Tigu’s head rocked to the side as a fist impacted it. She returned with a strike of her own, matching the bastard blow for blow.

Tigu ached. Her head throbbed as she spat out a mouthful of blood, until with a vicious slash she forced her adversary back.

The man made of lightning glared at her. He was arrogant and haughty. Though Tigu had injured him… he was better than her. More powerful.

Tigu swallowed as the man stared down at her. His eyes were dispassionate, uncaring. He looked at her like she was the dirt on his shoe.

“I shall end it in the next strike,” the man declared. “Rou Tigu, you will be defeated.”

Tigu steeled herself for the fight. She would not be able to last much longer.

But she didn’t have to.

Tigu smiled and laughed as she felt it. Home. The mountain that was her home had come, and it was not happy.

Her Master was here.

The giant man made of lightning recoiled. His eyes widened in horror.

A warm hand landed on her head. Tigu smiled up at her Master. His power filled the world. Her enemy, so large before, quailed before his mere presence, withering away as he tasted but a fraction of her Master’s might.

“Good job.” he praised her, and then his gaze turned towards her enemies.

Naturally, they were defeated utterly.

And all Tigu could feel was satisfaction.

=================

Tigu woke up smiling. Her head was cradled on Mistress’ collarbone, and her back was pressed against Master’s chest. Tigu took a breath, breathing in the comforting scent, before squirming a bit. She had an itch to continue carving today, and she wanted to jot down a few ideas.

“Oh? You’re chipper this morning. Have a good dream?” her Mistress asked, apparently already awake. She opened one eye and looked down on Tigu with amusement.

Tigu nodded.

The dream wasn’t particularly common, but whenever she had it, she woke up in a good mood.

Master and Mistress, as well as the Blade of Grass, had warned Tigu about the possibility of bad dreams after what had happened at the Dueling Peaks. They said that it was only natural if she felt something wrong and that they were there for her if she wanted to talk.

Tigu had none of that. She didn’t know if she was supposed to have nightmares, but nothing had really scared her. Instead, when she dreamed, she dreamed of her Master’s warm and comforting power wrapping around her body and shielding her from harm. She dreamed of their enemies, once on the brink of victory, throwing themselves to their knees at her Master simply gazing upon them.

She dreamed of Ri Zu’s face as the rat rescued her. She dreamed of Loud Boy and Rags,injured but alive and clapping her on the shoulders. She dreamed of everybody relaxing in Xiulan’s house, the battle won.

She didn’t exactly know what she was supposed to feel bad about. They had won; their enemy had been defeated completely.

She could say none of those memories bothered her too much, only that she had grown complacent and had to re-evaluate who was to be treated like a sparring partner... and who was to be treated like Sun Ken.

Even then, it all felt like some kind of strange, distant memory some days.

“I expected you to sleep for a bit longer, after yesterday.” Her Master said from behind her, his voice rumbling, though still deep with sleep.

Tigu shook her head. “Can we try that again tonight?” Tigu asked excitedly. Her Master chuckled.

‘That’ had been a marathon gauntlet against every one of their sparring partners, one by one;from Ri Zu to Xianghua, one after the other. An excellent training exercise even if Tigu was still just a little sore.

“Well, if you’re up for it.” He agreed.

“Yes!” Tigu enthused as she popped up out of the bed. “I’ll go get water!”

Master and Mistress both shook their heads as Tigu bounded down the stairs.

Truly, she was living the best life. A Master and a Mistress. Her brother and sister Disciples to accompany her. Being able to spar with a multitude of friendly opponents that pushed her to her limits, even against her Master. Though he seemed clumsy and uncoordinated at times, that was of no consequence.

Bi De had been worried that she might somehow think less of Master, for asking for help. For failing at something. That was foolish. He was learning something new, and these were things to be expected.

After all, when the time came, her Master would deliver them from their enemies without fail.

=========================

However, spars were held in the evening, and Tigu had to have something else to occupy her day.

The air was cold and the snow was thick on the ground as Tigu carefully examined the block of ice before her. It was a good piece of ice. Nice and clear, and it would sparkle like gemstone when it was carved.

“Thanks, Wa Shi.” She said, nodding to the fish. Her fellow disciple gave her a thumbs up, as one of his fins turned into an arm. He had helped her find this piece, swimming under the ice, and examining it from below, looking for any imperfections.

Tigu picked up the block of ice, and began carting it away to her “gallery”, near the main house. Master had made her a place with a roof to put all her sculptures, one singular place where she could show them all off. Pi Pa and Master had helped her arrange them tastefully, and now, with the backdrop of snow and ice, it was quite a wonder to behold!

