The fall from the treetops to the ground was equally as thrilling as the ascent had been, but was far more quick.
“EEEEEEEEEEEE!” Cried the bundle in Li Wanyu’s arms as they made their descent, but the noise of distress quickly turned to laughter as they landed safe and sound. “Can we do that again Mister Li?” Willow asked with childlike glee on her face, her aches briefly forgotten in the adrenaline high of falling with no apparent safety precautions.
He had a light smile on his face, clearly amused at the child's antics. “It’s unwise for someone in your state to have too much excitement.” He paused, and his smile grew. “That said, one more go shouldn’t hurt, if your parents allow it.”
Hearing the commotion, or sensing the presence of another binder, Willow’s father thundered around the corner of their home. Rowan was a well built man with broad shoulders and closely cropped dark brown hair. A chiseled jawline was hidden by a big bushy beard, and stormcloud grey eyes were framed by thick brows set into a scowl as he observed an unknown holding his youngest child.
“What in the hells are you doing with my daughter, stranger?” He rumbled, calloused hands forming fists at his side, and Bough trundling in from the field to stand by its master.
Seeing the blatant hostility Li Wanyu tried to explain himself. “My apologies, senior.” He offered a slight bow, which only seemed to increase the tension. “I found her alone in the woods suffering from qi exhaustion, provided what aid I could and brought her straight here once she was able to tell me where her home was.”
Rowan alternated between staring at the man and the bundle in his arms. At Willows frantic nods confirming her savior's story he relaxed a tad. He slowly approached the younger man and held out his arms, silently requesting he be given his child. It was only after she was transferred into his gentle embrace that he fully relaxed. His eyes still held suspicion for this stranger, but gratitude was now dominant in his expression.
Shifting the bundle to only one of his strong arms he held out the other. When Li Wanyu mirrored the gesture, the larger man firmly grasped his forearm and shook it vigorously, his grin of white teeth in sharp contrast to the darkness of the hair on his face.
“Thank you stranger!” He boomed. “Sorry for the rough welcome. I get a tad tetchy when the safety of my little ones is in question.” His grin briefly resembled the baring of fangs before returning to an expression of joy. “Oh right, I’m being rude. The name’s Rowan, might I ask yours?”
The younger man had an awkward smile on his face in response to the sudden exuberance the older man displayed. “Greetings to senior Rowan. This one’s name is Li Wanyu.”
Willow’s father snorted in the most undignified way he knew. “No need for formalities, boy. We’re far from your clans and have no need for your peoples empty gestures of respect.”
“And if the gesture is not empty?” Li Wanyu said sincerely.
Rowan’s grin turned wry as he finally let go of the younger man's arm. “I’d still say no need for formalities around here, and any respect you think I might’ve earned is misplaced.”
Willow looked between the two of them trying to understand what they were talking about. Once more the loss of her spiritual sense was being felt.
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“Now then, I suppose the hero deserves a reward for his good deed.”
As said hero began opening his mouth to protest, the larger man continued. “Sadly I don’t have any jewels or treasures to offer you. What I do have, however, is a delicious meal cooked by my eldest that I insist you stay for.” He finished while putting his arm on the other man’s shoulder and leading him to his home. Li Wanyu tried to explain he needed to be on his way, but Rowan was quite insistent.
Man Yue chimed in amusement at the proceedings and started orbiting Bough in curiosity. The old spirit beast ignored the moon and simply started slowly moving back to their place by the field now that the perceived danger was dealt with. The small moon had fun weaving through the bare branches of the beast as they moved, and the old turtle was used to ignoring children playing on and around itself.
“Maple my dear, set out the nice tableware, we have ourselves a guest!” Rowan called as the group entered the humble home. The light from the fireplace was low, but candles were lit on the table to provide adequate lighting. The young woman initially looked worried upon the entrance of a stranger, but that look turned to shock and concern when she saw her sister bundled up in the arms of her father. She rushed over and started fussing at her.
“Willow! Are you okay? I was about to ask father to go look for you when that commotion started outside and he stormed off. It was stupid of me to let you go off on your own like that.” She looked close to tears, and her hands cupped her sister's face as she looked over the small cuts and scrapes that were the result of the misadventure.
Willow thought it best to give her usual sisterly greeting.“Hiya sissy.” She gestured weakly to her basket, still being awkwardly held by Li Wanyu, while trying to give her sister a reassuring smile. “Got the kindling you needed. Hope I didn’t take too long.”
This caused Maple to bark out a laugh while a tear escaped. “You didn’t take too long, little gnome. I’m just glad you’re unharmed.” She looked up at her father at the last part.
He nodded. “She’ll be fine, checked her over myself. Just some qi exhaustion. Some food and rest and she’ll be right as rain in the next couple days.” He turned to their guest. “Go on then lad, put down that basket and take a seat, anywhere’s fine.”
Li Wanyu put the basket down by the ladder to the loft and sat at the table, taking in the humble decor as he went. “You have a lovely home, senior. It's obviously well cared for.”
He smiled with pride as his eldest daughter started setting out the nicely carved stone tableware. “That’s mostly the work of my wonderful children, especially my lovely daughter Maple.” He shot his guest a look. “And I thought I told you to call me Rowan, boy.”
“Only if senior stops calling me boy.” The young man countered with a light smile.
Willow’s father guffawed while placing Willow in one of the chairs, and claiming one for himself. “You got me there! Now normally I’d shorten a name like yours to Yu, but with my boy’s name being basically the same that’d be too confusing. Which reminds me. No need to set out Yew’s place dear, he’s eating with the Xin’s today.”
She nodded and took the set she was holding back to the cupboard they came from. She then grabbed the stew pot’s handle using a thick cloth and set it on the platform made for it in the center of their table. After making sure everyone was served the warm stew, Maple sat next to her sister and continued to fuss over her, feeding her and adjusting the silk robe she was wrapped in to make her as comfortable as possible.
The conversation then resumed once food was served. “So Wan,” The guest’s eye twitched but no remark was made at the nickname. “What’s someone like you doing out here on the edge of nowhere?” Rowan asked in between bites of tasty stew.
Li Wanyu’s spoon was halfway to his mouth when he replied. “I was sent out by my family to find a rare spirit for my sister. I was on its trail when I stumbled across your daughter.” He then started telling tales of his travels, with the older man's encouragement and his eldest daughter’s captive interest.
Willow was doing her best to listen as well, but between the warm food in her belly, and the cozy cocoon she was soon fighting a losing battle with sleep.
As she closed her eyes, she dreamed of travel and adventure.
