone.

Of course he wishes for yellows and golds, that pompous-- Jiehong shook his head, ridding himself of the thought before it could finish. He sharply inhaled realising what he had almost done, how it could be taken. His head raised as he waved his hands defensively, meeting the intense glare being sent his way. 

“I apologise, my thoughts were elsewhere. Of course, I will make the most beautiful of arrangements for him. As Dianxia wishes.” He bowed once more.

The Empress allowed a slight smirk to grace her lips as she watched the Begonias and Forget-me-nots sprout from Jiehong’s hair. She had always been a ruthless leader. She enjoyed the pain and suffering that she caused others. Nobody, after all, could get to where she was at the top of the Heavens without being ruthless and cold hearted. She allowed herself to level him with one last look of amusement. 

“See that you do. I look forward to witnessing your performance.” A light huff fell from her lips, not quite a laugh but almost, as she turned on her heel and walked away and out of his domain. 

Almost instantly, Jiehong collapsed to the floor, hands slightly shaking as he tried to relax, anxious and afraid. A warm body appeared behind him as he fell, nuzzling into him as if to help keep him steady. He brought a hand to rest in the creature's fur. He leaned on them for support as he shakily started to move back toward his temple. 

“Thank you, Jinzha,” he murmured uneasily. Jiehong moved to the sleeping mat on the floor, allowing himself to bask in the small comfort of the creature's warmth and soft fur against him once more.