Anhe and Chenguang strode past clear spring forest chatting continuously, the amazing bloom of its fluorescent flowers always leaves a delightful sight and amazing fragrance.
"Clear spring is amazing this time of the year." Chenguang twirled, feeling incredibly satisfied with the welcoming weather but Anhe's mind was racing as she anxiously held the basket.
"Master Futuan, would without a doubt punish us if we miss practice."
Chenguang rolled her eyes at Anxi's dramatic display of fear; they wouldn't have stayed that long if she didn't insist on finishing her painting.
"Calm your already troubled heart, we'll make it on time and if we don't, we'll just make up an excuse about the herbs being scarce so we had to change route."
Anhe pondered on that for a while, surely master Futuan is bound to believe that, besides he sent them to pick herbs for him.
Chenguang smiled solemnly, seeing her friend relax. "See? There's always excuses now…." Chenguang wasn't able to complete her statement as her mind and sight diverted to an unmoving figure resting far from where they stood, quickly enhancing her curiosity.
"Anhe, what's that?"
Anhe glanced at the direction her friend pointed and truly, she could equally sight the figure, motionless on the ground.
Chenguang was ready to clear her curiosity and held Anhe's hands, her eyes sparkling with delight.
"Come on, let's go see."
"Are you insane?" Anhe freed her wrist, wondering if her friend had gone nuts. "We don't have time to worry about that, we need to head back now."
Chenguang lightly flicked her friend's forehead as a manner of trying to bring Anhe's senses back. "You worry too much! It wouldn't hurt to take a peek and find out what it is, what if it needs help?"
Anhe remained quiet, still a bit hesitant to continue further, she had no idea what that could be and what if they end up getting into trouble because of it.
"Come on, something's out there and it could be hurt, we'll be rewarded by master Futuan and the above if we did a good deed."
After a lot of pressure from Chenguang, Anhe finally nodded her head in agreement.
"Alright fine, but keep your distance and try not to get too close."
Chenguang nodded in response and slowly, the two ladies tiptoed to the figure which remained motionless on the ground. Getting a few meters close to it, both ladies' eyes widened at the sight before them and they blinked continuously in disbelief.
"Anhe?"
"Chenguang?"
Both maidens exchanged glances and realized they had the same shocking expression on their faces, averting their gazes, it was focused back on the motionless figure.
"What is that?" Chenguang questioned with a whisper.
"A wolf?"
"Does a wolf have wings?"
"I'm confused on what kind of species this wolf is."
"What is that mark on its forehead?"
"It's not even moving."
"Is it dead?"
They continued to whisper amongst themselves but one thing they found hard to ignore was its beauty.
It's fur was as white as snow compared to other species of wolves they could possibly think of, it's massive wing folded itself, shielding it's whole body, it had the face of a wolf and equally had paws but what left Anhe a bit stricken was the wings and the beauty of the wolf itself. It looked like a pup and was extremely cute!
"I doubt it's an ordinary wolf."
Taking one step closer to observing the beautiful wolf pup, Anhe figured out the wolf pup was actually injured due to the red colors on its snow-like fur.
"It's wounded."
Anhe was the first to move forward and it was Chenguang who drew her back this time around.
"I...I think you were right when you said we should just leave, this thing could be dangerous."
Anhe turned to look at her, unable to believe the words escaping from her friend's mouth. "But it's seriously wounded, we can't just leave it here."
"We can't take this mystic creature back either, everyone in the village would run away if we took it back, who knows it could even be dead."
Anhe cautiously crouched beside the stunning creature hoping that wasn't the case, its eyes were closed shut and it still didn't move. Gazing intently at its face, the mystic wolf finally opened its eyes, startling Anhe as she locked gaze with it, but its weakness was clearly visible in those beautiful moonless dark eyes as it didn't react to her presence.
"It's badly injured, we need to treat it." Anhe concluded after she was done with her observation.
"How?"
Anhe rushed to the basket she had just gotten some herbs and rubbed two distinct flower herbs together till they brought out oil.
"I'll add this to its wound, it should sustain it till we get back to the village so I can give it proper treatment."
Chenguang's eyes widened. "You're taking it with us??"
"Yes, it'll be wrong of me to leave a wounded wolf knowing very well I can save its life."
"But master Futuan…"
"He doesn't have to know, after I get it treated, I'll bring it safely back here so it can go back to exactly where it came from."
Chenguang was still hesitant. "I don't know…"
"You were the one who brought us here, you can't turn back on your words now, I'm taking it with me."
Anhe turned away from her as a sign she has made up her mind and doesn't want further discussion about it. She hurried over to the wounded wolf, crouching beside it and that's when the mystic wolf stared at her alarmingly, although it was awake and weak, it definitely wasn't dropping it's guard as it growled as a sign of warning, wiggling it's long fluffy tail as a way of saying 'Back off!'.
Anhe didn't know what else to do but she heard talking to animals calmly can ease their alarm and as long as she sounded genuine, the wolf pup might just heed to her word.
"Hello there." Her sweet, soft voice rang calmly in its ears.
"I'm not here to hurt you okay? I just want to help, if you let me, I could get you treated and heal your wounds."
Anhe still noticed the alarm in its dark gaze and the frightening aura surrounding the wolf but proceeded calmly, showing the herbs in her fair palms as evidence.
"I come in peace, do let me treat your wounds for you."
After a while of speaking, it's alarming gaze slowly dropped a bit, Anhe smiled at the result of her words and leaned closer to rub the herbs gently on the deep scar close to it's legs, the wound is even more severe than she had expected!
The wolf finally dropped it's full guard and rested its tail, giving Anhe the relief she wanted as she gently massaged the wounded area with oil, seemed like it realized she meant no harm.
Chenguang just stood there, watching her friend take care of the beautiful white wolf and watched her pick it into her arms, silently praying it wouldn't bite her.
"We should go now so I can get it treated and return master Futuan's herbs to him."
Chenguang nodded while carrying the basket and they left the area.