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The creature floated around without a care. They had been known by many names, to humans they were the first creature, Mew. To the other creatures they were Dianxia. Their friends knew them as Xie Lian. Jun Wu often referred to them as Xianle, they never questioned where the nickname came from. After all, what’s one more name in the grand scheme of things?
Roaming around was their favorite task! They had turned down Jun Wu’s offer to run any part of the universe. They know they are their favorite and thus got to simply get away with roaming around helping all the creatures of this planet. Including those that distinguished themselves as ‘humans’. What silly creatures they were for separating themselves from the other life of this wonderful planet. Xie Lian mostly avoided them, they could behave….. Strangely.
Xie Lian much preferred the company of other creatures. They enjoyed looking through the scraps that humans abandoned and remembering tricks they had long since forgotten in their old age. After seeing another creature accomplish something they usually picked the skill up again fairly quickly.
Yes, most days they could do whatever they wanted without a care or interference. Today, unfortunately, was not most days. Today Xie Lian was made to wear the same ceremonial garb he had to wear every year on this day. Jun Wu insisted that it was a day to be marked and celebrated. Birthdays often were for many creatures but Xie Lian had been told that most got to wear whatever they wanted on such an important day.
Jun Wu didn’t agree…. Xie Lian was his favorite creation after all.
Thus they were forced to go around in the extravagant but admittedly nice material. Unwilling to draw too much attention to themself, they kept to a secluded wood stroll on this day every year. Though over the past century or so it seems a human pack had slowly begun growing near one of their favorite spots.
It was still fairly small compared to the big structures and groups in other areas though, so Xie Lian didn’t mind it all too much.
Then, their walk was halted by the sounds of wheezing and sniffles. A clearly distressed creature was nearby and Xie Lian was never one to ignore such a desperate sound.
They found the noise had attracted some other creatures to aid the little one curled up on the floor. However, the poor creature was but a human pup and yet they found themself on death's door. There was no hope for any other creature to help them, well, most other creatures.
It took some difficult recollection but thankfully a few centuries back the firebird creature with the rainbow feathers had done something similar to some poor creatures that had lost their lives. They just had to remember what to do… or they could wing it to the best of their ability.
The call of the creatures around them for their help brought Xie Lian back to the present and they began to float towards the little one who had yet to move. Figuring there was little they could do to worsen the situation they decided to simply try their best. They began drawing from the life deep inside themself. Realizing the cub was shaking they decided to nestle into their arms as they continued their task. The cubs hold on them was tight. They were frightened and deeply hurt. Xie Lian simply continued until the cub began to relax. The difference was stark.
As the cub began to sit up Xie Lian gave them just enough space to accomplish their task but did not leave their side. The poor cub seemed at a loss for words as they stared at each other. Looking around they seemed both intimidated and intrigued by all the creatures around them. Xie Lian knew nothing of human greetings but was always fond of the sweet gesture between certain rosy cheeked mice creatures. Thus, they moved towards the cub and rubbed comfortingly against their cheeks. Their faces squished together so he could feel the almost laughing exhale from the little one. They’d count that as a win!
The young cub looked awed as Xie Lian pulled away but still did not speak so Xie Lian decided to take a page from Shi Qingxuan. Their duel forms and mischievous nature were not how Xie Lian operated but they always loved the flowers that bloomed around them and on their back in their much rounder form.
Thinking hard once more, Xie Lian tapped their nose to the floor and out sprouted a small white flower. Before Xie Lian went to pluck it for the cub they remembered that flowers don’t live long once pluck. After thinking for a moment they plucked the bloom and focused energy around it till it was contained and preserved in a red pearl. Nodding at their job well done they then floated the pearl into the young ones hand.
Determining that their work here was done and the other creatures were capable of caring for the poor thing now, Xie Lian was gone before the boy looked up from his new gift. They wouldn’t know of the way they held it close and treasured it nor what would come of the boy next.
There was no way for the ancient creature to predict their actions would put such a target on the back of such a small thing. They didn’t know of the research being done to try to mimic his own abilities. They didn’t know that in saving the boy they had left a small part of themself with him, a crucial part. A part that would in a few years time be sought to use as a basis for the new creature being created.
How could the creature ever predict the extent of cruelty humans would go to for power.
How could he know that when the young boy was only 20 or so years of age his abilities would be discovered. Abilities the creature had never intended to give him. How could he know that humans would take him, experiment on him, change him to something entirely new. Something for them to control and own.
But how would the humans know the young boy would never bow to them? He endured the pain and the tests. He bided his time, he had no attachment to his human form. He let his powers cultivate, allowed himself to be made into a warped image of his savior. He saw the horrid things they’d do if they ever got there hands on him.
Humans are dreadful, disgusting creatures. He would protect his savior at all cost.
By the time he was done waiting he had no idea how long it had been and was certain he would not recognize his own face in the mirror. He did not care.
They believed him ready and obedient. The human’s obsession with vanity would be their undoing.
He had long since lost an eye from when he was a kid, perhaps they did not like this perceived imperfection on their perfect weapon. They constructed a new one for him and finally loosened his containment to affix it to his skull. He has no doubt the process would have been excruciating. He did not wait for them to try.
The panic and noise grew exponentially around him as he began to overwhelm their systems. Flickering ceiling lights followed by flashing red was his way of knowing he was almost free.
He cared not for the explosion created from his escape nor the lives of the horrid humans within. He’d been kept separate from his fellow creatures, they were in a facility at a safe distance away. He went to free them as well. Looking at all the displaced creatures he decided to find them a home to build. A home where they will know peace from human cruelty.
A home to show his beloved…
Looking at the pearl clutched in his hand his resolve only grew, he would find and protect his beloved savior at any cost.