After the relieved reconnection between the siblings Shao Dai Lu briefly told her brother of her current location and the situation. Although relieved to hear and see she was alright despite being a bit disheveled, Shao Dai Ling promptly became afraid for his sister again at the mention of her savior being a man. And one she speculated being much stronger than both of them combined. He stood up with determination "Lulu stay there I'm coming to you now." "LingLing it's ok, if he tries anything I can at least catch him by surprise and run away. The pass is most likely to have been covered up by snow and impossible to traverse by foot now. Besides," Dai Lu, recalling how she was still in the same dirty clothes from before and how only the only place different from before was the piece of cloth missing from her suit resting in a chipped clay pot.
Most likely, this person had not a single shred of interest in her as a woman. "-if what you say is correct he had more than enough time to do something if he wanted while I was in and out of consciousness." Shao Dai Ling was still very much reluctant to see the reason in her words. No one knew how he felt when he turned around only to find his sister was no longer by his side in that snow storm. He would have gone mad and continued searching for her in that pass throughout the night if not for Hao Feng advising him otherwise. Seeing the discontent on his face, Dai Lu's own face softens as she tried to convince her sibling. "Brother if you push yourself too hard you may aggravate your own injury further and worry me instead. And delaying the trip back will ensure both of our failures in the test."
"We can retake it together." Dai Lu shook her head "But what of Hao Feng? And can you really bear to suffer the mockery of those people if both of us fail the test? I could never forgive myself if you held yourself back or became even more severely injured on the way back over here because of me. Don't waste any more time LingLing, we only have a couple of more days left." Dai Ling still disagreed with her words, he cared nothing for the mockery and laughter of others. Dai Lu was his only family left, she would always take priority no matter what. Leaving her behind is unbearable and unacceptable. Knowing what he thought, she could only threaten him with "If you dare to not listen I will march through the pass myself."
Dai Ling properly shut up after this threat wearing a frustrated expression as he knew that Dai Lu would carry out her words for real. Since young she had always been more daring and bull headed than himself. Still, a reluctant and lost look still entered his countenance after he deflated under her intimidation "Lulu..." Knowing she had won the battle, Dai Lu internally breathed a sigh of relief reassuring her sibling she would be fine. "How about this, if storm completely subsides in two days I will meet you two at the entrance of the pass before noon in four days time. If I can't make it then you and Hao Feng will head to the capital without me and I will send out a rescue request immediately afterwards." It was a barely satisfactory compromise.
Dai Lu and Dai Ling reluctantly ended the communication link between themselves on the premise of the both of them needing to rest. The two unlucky Shao siblings were still recovering from either illness or injury after all. Her stomach grumbles just in time as she finally took notice of the enticing smell of the rabbit stew that had long been boiling and awaiting her to eat it. As she made to serve herself a bowl she wavers between waiting for if her savior would return or not. Forget it, she decides. If he wants to eat too then he can eat alone. Although it was a bit bland, thanks to the spices and herbs she had gathered before the strange turn of weather it was a bearable hot meal.
Occasionally she would look over at the light opening above her head for the man, but even as the sky became darker and the snow slowly stopped falling deep into the night. He never returned besides the one time of delivering her the rabbit. Still a bit tired from her emotional outbursts and recovery, Dai Lu sat beside the fire resting her head between her knees sleepily watching the entrance for any trace of movement. Before long, no matter how much stamina she had, the warmth of the fire and the warm meal in her belly still lulls her into a strangely peacefully slumber. Without her notice, as soon as the last flutter of her lashes cues. A silver shadow calmly carries in a clay pot full of water to the fire.
He replaces the stew, setting it aside for an old fashioned clay pot to boiled water while completely dismissing the human beside it. Very patiently placing logs in the fire and beside the wall away from entrance. 'Older brother make sure you also clean the front yard and pile the snow like you do every year, don't forget do it cleanly! This year for sure I will sculpt the most handsome sculpture in the entire village!' He lifts his head at the heavy snow upon the makeshift roof, then quietly lowers his gaze to finish his other tasks without a word. A pair of ghostly feet danced in front of him drawing his attention faintly. Dressed in a winter fox pelt dress, the girl who had grown into a beautiful young woman beamed at him laughing delightedly.
The hands moving the logs pause for only a fraction of a second before continuing their menial task of stacking logs in a corner. 'Aren't I beautiful? I made it from the fox pelts you gifted me awhile ago! You should have seen the other girl's faces when I stepped outside this morning, they were jealous enough to want to throw stones at me hahah~!' Her malicious yet innocent laughter coaxed the smallest of smiles in his eyes. She must have noticed, as her eyes brightened further with more than a little excitement to have managed to coax something out of him. 'Brother, uncle told me that you haven't left your, other form, as much anymore to mingle with the others. Maybe, this year you will think of joining us during the bonfire dances?'
Haolin had finished his task of moving the firewood and didn't acknowledge the crestfallen expression of the young woman behind him. Only hearing her murmur under her breath as he turned away to clear the snow she asked him to. 'Mother and Uncle miss having you around too...can you make an exception for this year at least?' Haolin heaves a large lungful of air as he climbs out. Men and woman laughing, dancing all around him as he clears the snow. The flicker of ghostly lights across the once beloved shrine plaza, warm colors everywhere he looked. Music entering his ears along with the excited chatter of comrades in battle, those who had not fallen to a blade or spear at least.
And, as he finished the last of the snow, a withered hand full of as many scars and callouses as himself appeared beneath his nose holding a cup of alcohol. Haolin stopped and stared at this hand fill with age and untold stories of bloodshed. Still able to recall ever single detail of this hand, the same hand that blocked his eyes on that horrid day where he had lost his father. The hand that taught him how to fight. The hand that pulled him from the ground when he fell down. The hand which affectionately tussled his hair no matter how many years passed. 'Haolin.' Raising his head, he found the eyes of his uncle, as warm, stern, but considerate as ever. The alcohol so strong it burned his throat just smelling.
'Join us for a drink, Cuizhong and Kian said they missed your company.' Haolin slowly, took this cup of alcohol smelling so strong of fermented fruit, it perfectly masked the other hidden ingredient within from the Guardian of the Winter Pass. Hidden behind the trust, and familiar face of a blood relative who took over the role of a father when he lost his. Haolin stared at the face of the person who betrayed his trust in the dark plaza whose due date had long passed. Seeing Haolin take the cup, his eyes grew warmer and he spoke in an even more relaxed voice. 'Your father would have been proud how well you've grown, nephew.'