I grunt when my feet hit solid ground. “I’m tempted to joke about how badly my misters hurt, but I fear that’s not appropriate for the ears of a fine lady such as yourself,” I say to the horse, stroking her tangled black mane. She snorts in response but appears otherwise unbothered.
I leave her side momentarily to turn in a circle, attempting to gather my bearings while stripping out of my armor, abandoning the heavy pieces upon the ground. If I fail to find food and shelter by nightfall, my chances of starving to death or being eaten bysome ferocious jungle creature will rise exponentially. I would prefer not to die before I’ve even managed to catch a whiff of where this legendary beast could be lying in wait.
If, that is, it exists at all.
Now that I have, by some miracle, made it past the border into the Southern Kingdom, I must admit that I’m at a complete loss. I wasn’t lying to His Imperial Highness when I said I have a lousy sense of direction. Even if I could tell north from south, I have little knowledge of this region, having spent all my life in Jiaoshan. The nearest town could very well be around the bend, or it could be several days of travel from here. I have no maps, no sense of the terrain. And where is this huntress that Doctor Qi spoke of? I would much prefer not to wander aimlessly through this jungle, but I have no clue where else to begin.
Despair creeps up on me.
But I can’t just turn around and go home. Even if I somehow made it back past the massacre in the mountain pass, if I return home empty-handed, I will certainly lose my head and might even be risking my mother’s.
My gaze mindlessly wanders down to my hand. The fraying gray thread around my finger hasn’t moved since the battle earlier this morning. Could it have been a fluke? Perhaps machinations of my mind to distract me from my near-miss with death? No, that’s not it. It was only for a second, but I have never been more sure—I was closer to my Fated One than I have ever been. I sensed them, which means maybe—just maybe—they were able to sense me too.
It’s an exciting, terrifying thought.
“What do you think, my friend?” I ask my horse with a weary exhale, patting her neck. “I would wager all the emperor’s coin that my beloved is the most beautiful being in all the realms.”
My horse whinnies, lifting her head now that her thirst is thoroughly quenched.
“I hope they love to laugh,” I continue to muse aloud while adjusting the straps of my saddle. My grumbling belly demands that we be on our way, and soon.
“I wonder how they pass their time. Do they enjoy singing? We would be well suited, since I can’t carry a tune.”
My horse stomps her front hoof.
“Not one for conversation, either?” I mumble. “Good thing I don’t mind my own company.”
Somewhere behind me, a twig snaps.
I whip around, alarmed.
There’s nothing there.
I scan the thick jungle, searching for any movement. There’s a chance one of the Imperial soldiers could have followed me, but I was careful to check for pursuers as I dashed away. Perhaps an animal, then?
Or… something worse?
The traveling merchants used to tell me all sorts of tales about the wild and dangerous animals that roamed the jungles south of the mountain border. I was only a boy when they filled my head with stories about fierce fox spirits who were said to have nine tails and bewitch their prey, luring them in so they could feed on their victim’s life essence.
My favorite tales were about the yaoguai—creatures who were once Gods but were banished to the mortal realm for violating the laws of Heaven. It’s said that they are unfathomably hideous beasts, intent on consuming everything in their path. If the dragons of lore are in fact real, it stands to reason that other monsters may also lurk in the shadows.
I search the jungle canopy, paranoid. Still nothing.
“Let’s go,” I whisper to my horse before climbing back into the saddle.
I am terribly, hopelessly lost.
The dirt road we were following ended almost two li ago. I’m convinced we’re going in circles. It doesn’t help that every tree I choose as a waypoint looks exactly like the last.
The sun will be setting soon. While I’m not concerned about temperatures dropping to unbearably low levels, Iamconcerned about starvation. I know the basics of pitching a tent, but hunting? Starting a fire without flint and a striker? Those were things A-Ba failed to teach me before he passed.
Snap.
I throw a look over my shoulder. A cold dread freezes my marrow. Something is out there, watching and waiting. I hold my breath and try not to panic. The last thing I want is for my horse to spook and toss me off.
Something rustles the leaves.
“Who’s there?” I shout, praying my voice will scare whatever it is that’s been stalking me. “Come out where I can see you!”