But it needed more. It was missing a certain something, and her Master had the right of it. It was no good with only sculptures of him.

Tigu set the block of ice down, and placed her hand on its surface, and walked all around the giant block, her sharp eyes examining it for each and every minute crack, and trying to visualize what to bring out of it. She shifted her shoulders and the thick coat she was wearing impeded her movement slightly.

She didn’t really need the coat, because she didn’t really feel the cold… but Master and Mistress had made it for her, and it was nice and comfy. Same with the red hat on her head, her orange braids sticking out from the back.

Both smelled of warmth and home. Comfortable things… and she didn’t look half bad in them either. The hat especially. It was like Fa Ram’s symbol. All of them had a bright red hat, and she hadn’t seen any of the villagers with them.

Though one thing wasn’t exactly perfect. She glared at her reflection, and scratched at her cheek.

She was losing her tan. She looked strange with pale skin, in her opinion. The tan was better. More… her. But everybody was losing a bit of colour, Master included. Only the Blade of Grass and Lady Mist looked the same. Both of them staying as pale as the snow.

Tigu shook her head, and returned her attention to the block of ice. She was looking for something to pique her interest. Sometimes, the rocks and branches spoke to her, showing her what they wanted to be. What was hidden beneath their surfaces. Other times, there was nothing to visualize but a blank canvas for her to create as she pleased.

The Ice always felt a bit different than other materials. Honestly, after her forays with stone and wood, the ice felt… almost inferior. It melted, it deformed, and it was fragile—but she had a soft spot for it. It was what had first sparked her interest in carving.

Tearing ice out of the ground with Master. At first, she had started carving because of the lack of opponents, and the fact that Master had praised her. That feeling in her gut as her Master had commended her skill, even when all the others did their best to ignore her when she was being belligerent. It had soothed her back then. Given her something to do to work out her frustrations, and gradually transformed into something she genuinely enjoyed. Something she had passion for.

It was a connection, one different from the ones born of sparring. Every time she had carved something at the Dueling Peaks, people had talked about it, offered their opinion, joined her in creating. It had felt so right. The feeling she normally only got in the midst of combat.

It was a memory she cherished. If fighting was the thing she liked the most… then carving was a close second. To craft, to create was to make a record of friendship and memories.

Tigu took a breath, and dug her fingers into the ice. Her nails were sharper and longer than a normal human’s. Not proper claws, so they were slightly inferior to her other form, but they did make up for it with dexterity. She took it slowly. While it was fun to conjure a set of Qi blades and simply make what she envisioned in moments, there was something to be said for the process. To have her concentration fully consumed, like Master did, when he focused completely on his fields.

Her concentration was absolute, as she carved in lines. She was empty, save for her existence in the moment. As she shaved down ice, and walked from angle to angle to observe her work.

The Blade of Grass stared back at her. She was standing upon a mountain peak, moving through the form of her dance. Her eyes were resolute, staring forwards. It was somehow fierce and protective, yet soft and welcoming at the same time.

Tigu ran a finger down the sculpture’s face. The woman who had waded into hell to save her.

Her friend.

Not that she would tell Xiulan that too often though. It wasn’t good for the other woman to get a big head.

Satisfied, she placed the sculpture next to one of Master, and nodded.

There was a squeak of interest

‘Oh? She's not naked?’ Ri Zu’s voice came from behind Tigu. There was a teasing lit to it.

Tigu shrugged, turning, and holding out an arm to allow Ri Zu to clamber up. “Shes all smooth and fat looking. Her clothes are more interesting than her body.”

Ri Zu laughed, before shaking her head.

‘Poor Lanlan. Master wants you. He said we all have to stir the dough for the cookies, and make a wish for good luck.’

“Cookies?” Tigu felt some drool come up from the corner of her mouth. They had tasted good when she was a cat. She couldn’t imagine the flavours as a human.

‘And after… there is to be a Conclave of the Disciples. Bi De has called one, concerning the Solstice.’ Ri Zu finished.

Tigu nodded solemnly.

================================

The Conclave of the Disciples was held when the humans of the household departed for the greenhouse.

It was held in the side room of the house that was mostly used for storage. Unlike the main living room, the ceiling here was not high and vaulted, but lower, to accommodate the second floor. In the well-organized room, there was a table. Behind the table was a large piece of slate, dark, imposing, and full of writing and diagrams by Huo Ten about mining.

