Walter Liu

I watched Miss Ling fade into the woods for a moment, then finished tossing the seeds in a circular pattern roughly ten yards in radius before returning to the child. The moment I moved the pack, she flung her small arms around my neck, burying her face in my shoulder. I could feel her jerking slightly every time she sobbed. I patted the child on the head, saying reassuring words as I headed towards the other camp to see if any survived. I dearly hoped Gramps lived, although I had only known him a couple of days. He had shared food and wisdom with me, asking nothing in return. However, the moment I got close, I could tell right away Gramps, and the balding man had already passed. They must have passed quickly since I didn't see any signs of torment on their faces. A twitch from the now unveiled woman caught my eye, and I hurried forward.

As soon as I dropped down beside her, the child (I really should have asked her name) let me go to hold the woman's hand. The woman reached up with her other hand to place it on the child's head before turning to me, beckoning me closer. "Take this ring and place a drop of blood on it once I'm gone. And please take care of Meera. It has only been a week since I found her hiding under the burned-out remains of a wagon still holding her dead mother's hands. Poor girl must think the gods are all against her." With those final words, she coughed twice more before her body relaxed in death, a small trace of blood trickling from the arrow still protruding from her eye socket. It must have taken an inordinate amount of willpower to hold on as long as she did. I closed her eye and pocketed the ring. Time for that later; now I need to bury the dead.

When I started to stand, intending to let Meera say her goodbyes, she spun around once more, wrapping her arms around my neck. I ruffled her hair reassuringly before wrapping my arm around her. I took her back to the other campfire setting Meera down on the log. She tried to hold onto my hand, but I had to explain that I need it for a moment. I watched her lower lips tremble a bit, but she stood tall, well, As tall as a four or five-year-old could. I smiled at her then got down on one knee to look her in the eyes. "I need a moment to get something ready. Then I will need your help making some special bandages. Although they are bad guys when Miss Ling brings them in, we should still do what we can." Picking her up, I placed her back on the log. Meera nodded, trying to look grown-up, but the tears streaming down her face ruined the image I am sure she was going for. "Now wanna see something cool?"

At her nod, I took a small green twig from one of my pockets, showing it to Meera, who stared at it seriously with a tiny bit; okay, a lot of confusion. I waved her next to me and waited for her to hop off the log and crouch down beside me. I poked a small hole in the ground with my finger and placed the twig inside. I grinned as Meera looked at me in confusion before I told her to watch closely. I pushed a tiny amount of earth qi into the twig and was gratified when I heard a gasp a moment later. The small twig had sprouted several green shoots that began to spread over the ground, with smaller shoots growing off to either side of the stalk then spread into wide rounded leaves. I kept the tiny stream of qi until the first purple flower bloomed. Meera stared at the flower in amazement before turning to me, her puffy eyes showing the excitement meant to be on one so young. "Can you teach me to do that?"

I thought about it for barely a second before nodding my head. "I would love to, but first, you have to learn to take in the natural qi from your surroundings. I am unsure how to teach that part, so I would recommend first learning the basics from Miss. Ling. She should know everything you need to get started." I stopped frowning before adding. "That is if you can convince her to stick around I don't really know her that well and what I do know isn't all that good." Meera looked both upset and confused at my words. I held up a hand to stop an argument before it could begin. "I understand she came to apologize... which is also odd. She is, after all, a cultivator of some importance, if I'm not wrong in my guess. However, I can't ignore the fact that Miss. Ling ordered my left arm removed for some offense. Sure, I can't remember what that offense was but considering what I can remember before the clearing, this boy probably didn't intentionally do anything to anger her."

Meera only watched me with a worried expression, so I smiled. "That doesn't mean I can't forgive her... for the right price, of course, and helping me teach you sounds like it would be a good deal to me." She looked like she wanted to run off to find Miss Ling right there and then, so I clamped my hand on her shoulder first before she could scamper off. "Not so fast there runt you promised to help me make bandages, and good little girls always keep their promises." I suppressed a laugh when her face turned beet red and continued. "This is what I need you to do, grab a knife from that pack over there, the smallest one, yes, right there in that small side pouch. Good, now bring that over here, and I want you to collect as many of these leaves as you can, leaving no more than a quarter-inch of the stem." After guiding her on what I needed, I let her get to it, smiling at the serious look on her face. "Ah, be careful of the thorns. They have a mild soporific. That means if you get poked enough time, you will fall asleep most likely on top of the plant." I rubbed her head as she jerked her hands back in surprise before reassuring her that I would stay nearby in case of an accident.

