Beware Of Chicken

But what if one knew what was happening was a memory, yet did not want to leave.

It was something beautiful. Old and precious. A well appointed hut.

A man was sitting at a desk covered in a thousand scrolls and sheafs of paper. Beside him sat a woman. Harsh and severe looking, she held a pipe in her singular hand—the other was missing.

Formations. Formations far more advanced than Gen had ever seen. The work of his Great Ancestor spiraled out before him. Each complete piece was a masterpiece. Each was a work of pure art.

The man turned around from the desk, towards the man Gen was viewing the scene from. He had thick, bushy sideburns, and slightly too sharp teeth. His eyes danced with mischievous glee, even as pride and satisfaction was evident within them.

But what held his attention was the crystal in his hands.

Formed without flaw, without the signs of age that Gen had seen. It was the same crystal within which he was trapped.

“That should do it. Lady Cao’s work was inspired, as always.” The man said as he handed the crystal back to Gen. Gen did not fight the strange feeling of another moving his body. He simply observed.

The woman rolled her eyes. “You did most of this stuff, you little fool. I’m not what I used to be.”

The man grinned, and with a pop, in his place sat a monkey. His golden fur and bright eyes sparked.

“Oook. Aah!” he said, cocking his head to the side, as if confused.

The woman groaned. “Don’t you even dare start that up again. Do you know how embarrassing it was when you played dumb in front of Ruolan?!”

The monkey cackled, and the man holding the crystal shook his head with amusement.

“Thank you, my friends.” The man said. “Cao Li, Kuang Den.”

Both bowed to the man.

“It was a pleasure, my Lord.” the woman intoned, as both of them rose.

The man clasped his hands in return…. And then at some invisible signal, the formality dropped, as they started to exit the hut.

“Are you sure about going to Pale Moon City?” The man asked Lady Cao.

“Yes, My Lord, I am certain. Formations don’t make themselves, as you well know. It’ll be interesting to see the big city, for once in my life. Hubby has been waxing poetic about it forever.”

The monkey, who had clambered to her shoulders, frowned, but said nothing. He tightened his grip slightly, and the woman absently patted the arm with affection. “Don’t worry, I’ll come back every couple of months.” She reassured.

At the doorway, the monkey, Gen’s Honoured Ancestor, clambered off the woman’s back, and with a pop was once more human.

The door opened.

They ventured out of the hut, out onto a mountain top. The wind whistled past them and the sun shed a bright light. It was cold and harsh, stark and beautiful. The sight resonated deep in Gen’s soul. Something that he hadn’t realized had been lost to him all his life. Gen felt a sense of completion. This was home. For it was not the mountain top of a hermit. There had to be over a hundred people living upon it. Humans, and monkeys. An entire village. An entire clan of Spirit Beasts. He saw dozens of figures flitting about. Everyone around them wore colourful clothes. Oranges, reds, and yellows on long rope pennants that fluttered in the wind.

“Anything else interesting?” The man asked. Kuang Den nodded absently.

“Yeah. Little Shou Ren was talking about visiting the north.” The monkey said, pointing to a man with black hair and a steady espression, as he sharpened a spear. He had amazingly bushy sideburns, and a peak in his hair that belied his lineage. “That hunter stuck visions of glory in his head.”

The man nodded. “I’ll keep an eye out for him. Or at least point him in the right direction. The north is vast and dangerous.”

They made smalltalk, for a while, but Gen barely paid attention. He had eyes and ears only for the village.

The people, looking so bright and happy, were a mix of men and monkeys, Spirit Beasts in human form.

“I’ll never forget you, my friend.” The Honoured Ancestor said, as the woman turned to leave.

Lady Cao smiled. “I should hope not! I’ll not be gone long. I’ll see you soon, you little troublemaker. And if you ever feel like coming down from your mountain mine, look for Mengde’s Formations in Pale Moon. You won’t be able to miss it!”

The Honoured Ancestor nodded, as the woman turned… and with a single leap, jumped from the top of the mountain.

Leaving Gen, in this strange man’s body, and The Honoured Ancestor.