The only light to be had was a glowing crystal in the center of the table. The rest of the room was dark with shadows.

At the head of the table was Bi De, his back turned to them as he studied Huo Ten’s works. His wings were tucked behind him, as he waited patiently.

Before, Tigu had chafed at the placement, at the fact that the head was not her place. She had schemed to take it through violence, to cast low her fellow disciple and prove herself superior.

…She hadn’t given up that spot quite yet. She still wanted to stand there one day. But the urgency was gone. The bitterness did not manifest itself.

Bi De was at the head of the table… and that was fine. The rooster glanced back at feeling her eyes upon him, and gave her a brief dip of his head in acknowledgement. Tigu returned it, and sat down at her place, directly to Bi De’s right. The place of the strongest fighter. Ri Zu clambered off Tigu’s shoulder, and looked around. The little rat brightened, and she scampered off to get them cups.

Pi Pa was seated beside Chun Ke, brewing the tea. The prim pig was silent, but Chun Ke and Yin were not, the rabbit sitting on his head as they played Xs and Os. Yin’s fur was still a bit dirty from her time in the mine. Miantiao was watching, bemused at their back and forth game, while Huo Ten offered his own commentary, the monkey smiling up at Tigu and rolling his eyes.

Wa Shi was in his jar, simply laying on his back, his belly swollen with dinner, and a look of bliss on his face. Even Bei Be was here, the Ox bowing his head in thanks as Pi Pa finished her brew and trotted towards him.

Tigu looked around again, and fidgeted slightly. She was the only human in the room. The conclave was for Disciples.. Or more accurately Spirit Beasts. The first of Master’s Disciples.

Her heart thumped a bit faster in her chest, but she managed to calm it. She took a deep breath.

There was a muffled pop, and Rou Tigu was once more a cat. She felt… awkward in this form still. Almost claustrophobic, and she itched. She missed her hands immediately, as she stared at her paws, but clamped down on the urge to change back.

Several of the other disciples startled at what she had done, staring at her with concern, but she sat primly underneath their gazes.

‘Are you okay?’ Ri Zu whispered, returning with their cups. The honest look of compassion in her eyes made the twitching subside a bit.

‘I’m fine.’ Tigu said—even as the urge to swat at Ri Zu surged in her veins. She grabbed that part of her by its metaphorical throat and crushed it mercilessly, tearing into it and forcing it into the corner of her mind.

She was still Tigu. Her instincts could, as Master said, sod off.

Chun Ke ambled towards her, and nuzzled her with his nose, before returning to his side of the table.

Finally, the tea was served, and everybody settled down.

Bi De turned from his place at the head of the table.

His eyes were sharp, and his Qi was focused. His gaze swept overt them all, searching for something.

Then the rooster smiled. His Qi seemed to become something physical emanating pride and satisfaction, as he found none of them wanting.

“My fellow disciples, my friends, thank you for heeding my call. It warms my heart to know we can still gather together like this, even after all that has happened this year, with more added to our ranks and stronger than ever.”

His deep voice washed over them, his plumage radiant in the light of the crystal. Tigu sat up a bit straighter.

“Indeed, this year has been a trying one. Many tribulations have fallen upon us, yet we have met every challenge, and exceeded it. From the beasts of the depths, to dishonorable curs at the Dueling Peaks, we have repelled all that would do us harm. Yet even those who have not left Fa Ram have accomplished much, in serving our Master, and guarding our home. This Bi De commends all of you, Disciples of Fa Ram. It is my utmost honour to call all of you Brother and Sister.”

The Rooster swept into a bow, his wings placed in front of him in the gesture of respect. Tigu felt a small surge of emotion in her chest. She averted her eyes. If she was in human form she would probably be blushing, but this body felt only visceral satisfaction as Bi De rose, emotion in his eyes.

“However, another trial approaches. One upon the solstice. Upon the end of this cycle,and the beginning of another. One that we have been lax in. It is a most important task.”

Tigu leaned forward as Bi De continued. His eyes pierced them all. Tigu leaned forward, ready and eager.

“Upon the night of the solstice is a festival, a festival of fire. A celebration of the returning sun. It is upon this night that we have a most important duty.”

There was a tension in the room as they awaited Bi De’s announcement. All eyes were upon him. The rooster observed them, one and all. Finally, he spoke.

“My fellow disciples—have you all prepared the gifts to be exchanged upon the solstice?”

Tigu blinked. Sweat began to gather on her back. She glanced to Wa Shi in his jar, the fish looking vaguely panicked.

There was a muffled pop, and Tigu was human again.