Xiao had decided to wander about until she could think of an excuse to give Song. Until she could restore his heart and repay the debt she owed. Xiao felt she needed to play nice. Meaning she needed to pretend she loved him or at the very least trusted him. The problem was Xiao hated being lied to as much as she hated owing anyone anything.
Even though Song was no longer Matlal, the memories of his cruelty still remained. Xiao was not an unreasonable being; she knew people could change. Yet it was still difficult for her to give out second chances.
Seeing Ehecatl had stirred up old wounds, she had loved him as much as she had hated Matlal. She knew blaming others for what happened was childish. Yet, sometimes it was easier to blame others rather than admit to our mistakes. When Matlal invaded, she chose the easy way out. Meztli had been a disgrace to her people and ancestors.
Removing the tyrant was the best she could hope for. Xiao knew she did not deserve her people's forgiveness. But that would not deter her. Her people did not deserve the hand she dealt them.
A sweet aroma awoke Xiao's senses; it made her want to leave it all behind, even though that wasn't an option. Something was watching Xiao as she lay atop dead branches. Xiao had gone deep into the woods until she came across an area infested with dark energy. Caihong would never follow her there. The dark energy helped Xiao hide her own presence.
There was a rustling followed by hissing. Xiao laughed a manic laugh; when was the last time someone thought they could sneak up on her. The snake had the bravado to try, or perhaps it just had a death wish.
The snake launched its attack only to bounce off the field of energy Xiao had placed when she took a nap.
"You're a brave one," Xiao said, "I'll give you one more chance." She dropped the barrier and extended her arms as if to give a hug.
The snake hurled itself at Xiao again, only to be caught by her. Xiao's hand closed around its throat, her thumb and forefinger pinching his head so the snake couldn't bite her.
"You have potential," Xiao said to herself, "I think I'll keep you."
Xiao set the black snake down but not before placing a few drops of blood atop its crown. The snake hissed as if in pain before taking human form.
"Master," the child knelt; this Grand Immortal had gifted him just a few drops of her blood. The snake spirit felt ashamed to have attempted something so foolish.
He dared look up to find the pretty immortal smiling down on him, "Call me mother instead," she took off her cloak and wrapped him in it, "what is your name?"
Grateful for the cloak, he said rather sadly, "I've never had a mother, let alone a name."
Xiao smiled at the adorable snake spirit. Who would have known she'd be able to find her child in this world, let alone as a snake spirit. The loss of her child made her hate Matlal and Ehecatl; she had only held him in her womb, but she still knew his spiritual energy.
After all, a soul had already been selected when the invasion happened. If she chose the easy way out, it was in hopes her baby would be spared, but how foolish she was. Matlal knew the child in her womb wasn't his, and Ehecatl chose not to believe her.
Xiao knelt to the child's eye level, "what name shall I give you," she asked, brushing the hair covering his eyes. "You are truly an odd one; how can your energy be this pure when you live in such a place?"
"It is the only place I am safe," the little one responded. What else could he tell the pretty immortal?
Nodding Xiao started contemplating various names; she supposed giving the child a good name would be difficult. His eyes reminded her of a blazing fire, with hints of emerald.
It would have a trace of the life he would have lived had he been allowed to. "I shall call you Coatl."
"Coatl," he repeated the strange-sounding name, "what does it mean?"
Xiao smiled, "feathered serpent." She extended her hand, and Coatl took it. "Let's leave this place."
With that, Xiao guided Coatl back to the palace past the guards and to her own residence. It seemed Caihong had gone out. Xiao let Coatl bathe while she made him braised fish. For whatever reason, Xiao felt this was something Coatl would love.
Coatl dressed in the clothes Xiao had crafted for him. Even though the pretty immortal had requested he call her mother, Coatl felt he needed to earn the right to use such a title.
When Coatl spotted Xiao, he knew the lady was a Grand Immortal, for not even the demons dare approach her. The energy emanating from her was more extraordinary than anything he had ever encountered.
"Eat up," Xiao set the plates of food on a table she had crafted under the peach tree.
Coatl hurried over; having lived in the forest, he lacked proper etiquette and thus was uncertain how to proceed.
"Eat however you feel comfortable," Xiao took the seat across from Coatl, "Caihong can teach you etiquette later on."
"Whose Caihong?" Coatl asked.
"A friend," Xiao said, "think of her as an aunt."
Coatl nodded as he tore into the fish. His mother had made him such tasty food no one had ever given him anything. Coatl's memories were a blur, but he was certain no one had ever shown him kindness. That's why he chose to hide in the deepest part of the forest.
Once he came across a farmer, and the farmer screamed, calling him a demon for having odd eyes. Yet his mother seemed fond of them.
A bluebird flew into the peach tree before turning into a woman. She seemed excited to see his mother, yet the moment her eyes landed on him, they filled with dreed.
Yup, there's a kid.
How will Song react?
Why is Caihong scared?
Also, the title for this chapter was inspired by Dreamcatcher's song of the same title.