While I had Meera distracted, I hurried to bury the bodies. I was finished before she even thought to look up to see where I had gone. I pulled them to the edge of the clearing and, using a bit of earth qi had the ground open up, pulling them under. I thought about placing a marker but didn't want the next group that stayed here to think about digging them up for valuables. After making the grass grow over the new graves, I went back to the campfire, putting two water pots on to boil. Done with that, I turned to find Meera nodding off, a small pile of leaves placed neatly next to her. I walked over, scooping her up just in time. Noting the tiny spots of blood on her hands, I chuckled. I awkwardly carried her to the coach, finding carrying a sleeping child difficult with one arm. After far more effort than I expected, I got her tucked away inside the coach, wrapped in a blanket that was waiting on the bench.

On my way back to gather Meera's leaves, I spotted Miss Ling dragging someone behind her into the clearing. I ran over, pointing to a spot on the grass where I had thrown the seeds earlier. Miss Ling raised an eyebrow questioningly but did as I wanted. When the man was in place, she gave him one last kick before coming to stand beside me. I did notice the man's broken limbs but chose to ignore them for now. By the look on her face every time she looked in the man's direction, I got the impression he probably deserved far more than this. But then again, she ordered my arm removed, and she doesn't look at me like that, so who knows. As soon as Miss Ling got clear, I poured more earth qi into the ground than I had ever tried before. A cage made of iron vine grew up then arched over the prisoner, completely blocking any escape. "That should hold him. For now, someone like you could break out, but it would still take time." I would have explained more at the time, but my vision began to swim, and I would have fallen if not for Miss Ling grabbing my arm half carrying my stumbling form back to the fire. Setting me down on a log, she didn't say a thing, just watched me a moment, then headed back into the woods, presumably to gather the archers.

I sat for a couple more minutes, then shook my head to clear it stood and gathered the leaves before dumping them in one of the boiling pots of water. It wasn't until I had begun turning the leaves to paste that it occurred to me that I had nothing to use for bandages. I glanced toward Gramps pack, but I already knew he didn't either. After I sat back to think for a moment, absently noticing the caged man attempting to test the vines in a few places. Shrugging, I pulled the ring given by the dead woman. (I really need to do introductions as soon as I meet people.) I looked at it for a while then noticed an inscription underneath—Meera, heart-shape, Mom. I frowned, wondering why the woman wanted me to bind it to myself when It is obviously Meera's. This is probably a gift from her mother that Meera never received. Although I was curious what might be inside, I am not the type of person to take what's not mine, least of all from a child I have grown fond of in our brief time together. After putting the ring back into my pocket, I turned my attention back to the caged man. Maybe he has something useful on him? Nah, better to wait for Miss Ling. I am not a fighter while this fellow looks rather shrewd. He had stopped testing the vines and sat quietly watching me. I, in turn, studied him. I could see that Miss Ling had taken everything off the man, but she left a small egg-shaped pendant with a strange design stamped into it hung around his neck. She probably doesn't know its purpose well live and learn. Of course, I only know because Gramps told me about the function while lecturing me on his job and why it is so important for the Empire.

The sound of many feet took me from my thoughts. Out of the woods came a couple dozen or so men and woman each dropped a bow and quiver down near the campfire, then walked over to the cage and sat down in a neat circle surrounding it. None sat near enough for the man inside to be able to reach out and grab one. I watched this in confusion until Miss Ling walked out, dragging one by the leg that she dropped next to me. "Sorry, I must have hit this one too hard. She is already gone." Although she apologized, I couldn't actually see any anguish in her eyes, and to be honest, I didn't feel that grieved either. They did kill Gramps, after all. I nodded before dragging the body toward the opposite side of the clearing I buried our friends. When I got back, I explained the pendent to Miss Ling, and she went to retrieve it, agreeing with my plan. I was going to try and use earth qi to move a vine out of her way, but she just grabbed two and bent them enough to enter. Then tore the pendant from the man's neck, who began screaming obscenities at her back. Until Miss Ling turned and backhanded the man into unconsciousness, she immediately left, bending the vines back into place before returning to my side, offering the pendent with a flourish.