Jin Lu stared at Long Yin in disbelief. The silence stretched on for a few moments, until Jin Lu blinked at the restless movements of the rider's mounts.
"You… Uni… What?" Jin Lu couldn't decide what to respond to first, giving Long Yin a piece of her mind or the horrifyingly beautiful animal that the group was riding. Each animal was the shape of a large Clydesdale, with one or two horns on its head. Instead of a mane, she could make out small leathery flaps on either side of their heads, while their scaled skin shimmered in iridescent waves that reflected the surroundings.
Long Yin chuckled at Jin Lu's stuttering as he watched his face go back and forth between ghostly pale to burning red.
"Shall we go?" Long Yin asked, holding his hand up to Jin Lu. Jin Lu cleared her throat, settling on glaring at Long Yin.
"I'm fine, you go ahead." Jin Lu regally thrust out her chin.
Even with his hair a tangled mess, Long Yin's heart stuttered at the wild picture of Jin Lu as a majestic jungle god looking down on the intruders in his territory. A few of the group looked down and coughed, hiding their astonished amusement at Jin Lu's audacious answer, while others were in shock.
Long Yin lowered his hand onto the back of his mount, using it to flip himself onto the tree branch next to Jin Lu. The soft gasp that escaped Jin Lu's lips was stifled against Long Yin's chest as he wrapped his arm around Jin Lu's waist. Feeling Jin Lu's small fingers gather his robe in his fist and start to shake, Long Yin whispered next to Jin Lu's ear.
"I am sorry, Jin Lu. I will not leave your side again." Jin Lu felt the softest brush of Long Yin's lips against her ear, and she closed her eyes. A hiccup caught Jin Lu by surprise as her eyes grew hot. Long Yin pulled Jin Lu into his chest and rubbed her back at the sound, holding her tightly. The pressure of Long Yin's arms holding her was too much for Jin Lu.
Ignoring the group Long Yin had gathered to help search for Jin Lu, Long Yin lightly jumped to the ground. The corners of his mount's hood flicked at the added weight, but that was the only indication it gave. Long Yin clicked his tongue and used his knees to control the ponos as he hid Jin Lu's face against his robe. Though the cloth he was wearing was resistant to liquid, it didn't stop Long Yin from feeling the heat of each tear as it fell.
The six riders that came with Long Yin ignored what was happening with Jin Lu as they formed a circle, with Long Yin and his passenger in the center. Fierce glowing eyes connected with the black gaze hidden in the shadows. The rumbling of an approaching storm gathering in the clear sky was further evidence that though Long Yin's expression was stoic, his emotions were not. The person in the shadows disappeared, primal fear pushing him harder than ever before.
Long Yin buried his nose in Jin Lu's hair, breathing in his scent. There was no indication of injury, making Long Yin think that Jin Lu's sudden outburst was because his young little Yang had missed him. He promised himself that for each drop that fell, the person behind his Yang's tears would lose a strip of flesh.
Of course, that was not the reason that Jin Lu had lost control of her emotions.
The sudden disappearance of adrenaline, mixed with Jin Lu's lack of a full nights sleep, as well as the cyclone of unexpected events, had weakened Jin Lu's hold on her emotional state. She was able to quickly get her emotions back under control by calming her breathing and clearing her mind of useless thoughts.
Jin Lu sniffed one last time before pulling her face back enough to use the edge of Long Yin's robe to wipe her eyes. She was surprised at the swift and easy gait of the creature she was riding, as well as how smooth its scales were under her hand.
"His name is Yazhu. He's a reptilian ponos. There are many different types of ponos depending on their affinity. The reptilian ponos are prone towards water and earth elements." Jin Lu welcomed Long Yin's calm explanation, since it gave her something other than the feel of Long Yin's arms around her to concentrate on. Jin Lu cleared her throat.
"Are we going back to the school?" Though her voice was soft, it didn't waver or crack. Jin Lu took that as a small win.
"Yes, but don't worry. We will be leaving very soon."
A shiver slithered down Jin Lu's spine at the look of excited malice in Long Yin's eyes. Though she understood the need for violence in certain situations, she would still like to avoid it when she could.
Long Yin's arms tightened around her, misinterpreting her body's response as her being afraid despite his reassurance. Flicking his glance at the surrounding group, he spoke in her mind, rather than out loud.
My brothers and I are in charge of different territories. The Sheisau territory in the Mortal Plain is mine. I was informed a few months back that an organization was causing trouble in Kuru City, and decided to investigate.
There was no reason for Long Yin to explain this to Jin Lu, but something inside wanted to comfort the small boy in his arms, who's cheeks were streaked with tears and pale complexion was slightly flushed. Long Yin watched Jin Lu's eyes cloud over in thought before they cleared.
I want to go to the library.
Jin Lu's voice was firm. She needed to know more about this new land and the people who lived here. Being dependent on Long Yin wasn't something that she was completely comfortable doing. Though he didn't seem to mind.
Long Yin was confused by Jin Lu's request, but nodded anyway. He would prefer that Jin Lu rest when they got back to Kuru Academy, but thought that there wasn't much chance of something happening to Jin Lu inside the academy library.
The trees surrounding them gradually thinned and they eventually exited Huan Forrest. Jin Lu could see the Beast Barrier trees before the main road came into view. The few travelers on the road looked over at their sudden appearance, but no one showed any suspicious interest in their group.
Long Yin took the lead, the other riders forming a half circle around him and Jin Lu. The ride back to the academy was uneventful, and Jin Lu allowed herself to give in to her body's urging to rest.
Long Yin let out a long sigh as he felt Jin Lu's breathing even out after a few moments of quiet. One of the people riding with them moved his ponos close enough to speak in a low voice with Long Yin.
"The young master is different than I thought he would be." There was no judgment in his bland tone. Qin Shun had been Long Yin's manservant since Long Yin had taken over the Sheisau territory.
Long Yin looked over and chuckled.
"That's one way to describe him. Has the household been informed?"
"As you had requested, everything has been arranged."
Long Yin nodded at Qin Shun, a small smile curving a corner of his lips. He couldn't wait to introduce his Yang to his new home.