Bai Lei lays Nova down on his bed as Zhen and MingMing cautiously follow them and watch. Bai Lei pulls the covers back and gently tucks her in as he touches her forehead again. Her fever seems to be going down a bit.
"So, why are you two foxes following Nova?" Bai Lei asks turning to look at Zhen and MingMing. They both freeze, realizing that this man knows what they are. Zhen releases his magic and instantly changes back into a majestic White fox with nine tails. MingMing follows behind Zhen with unease.
"Liling is my Granddaughter. Someone took her from my cave." Zhen says with a calm he didn't really feel. Bai Lei's eyebrows shoot up as a smile pulls at the corner of his mouth. "Granddaughter? She doesn't belong to this world... how could she be your anything?"
This time Zhen is shocked. He knows? "Liling saved my life, I adopted her as my Granddaughter... she is now my family," Zhen says with pride. Bai Lei's smile disappears as his eyes flash with understanding. "So you're the one she saved... you're also the reason she's changed, correct?"
Zhen frowns a bit but nods his head. Bai Lei sneers at the fox and says "You've put a target on her! She's a walking prey to others seeking power." Zhen's eyes widen in shock at the man. "You care about her..." Zhen says with realization.
Bai Lei scoffs at him as Zhen says "She was too weak before... she couldn't cultivate, she couldn't fight, she couldn't do anything! I did the only thing I could to help her... I wanted to give her a chance to survive in this world."
Bai Lei freezes as the fox's words sink in. What he says is true... When he first met Nova... sigh... Maybe it was for the best? Bai Lei sighs and sits on the bed next to Nova and begins touching her long, soft hair.
"Who are you?" Zhen asks with curiosity. Bai Lei doesn't take his eyes off Nova as he says "I'm someone who fell hopelessly in love..." Zhen's eyes nearly pop out of his head at the man's words but he doesn't know what to say.
Ren and the doctor finally arrive and after the doctor does his check-up, he turns to Bai Lei with a bow and says "Your Majesty, she just seems to have a cold brought on by stress and lack of rest. I will write a prescription for her and she should be better in a few days."
Bai Lei nods and says "That'll do. Ren, take the prescription and make it personally." Ren wants to say something but he bits his tongue and accepts the prescription. He was a Shadow Gaurd!! Not a nurse!! He glances at his Master once more before leaving to make the medicine.
Bai Lei looks down at Nova with an unreadable look. She came... she really came back. Something deep in his heart starts to swell and overflow with strange emotions as he leans down and places his hand on her head.
~~~~~~
I stir when I feel a cold refreshing stream of energy entering my body. I open my eyes and look up to see Bai Lei's dark eyes looking down at me with concern. Was this a dream? Or maybe it was my fever making me hallucinate...
"You're awake... how are you feeling?" Bai Lei asks with a soft low voice. I blink a few times, this was real?? "Where... how?" I ask in confusion. Bai Lei gives me a knowing smile as he says "I felt you... and with Ren's help, I was able to find you. I'm sorry I took so long..."
I shake my head and then freeze. "Ren?" I ask in disbelief causing Bai Lei to chuckle. "Hard to believe I know, but he really did find you." Ren walks in at that moment and nearly drops the freshly made medicine.
He's never seen Master smiling like that!! He blinks several times to clear his eyes but nothing changes. His smile is so... gentle. That's not a word he would ever use to describe his Master... Bai Lei looks up and catches Ren standing in shock.
Ren quickly shakes himself and walks over with the medicine. "It has to all be taken while it's still warm," Ren says with a tight voice. He turns around and nearly jumps out of his shoes. Where did the nine-tailed foxes come from!?! Were they here the whole time!??
Bai Lei lifts the bowl to my mouth but as soon as I smell the bitter smell, I quickly turn my head to the side and say "I'm fine, I promise. I just need a little sleep." Bai Lei frowns at me and says "Either you take it or I will help you."
I give him a pleading look but it doesn't phase him so I take the bowl with a look of resentment. I take a few breaths then I hold my breath as I knock back the nasty medicine. As soon as I'm done, I shove the bowl back to Bai Lei and cover my mouth.
It threatens to come back up a few times causing Bai Lei to chuckle again. Suddenly a small fruit is in his outstretched hand. I look to it before looking to him in question. "I know how much you like sweet things, this is a Lily peach that grows here and it's known for being sweet."
I take the small fruit shaped like a small peach and bite into it. Juice nearly drips down my chin as flavors burst to life in my mouth, quickly chasing the bitter medicine away. I take a few more bites before sighing with content. Bai Lei reaches out and wipes at the corner of my mouth so I quickly lean back and wipe it myself.
I give him a small thankful smile but suddenly someone clears their throat. I look over and find Zhen looking at Bai Lei and I with mirth. "Zhen!?" I say in excitement but when I try to get up, Bai Lei quickly catches me and says "You need to stay in bed. You need your rest."
I give him a look of discontentment as I turn back to Zhen. He was giving me a relieved smile as he says "You have no idea how long I've been looking for you girl. I'm glad you're okay... it seems like you've even made a new acquaintance." He gives me a knowing smile as he turns to look at Bai Lei.