"I'm a person," the boy replied to the Azure Dragon's question almost immediately – but then, after a moment, it was like a lightbulb went off in his head. "Wait! But lately, I've been able to turn into like… a horse! And I have this thing on my head. I'm a magical unicorn, I think."
The Azure Dragon couldn't help but laugh a little at his antics. "You aren't a unicorn, but you are a magical creature. We can help you learn more about yourself – but where are your parents? Do they know where you are?"
"Oh…" Pyotr looked away, his face suddenly turning glum. He didn't make any eye contact and muttered, "I don't have a mom and dad. I had a babushka, but she died a few months ago. I've been on my own for a while."
Zuma couldn't help but empathize with the kid. He seemed very innocent and naive, so it must have been even scarier to be by himself in such a desolate place. She put her hand on his head and ruffled the damp waves of his hair. Pyotr met her gaze reluctantly, but smiled as soon as he did.
"Thanks, auntie," he said, then turned back to Song Yuze. "If I'm magical, what can I do? Can you teach me?"
"Of course, we can teach you. There is much to learn," the dragon answered with an affectionate smile. "You can stay with us from now on. I will have a bedroom prepared for you – and, starting from this moment, you are going to be Akar's disciple. He will be your main teacher!"
Pyotr gazed up at the tall, muscular man and couldn't hide his obvious excitement. "Will I get to be as big as you, since you're teaching me?"
Akar said, "Maybe."
"That's so awesome…" the white-haired boy answered. "Also… you said that I get to stay? How come?"
"You're one of us now, little one," Song Yuze said, placing his hand softly on the qilin's cheek. "We take care of our own. You… you carry the spirit of someone dear to us."
"I do?" Pyotr blinked a couple times, brows furrowing. He was perplexed by the statement. "I don't know how to give it back."
"No, no, it is yours now. Do not fret, you don't have to give us anything." Song Yuze assured the boy, then continued cautiously, "Do you ever have weird dreams where you are someone else?"
"Hmm… maybe a few? I don't usually have dreams at all! Actually, I don't even get to sleep. It's too dangerous to sleep outside," Pyotr said with a stern expression, as if warning them all. "There are some scary animals out there. You never know if one of them will eat you. Or you can get frostbite. Or both. I hope you guys don't sleep outside."
Song Yuze sighed softly, both amused and distressed by the kid's answer. All he really wanted to know was if Pyotr possessed any of Verro's memories – namely anything revolving around the late White Qilin's death. It wasn't exactly a great thing to directly ask a child, though, which left the Azure Dragon vexed.
Akar gave Song Yuze a knowing look, and a slight smile in an attempt to comfort him. Although the Black Tortoise was a man of very few words, his strong, reliable presence eased the worries of anyone who spent time around him. He was something like a lighthouse in deep storms.
Song Yuze felt very fortunate to have such a great friend. With his bolstered confidence and strength, the Azure Dragon looked down at Pyotr with a gentle gaze.
"You said you were hungry. Would you like to have something to eat? Dinner isn't due for another few hours, but the cooks can make you something now," Song Yuze offered.
Pyotr nodded vigorously, then stopped for a moment of pause. "If there's nothing cooking, why does it smell so yummy in here?"
Song Yuze furrowed his brows, stumped by the question. He couldn't smell anything, and when he looked at Zuma and Akar, they both shrugged in agreement. It took several moments more of silence before Song Yuze finally understood what was going on.
"You aren't smelling food, you are smelling us," the dragon explained. Before he could elaborate further, Pyotr became confused once again.
The white-haired boy took a deep sniff and frowned. "Do you guys like to cook? How come you smell like food?"
Song Yuze chuckled, "That's one of your powers, Pyotr. You can smell other magical creatures like you, and you can track them. See, I am a dragon, Zuma is a bird, Akar is a tortoise – and you are a qilin."
Pyotr took an exaggerated deep breath and exhaled. His expression was contemplative and serious, as though a lot was on his mind. After some more silence, he finally spoke up again, "So there's no food ready? I do want to eat, though. Can we go see if the cooks can make snacks? Or I can make one myself!"
"Ah, of course," Song Yuze replied, becoming worn out by the kid's unpredictable demeanor. Much to the dragon's surprise, however, Akar spoke up.
"I'll get his room ready," the large man stated. "Next to mine. I'll look after him."
Both Zuma and Song Yuze looked at him with raised brows, but neither tried to stop him. It was so completely out of character that they had no idea what to say. Not that it mattered, considering he turned and left the moment he finished speaking.
Song Yuze turned to Zuma and gave her a sad smile, "If it isn't too much trouble, can you take him for snacks? I would like to leave to make plans for a memorial for Verro."
"Of course! Leave it to me," she answered with a dutiful nod.
Pyotr looked at the dragon curiously, "Who's Verro?"
"Oh… he was a good friend of mine," Song Yuze answered, his voice quiet. "He passed away."
The young qilin's light eyes started to fill with tears, and his lashes were wet with emotion. "I'm so sorry… It's so sad when someone dies… you must be so sad…"
"No, no! Don't cry, it's okay," Song Yuze panicked, surprised by the kid's display of such deep empathy. "We are all good. Now, go with Zuma to get something to eat! So that your stomach doesn't start to growl."
Immediately consoled by the idea of food, Pyotr's tears dried and he looked up at Zuma expectantly, waiting for her to lead the way. The bird laughed awkwardly, but took him by the hand to take him to the kitchen.
Song Yuze watched their retreating backs with a heavy heart. In the end, underneath their 'divinity' as beasts, were they all just people after all?