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A man dressed in all black walked through the burial mounds, sleep once again evading him. His wan skin glowed under the full moon as he twirled an ebony flute between his fingers humming a song he no longer remembered the origin of. As he walked he listened to the wind rushing over the barren landscape behind him the lights from the remnants settlement could be seen slowly going out as they settled in for the night.
Wei Wuxian walked with no destination in mind, simply planning on losing himself in the rocky maze that was his home. It had been a day since Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng had snuck into Yiling to show him Yanli’s wedding dress. Since then his mind had been overcome with memories of the life he had left behind.
Snap!
Wei Wuxian thoughts came to an abrupt halt, one hand holding onto Chenqing as he scanned his surroundings. Looking towards the source of the nose Wei Wuxian watched as a small tuft of hair ducked behind a rock. Relaxing his grip on Chenqing, Wei Wuxian stealthily walked towards the rock with a smile playing on his lips.
Once he was close enough to the rock, he moved in one swift motion scooping up the intruder. “Got you!”
“Xian-gege!” A-Yuan shrieked as he was lifted up into his Xian-gege’s arms.
Wei Wuxian laughed, pinching A-Yuan’s cheek, making him laugh harder. “What’s my little radish doing all the way out here? Don't you know it's dangerous to be out on your own?” he scolded comely, placing A-Yuan on top of the rock.
“I know! That's why I followed you, you shoun’t go out allown caus’ its dain-dangirus!” A-Yuan scolded back, “I came to protect Xian-gege!” he proclaimed, puffing out his chest.
Wei Wuxian broke out in laughter as he watched A-Yuan try and act tough. “Ha ha! You don’t need to worry about me little radish. Your Xian-gege is tougher than he looks!”
“But you still need someone to go wif you!” He protested.
“Oh ya! Like who?” Wei Wuxian retorted watching A-Yuans face scrunch up in concentration.
“Like Rich-gege!” The little boy proclaimed excitedly. “That way he can visit both of us!”
The smile on Wei Wuxians face fell slightly, “sorry little one but he can’t do that.”
“Why not?” A-Yuan looked up at him with a sad expression on his face. Wei Wuxian signed before placing a hand on the top of A-Yuans head.
“Because he has too many responsibilities, so he can’t just show up everytime we want to go on a walk at night. Plus it’s past his bedtime anyway. Speaking of which-” Wei Wuxian leaned forward to scope A-Yuan up into his arms. “It’s well past your bedtime as well! Imagine what Wen Qing would do if she found out how late I let you stay up!”
“But I’m not tired!” The little boy complained, while trying hard to hide his yawn.
“Oh, really?” Wei Wuxian laughed, “Well if that's the case then you’ll have no problem running away from the big bad coyote!” Without further warning Wei Wuxian started tickling A-Yuan. The little boy laughed as he tried to struggle out of his grip.
Once freed A-Yuan took off down the rocky path with Wei Wuxian close behind him, both of them laughing as they ran. Soon they reached a part of the path that had been blocked off by a fallen tree. Wei Wuxian was about to call out for A-Yuan to stop when the little boy ducked under the fallen branches and continued down the path.
“A-Yuan, don’t get too far ahead!” He yelled while coming to a stop, looking around for a way to the other side. He spotted a gap between the branches big enough to squeeze through before continuing his chase after the wayward child.
A-Yuan had apparently chosen to not listen to Wei Wuxian for the little boy was nowhere near the fallen tree. Frantic Wei Wuxian started calling out for him, running further down the path.
“A-Yuan! A-Yuan, where are you!?” He called out frantically, his mind raced with a myriad of fates that could have befallen the child. “Shit! Shit! Shit!”
“Chirp!”
The sound of a bird chirping made Wei Wuxian freeze, turning around, almost as if he was in a daze, he found a small white and gray bird sitting high up in the branches of a dead tree. For the briefest of moments Wei Wuxian wasn't in the burial mounds but instead stood in a snowy path listening as a group of white and gray birds sang in the crisp winter air of Gusu.
“I ffound you!” Little arms latched themselves to Wei Wuxians leg, snapping him back to the present. The crisp smell of snow soon became replies with that of death and ash and he looked back towards the bird only to find a giant black crow in its stead. The crow screeched at him before taking off into the sky disappearing into the night.
Shaking his head in to clear his mind Wei Wuxian looked down to find A-Yuan attached to his leg looking up at him curiously.
“Is Xian-gege ok?” The little boy asked, staring up at him.
Wei Wuxian laughed sheepishly, “why wouldn't I be little radish?”
“Becus, you were staring at tha birdy like it was… like it was new!” A-Yuan spoke as if he didn't know what words to add next.
“Aya, I was just remembering that other birds besides crows existed.” He smiled sadly looking out in the night sky.
“Dar are!?” A-Yuan perked up excitedly, “where?”
Wei Wuxian leaned over to scoop A-Yuan up laughing. “There sure are! And they sing instead of scream.” with A-Yuan in his arms he continued down the path talking happily. “I remember when I was younger I dragged Rich-gege out into the snow just to hear a group of birds sing in the trees one day. He called me boring and stormed off soon after. But I swear I saw him not even two days later sitting under the tree listening to them sing!”
“Can I see the singing birds? A-Yuan pleaded looking up at Wei Wuxian with large gray eyes.
“If you can convince A-Qing to let us then absolutely!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed. He mentally apologized to Wen Qing knowing she wasn’t going to look forward to telling A-yuan no.
As they walked they soon came to the top of a cliff where a crooked tree sat isolated at the top. Setting A-Yuan down, Wei Wuxian walked over to the edge and sat down looking out at the view. From their spot on the top of the cliff two could see all of the burial mounds, down below the lights from the remnants village glowed red. Next to him A-Yuan let out a yawn leaning against his shoulder as he started drifting off into sleep.
Looking down, Wei Wuxian smiled at the sleeping boy. “Let's get you back to bed.” picking A-Yuan up he started walking back to the village softly humming the same song he’d hummed when he had started his walk.
“One day, I promise to take you to see the singing birds one day.” He promised into the night.
******
The smell of smoke filled his lungs as Wei Wuxian ran through the charred remains of the remnant village, A-Yuan cradled in his arms, crying out for everyone. Once he was sure he was out of reach of the attaching cultivators he set A-Yuan down, tears streaming down his eyes.
“A-Yuan, I need you to listen to me. Do you remember how to get to the tree on the top of the cliff?”
A-Yuan nodded, his eyes filled with fear.
“Godd, I need you to go to it and hide!”
“But I can’t leave you and popo!” A-Yuan cried, grabbing onto Wei Wuxian's sleeve.
“A-Yuan I need you to do as I say, I promise when this is all over I’ll take you to see the singing birds.” Wei Wuxian pleated matching tears streaming down his ash covered face. “But I need you to run, run and hide as if you're gonna be eaten by coyotes.” He looked behind him fearfully as the sounds of battle started to get closer. “A-Yuan run!” He ripped his sleeve away and pushed the little boy down the path. “I promise I’ll come get you.”
With tear filled eyes A-Yuan turned and started running down the path as fast as his little legs could carry him.
Turning away Wei Wuxian whipped his eyes with his sleeve before grabbing Chenqing and heading towards the battle. Please forgive me little one.
Raising the flute to his lips, Wei Wuxian let the resentment take over him.
******
A-Yuan woke to the sound of chirping, as he sat up he looked out to see a flock of white and gray birds sitting in a snow covered tree singing.