Lil'blackie reached out cautiously with one of her small, white paws, her heart pounding as she gently touched the glowing feather.
The moment her paw made contact, the feather began to shift and twist, as if it were alive. Lil'blackie jumped back, her eyes wide with surprise, but her curiosity kept her rooted to the spot.
To her astonishment, the feather started to unfurl like a clam opening its shell, revealing something hidden inside. A soft, shimmering light spilled out from within, casting an ethereal glow around the room.
As the feather fully opened, Lil'blackie gasped. Lying within the delicate folds was a small boy, dressed in black, his face pale and peaceful, yet clearly alive.
Lil'blackie blinked in shock, unable to comprehend what she was seeing. The boy looked no older than sixteen or fifteen, his dark clothes contrasting sharply with his fair skin.
His hair was as black as night, framing his delicate features, and his eyes, though closed, had a softness that made Lil'blackie feel an inexplicable connection to him.
The groan she had heard earlier was coming from the boy, now softer but filled with a quiet pain. Lil'blackie felt a pang of sympathy in her heart.
She didn't understand why, but something about the boy stirred deep emotions within her, a sense of protectiveness she had never felt for anyone but Lin Xiao and Xiao Bai.
The boy's breathing was shallow, and his small hands were clenched into fists as if he were holding onto something in his sleep.
Lil'blackie stepped closer, her head tilting as she studied him. There was something about him that felt familiar, like a memory she couldn't quite grasp. Despite his frail appearance, there was an aura of strength about him, a hidden power that she could sense instinctively.
Lil'blackie hesitated for a moment, her mind racing with questions. Who was this boy? How had he come to be inside the feather? And why did she feel such a strong connection to him?
She couldn't shake the feeling that this boy was important, that he was somehow tied to everything that had been happening.
With a soft, concerned meow, Lil'blackie nudged the boy gently with her nose, trying to wake him up. His groaning subsided slightly, and he shifted, but his eyes remained closed.
Lil'blackie sat back on her haunches, watching him intently, her tail curling around her paws as she pondered her next move.
She knew she had to protect this boy, even if she didn't fully understand why.
Lil'blackie hesitated for a moment, her tail lightly brushing the boy's forehead. The instant her soft, fluffy tail made contact, the boy's eyes began to flutter open. His long, dark lashes trembled as he blinked, trying to focus on the world around him.
He looked dazed, his vision still blurry, but as his eyes slowly adjusted to the dim light, he saw the faint silhouette of Lil'blackie hovering above him.
"Sister, is that you?" the boy whispered weakly, his voice barely audible. There was a softness in his tone, a mix of hope and longing that sent a shiver through Lil'blackie's small frame.
Lil'blackie froze, her heart skipping a beat. The word "sister" echoed in her mind, leaving her both confused and startled.
Why was this boy calling her sister? The thought spun in her mind, twisting into a knot of uncertainty. She wasn't anyone's sister, at least not in the way this boy seemed to believe.
She stared at the boy, her golden eyes wide with confusion. His small face was still pale, but there was a gentle warmth in his expression as if seeing her had given him some comfort.
The connection she felt earlier surged even stronger now, a bond she couldn't understand but also couldn't deny.
"Why… why would you call me sister?" she thought, almost wishing she could speak those words aloud.
But instead, she simply tilted her head, studying the boy more closely. His eyes, now fully open, were a deep, endless black, reflecting a depth of emotion that seemed far beyond his years. There was something in them, something that felt old, ancient even, as if he had lived many lifetimes before this moment.
Lil'blackie's tail flicked nervously as she tried to make sense of the situation. The boy was staring up at her with such an earnest, hopeful expression, as if he truly believed she was someone important to him, someone he had been searching for.
The confusion swirled in her mind, but beneath it all was a faint sense of recognition, as if some long-buried memory was trying to surface.
"Sister…" the boy repeated, his voice barely above a whisper, but this time there was a hint of sadness in his tone.
It tugged at Lil'blackie's heart, a feeling she couldn't quite name. Why did she feel this way? Why did this boy's words resonate so deeply within her? It was as if a piece of her was responding to him, something deep and instinctual.
The urge to protect him, to comfort him, grew stronger. She moved closer, pressing her soft fur against his cheek, a gesture of reassurance. The boy's eyes fluttered again, a small, tired smile forming on his lips as if her touch was enough to ease his pain.
Lil'blackie's mind raced with questions, but the answers eluded her. All she knew was that this boy was important, and for some reason, he saw her as his sister. It didn't make sense, but the feeling was undeniable.
As she watched him struggle to stay awake, she wondered what to do next. Should she try to wake Lin Xiao? Or should she stay here, by this boy's side, until he was stronger?
The uncertainty gnawed at her, but one thing was clear—she couldn't leave him. Not now, not when he needed her.
Lil'blackie hesitated, feeling the strange connection between them grow stronger with each passing moment. She decided to try something she hadn't done before—speaking to him telepathically. Focusing her thoughts, she gently reached out to the boy's mind.
"Why are you calling me your sister?" Lil'blackie asked, her voice echoing softly in the boy's thoughts.
The boy's expression, which had been one of fragile happiness, shifted suddenly. His eyes, once filled with warmth, turned cold with sadness. The change was so sudden that it startled Lil'blackie. His small body tensed, and for a moment, he looked like a child who had lost everything.
"No!" he yelled weakly, his voice cracking with emotion. "I shouldn't be here…"
His words were filled with regret and fear, as though the reality of his situation had just dawned on him.
The sadness in his eyes deepened, making him seem even smaller and more vulnerable than before. He tried to push himself up, but his strength failed him, and he collapsed back onto the ground, trembling slightly.
Lil'blackie watched in concern, her mind racing. What did he mean by that? Why was he so upset?
She didn't understand, but she could feel his despair, and it pained her in a way she hadn't expected. She wanted to comfort him, to tell him it was okay, but she didn't know how.