[Huo Lian]
As we walked back to our campfire, the path was lit by the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the canopy of trees. The shadows of the trees seemed to dance around us, whispering secrets of the night. I found myself caught in a dilemma, knowing that I had to share the last part of my story with him. It wasn't that I wanted to hide anything, but I knew it would upset him deeply.
Sighing, I recalled his previous reactions. This would make him really mad.
As we reached the fire, its warm flicker illuminating our surroundings, he took a few steps away, perhaps thinking it would make me more comfortable. He sat on the ground, but he continue to hold me in his arms, probably subconsciously. I also had no intention of letting him go either. He looked at me, waiting patiently.
"Ok, let's start."
[Zhen Jian]
I had a feeling she was right. There had to be a reason why she ended up in the water in a coma. Sighing, I tried to calm myself and prepare for what was to come, but it was hard. I wasn't used to being upset. I looked at her and braced myself.
She took my face in her hands, her touch warm and reassuring. After a short sigh, she said, "I was killed."
My heart stopped.
[Huo Lian]
Ok, this was expected. I saw the white aura from before, more conjoined and surrounding us. I held his head in my hands. He had a hard frown on his face, his handsome features scrunched up as if someone had stolen his treasure.
I was a bit confused about what to do—whether to continue or wait for his feelings to settle. I pressed my forehead against his, his face filling my entire vision. His cool forehead was refreshing, but I also hoped my warmth would thaw his glacier-like anger. The sound of cutting surrounded us, the slashing noise echoing in the night, but I couldn't focus on anything but his frowning face.
"Shhhhh, I am here with you now. It doesn't matter what happened before."
My words slowly had an effect. The slashing sounds decreased, and the frown on his face slowly eased. I didn't plan on letting him go until I was done.
[Zhen Jian]
Rage filled me, a cold, biting fury that spread from my heart through my veins like a tundra. The only warmth in my body came from her touch. Her words brought me back from the frost.
"I was called to the palace, and they killed Huo Lian and pushed me off the waterfall," she said softly, as if handling a delicate piece of glass.
My rage reignited, but her touch kept it from bursting forth. Instead, sorrow poured out in the form of tears from my closed eyes, an image of her in pain tormenting me. She wiped my tears with her small hands, and I whispered, "I am sorry."
She brought my head into her embrace, her hand gently rubbing the back of my head.
[Huo Lian]
Seeing him in pain pained me, yet knowing he was in so much anguish for my sake made me strangely happy. I held him tightly, rubbing his head for comfort.
[Zhen Jian]
Since finding myself with Lian, I had become more selfish. I often thought about how others felt and how to help them, but with Lian, my thoughts were always about what I wanted. Now, I cried because I wanted only good experiences for her, and here she was comforting me despite her own hardships. She truly was an amazing person. My oath to myself became even stronger.
She whispered, "After falling, I awoke in a dark world, where I met a red bird that felt like family. Then, the next thing I knew, I was in your arms."
My tears didn't stop flowing, but I spoke, "Where you will always be."
I hugged her tightly, so tightly that I wanted her to sink into my soul.
[Huo Lian]
Throughout the day, I had been more expressive with my affections for him because I had waited so long to say them. Whenever he said such things, it left me stunned. Tears flowed again, and I repeated his words, "Where I will always be."
We stayed like that for a long time, crying in each other's arms. He cried for my grievances, and I cried for his pain. We shared each other's pain, becoming encapsulated within one another. The crescent moon was forgotten, the serpent's treasure was forgotten, and soon, the world was forgotten. We fell asleep in each other's embrace and only awoke when dawn approached.
[Huo Lian]
From behind him, I saw the sunrise. "Jian, look," I said softly. I had spent the night in his lap while hugging him, feeling comfortable. I really wanted him to see our first sunrise together.
[Zhen Jian]
I didn't remember when I fell asleep with her in my arms. Maybe we were both too tired to care after crying for so long. Thankfully, Lian was quite warm; otherwise, I would have been worried about her getting sick. I felt her head moving slightly. Was she getting ready to get up? I kind of wanted to stay like this a bit longer. I really had become too selfish.
She wanted me to look behind. Turning around, I saw the sun approaching from the mountains. The blue before the sunrise was quite a spectacle.
"It's beautiful, our first sunrise," I said aloud.
[Huo Lian]
I remained in his arms, leaning on his chest while watching the sunrise. I looked upon the sunrise, feeling reinvigorated. He had heard everything now. Today would truly be a new dawn for both of us.