"Arghhhh, he hates meeee!" Bai Yue wailed the second the fur curtain fell shut behind Han Shān's retreating form.
She clutched Ruì Xuě tighter, burying her face in his soft white hair. The cub patted her cheek consolingly, clearly confused about why the Cursed Female was making dying-whale noises.
"There, there, cursed female," he said in his tiny voice, which only made her want to cry more because he was so precious and his father thought she was a demon.
Li Shuǐ and Láng Fēi sat frozen by the fire, their eyes darting between each other in a silent conversation that screamed what do we do? Do we comfort her? Do we run? Is she going to remember we're here and eat us?
Baby A-Wù, sensing the tension, let out a worried little whimper.
That seemed to break the spell. Li Shuǐ stood up abruptly, clutching her pup to her chest. "I—we—that is—" She looked at her mate desperately. "Láng Fēi, didn't you say you needed to check the...the thing? The very important thing?"
