Inside the Grotto

Xiaoqing laid out her damp green robe along a rock ledge and sat down to dry the long tails of damp hair falling over her shoulders. "I'm going to need a new tunic, if I get wet like this one more time," she complained.

Inside the grotto, traces of the rain had crept in, and an invisible cricket was singing forlornly in the depths of the cave somewhere, its voice made heavy with layers of echoes. Little did it know that Xiaoqing had already noted its location and made a mental note to have it for supper once she had dried herself. She flitted upwards experimentally, shaking her head to create more wind in her hair, and disturbed a few bats in the ceiling of the grotto. Landing easily on a jutting piece of rock, she settled herself cross-legged and leaned back with a sigh.

There was no reply from Bai. Xiaoqing eyed her shrewdly, then suddenly demanded, "Sister, you're thinking about that physician."

Bai shifted away from her and started industriously smoothing out the wrinkles in her robe. "Don't talk nonsense."

A slow smile crept up Xiaoqing's lips. "Ah, don't deny it. I'll admit, he's good-looking in a way. A bit on the scrawny side for my taste, but still the genteel sort."

She flitted around the cave, darting back irregularly to where Bai sat to thrust her face provokingly close to hers. "A refined sort, one might say. Though he's not a scholar, he has the air of one. Did you see how horrified he was when I told him that you fought three men? But mild, so mild I almost wonder if he's a bit on the slow side. Do you think so? Rather tongue-tied and clumsy. I prefer more spirit in my men."

Bai steadfastly avoided her gaze. "It does not concern me whether he's bright or stupid, clumsy or graceful."

Xiaoqing's laugh pealed out in the cave. "Go on, sister. He's attracted to you, no doubt. Why are you denying it? I was there, and I saw everything, even if you forgot about my existence then."

She sprang onto a rock ledge and flung her arms out in an extravagant flourish. "Our great Sister Bai has finally had her heart swayed by a mortal man! And not a heroic general or a powerful prince, but by a little physician, because he stammered and offered us his umbrella! O little physician, what great magic did you use to make my sister fall for you?"

Laughing, Xiaoqing vaulted away as Bai suddenly sprang without warning, narrowly avoiding the jet of energy that hissed past her. "Ah, sister, don't be angry! There's nothing to be ashamed of. Have some fun with him, why not? He's smitten with you already. Shall we go see him again? I can be suddenly seized with stomach ache, and you can bring me to see him. Or I'll help you sprain your ankle just in front of his house. Let me see, what ailment would be best?"

She cut off abruptly with a shriek as Bai whirled round and hit her with another well-aimed bolt, turning her back into her snake form. The small green snake wriggled helplessly on the rock and Bai pointed warningly at her. "It's not like I didn't warn you. Any more nonsense and you can stay as a little green snake for the next hundred years."

The snake hissed sulkily and Bai turned away, nonplussed. She busied herself laying out her robe to dry on the rocks, but there was a new thoughtfulness in her eyes.

"All these years I've been here, I have never mixed with the mortals. We are spirits; they would be afraid of us if they knew. If we make any trouble we might be found out, and have our cultivation stripped for abusing our powers. Nevertheless, they have not all been cruel or selfish as you say they are. The old woman who comes to talk to me, she is a good soul. This Xuxian is one too. He was kind. He has a pure heart."

The little snake hissed again, obviously jeering, but Bai ignored her. Her hand travelled across the white silk slowly, caressingly, absently. "I find myself thinking of him, but I would never toy with a man like that. We are spirits, Xiaoqing. He is but a mortal. Why should I disturb his life and peace, since I can never be his wife? Better that we continue our own lives." Her voice was clear and steady.

Bai stood up. "Don't look at me like that. And you are not to mention Xuxian again, or I won't stand on ceremony with you." she said firmly, turning her back on where the green snake watched her with its golden eyes.

As she left the grotto, Xiaoqing changed back into her human form and sat hugging her knees with a wounded expression. "So high and mighty, aren't we? Like I said before, you just don't know how to have fun. Well, let little sister help you with this; it's my field of expertise! We'll see if you're still singing the same tune in a few days."

She tossed her hair over her shoulder and chewed meditatively on a hair ribbon. "It seems like I must do some research on our little physician…"

Slyly, she stole a glance at where Bai stood at the mouth of the cave, a slim straight figure, graceful yet somehow forlorn.