Hei An sat up, catching his breath as a shiver crept down his body; he still rested his hand on the pendant now softly warm on his skin. The dream clung to his mind like "velvet darkness": a history of Hei Clan, the power of Beastblood Bond, and those last words spoken by the mysterious man. His blood pulsed seemingly with some sort of energy, his body vibrating with a connection to his clan, to his family, and with something he did not even know.
A faint rustling in the nearby trees disturbed him. He turned his gaze around just as a familiar shadow drifted towards him, soft as it landed on a branch above. It was a raven, one that watched over him for days now. Its eyes gleamed with an almost knowing intelligence, and Hei An found himself drawn to the bird; its dark feathers shimmered under the faint light of dawn.
"Xuè Yǐng…", Hei An whispered, subconsciously assigning the name to the bird as he watched it. The bird tilted its head, this almost a subtle nod as if to acknowledge the name.
"That will be your name."
At that moment, something strange stung within him. He found himself almost drawn closer to it, like something unreal was stirring. All of a sudden, everything was tilted as he gazed deep into the eyes of Xuè Yǐng; he was seeing things from another angle. Hei An gasped as the forest spread out before him, alive and vivid as he had never seen it before. Through Xuè Yǐng's eyes, he could see the faint trails of other creatures in the brush, hear the rustling of the leaves far beyond his own ears' reach, and feel the soft morning breeze through feathers he did not possess.
Hei An blinked, breaking his connection and returning to his own vision. Xuè Yǐng ruffled its feathers, as if to say, 'Yes, you sensed it too, didn't you?'
This was no mere fancy or friendship; he could sense the being of Xuè Yǐng in ways beyond the reasonable. Testing this bond, he fixed his mind on the raven once again, stretching out his senses. At once, he caught a flash of a tree farther off-the faint sheen of morning dew on its branches, a view as seen by his raven friend.
Exhilaration swept over Hei An's body. He had always found himself baffled by the connection he shared with the forest, with creatures he'd never dared to approach. Now, he understood-this was the Beastblood Bond, the ancient power of his clan. Through it, he might reach Xuè Yǐng's mind, share its sight, perhaps even more in time.
"Xuè Yǐng," he whispered, staring into the raven's dark eyes. "I believe.. . I believe we are bound together. That man called it the Beastblood Bond. It seems to mean you and I are … connected in a way that I can hardly understand. "
The raven gave a soft caw, as if in assent, and Hei An felt a strange, wordless vow between them. He realized now that despite its small size, Xuè Yǐng was intelligent and very agile, making it a slippery, cunning ally. The individual Shadow Raven would be quite weak; however, in numbers, their power lies in coordination, almost an elusive quality, and ability to outwit bigger, powerful creatures.
Hei An remained still, savoring the tide of new feelings that lashed against him with the bond to Xuè Yǐng. Bonding was an odd feeling, almost as if his mind had opened up to hold two minds. He could see through the raven's eyes, sense Xuè Yǐng's instincts, the thrill of the hunt, and even the flow of energy inside—it had a kind of pulse, a beat that echoed his own cultivation. Entranced, Hei An focused his mind on testing these newfound abilities.
'Let's see what else you can do Xuè Yǐng', Hei An thought, his gaze locked onto the bird as a quiet determination settled within.
As though Hei An had conveyed his intent, Xuè Yǐng spread its wings, and flew up from branch to a still more shadowy branch. With the movement following this shadow, Hei An was able to see through its sharp, nocturnal eyes. Everything was clear in sharp detail: swinging leaves, the shine of dewdrops on spider webs, and faint movements from small creatures that lurked in the underbrush. But beyond just seeing, Hei An could sense the raven's presence and how naturally it seemed to fit into the shadows.
'This must be how Shadow Ravens survive', Hei An thought, marveling at the raven's stealth. His bond allowed him to understand that Shadow Ravens had a natural ability to mask their presence, an instinct for remaining hidden even from stronger predators. Xuè Yǐng was a young raven, but its stealth and agility were sharper than any creature he'd seen.
Curious, Hei An leaned forward, probing the depth of Xuè Yǐng's cultivation. The feeling was weird, as if he were penetrating the very heart of the bird's spirit, grasping its power in a sense that had never come to him for his own. To his amazement, he felt that Xuè Yǐng was at the late stage of Spirit Awakening Realm. He sat bolt upright in shock, realizing Xuè Yǐng was already a step ahead of him, in both spirit and strength.
His heart pounded. Unbelievable—a creature far stronger than himself had willingly bonded to him.
"So… this is the power of the Beastblood Bond," he whispered. "Even though I'm weaker, I can bond my strength to a creature of greater power."
The implications were as exciting as they were appalling. If he could bond with more powerful beasts, he would perhaps be able to strengthen himself fast enough to go up against those who took everything from him. Visions of his village assaulted him once more - blood, fallen bodies, the last words of his father. Pain and rage tore at him, mixed in a deep grief that would burn him alive. And yet, he no longer felt like he was alone. Xuè Yǐng, his bond, was here with him.
Hei An took a deep steadying breath and turned to Xuè Yǐng perched nearby, whose dark eyes met his. "Xuè Yǐng… he whispered, the voice tight in his throat. "Will you help me?" His words found lower notes and carried the load of sorrow and rage. "Help me avenge them."
The young raven croaked softly, lowly. And though it could not speak, Hei An was given unmistakable insight into a wave of resolution that came from it-an assurance that needed no words. It was a silent promise, and an understanding passing between them with a strange quiet intensity. Xuè Yǐng was ready to stand beside him, in hiding or in battle.
The raven cocked its head, eyes glinting as if that was the ultimate decision he could share with Hei An. That tie brought him strength and purpose; for one thing, he could recall his clan's past, but more importantly, a very great legacy he was destined to carry on.
He stroked the pendant gently, a part of his family and heritage that was pulsing with life now. Maybe with Xuè Yǐng and the legacy of the Hei Clan he'd be strong enough to stand up against his enemies. He gazed out across the horizon as the weight of his resolve anchored him down and grounded him in ways both powerful and humbling.
There, he barely whisper words to himself: "Father, Ling'er… don't worry, I will avenge you."