The Warrior Forgotten by The Hero |x|Macaque X Reader|x|

11

The festival is here. I groaned as I got up. I just spent hours getting my makeup and hair done. I really didn't want to go. I didn't want to do this today. I never liked doing it, never will. I walked out and sat at our booth. Already annoyed I picked at my nails. My white and tiger-striped hanfu hung to my body. My headpiece was secured to my hair as my extensions were placed in seamlessly. I looked around as the festival was in action, my mother telling people stories and selling tiger merch. Our booth was made to look like the autumn season with metal carvings of Baihu, the white tiger. They represented autumn and metal. Shown to be a powerful figure as used in the military. They were believed to be the God of War but also protect those from evil.

I looked up as I heard my name being called. I smiled as I saw a childhood friend. He was a descendant of the Azure Dragon. Our sacred animals were usually depicted with each other so of course, our parents wanted to become friendly with each other. That I didn't mind, Aoi waved at me as he began his speech. He talked about the Azure Dragon of the East. How they a symbol of protection, capable of dispelling evil and negative energy. Well, aren't we similar? The Azure Dragon represented Spring and wood and was considered to be the leader of the Four Guardians or Four Sacred Animals.

He mentioned how the Dragon is often paired with the Vermilion Bird and the two represent both conflict and harmony. Like yin and yang, the emperor dragon, and the empress vermilion bird. How funny as his girlfriend ended up being from the household of the Vermilion Bird. Its funny how they fit into destiny like that. I smiled as I watched him. He was much happier to do this because he got to interact with people, he could embrace it without it being shoved down his throat and out his ass. I sighed as I got up from my seat. I excused myself for being hot and needed to take a walk and a bathroom break.

I walked around the festival silently, holding my hanfu just in case as it was outdoors and I was in white. I sighed quietly as I noticed something on the ground. Paw marks. I hummed and followed them all the way out of the festival. I looked up and gasped. The full moonlight shined onto a tiger standing on a rock. A white tiger. " Why do you fear me, or rather, abhor me" The tiger's mouth did not move but I heard its voice in my head. " I...I don't hate you I just, hate being forced to be a certain way. I like my heritage but not when it's shoved down my throat and then locked away. I'm not allowed to embrace it fully." I looked at it as the tiger ran off. " Hey!" I followed it.

The moon created peace in the air as I chased the tiger. I started to slip up but caught myself with my hands. " Baihu!" I shouted as it turned and looked at me. " Your soul is old. But your personality is still young." They walked back over to me as I panted and opened my eyes. I gasped as I saw my hands with sharp black nails and stripes clawing up my arms. I stood up and looked at them. " Enhance yourself. Embrace it" Baihu brushed against me. " find your war and end it. Become at peace." He walked away as I stood still. 

" What are you doing out here?" I turned around and saw the most annoying man eating a dumpling. " Macaque. what are you doing here!" " Following you." " So you saw the tiger too?" " Tiger?" I raised a brow " you're going crazy. I heard you say Baihu, the White Tiger of the West but didn't see anything. Come on, don't you have a festival to attend" I groaned as I remembered. I looked back at my now clear arms. My nails were back to being normal with white french tips.

I looked at Macaque who stared back at me. " What?" " Come on idiot." I pulled his tail and he yelped, falling out of the tree he was in. I dragged him into the festival and noticed he looked more human now. " Wha-" " Dont ask." he continued to eat as I walked to the booth. " Mom." " There you are! Come on le-" " I don't want to do this anymore. Im tired and you're making me hate the tiger." I confessed as she gasped. " Im going to explore the festival and let myself cool down. Bye" I gave her no time to speak before running. I felt clammy after doing that. Macaque came by and offered me some water and one of his dumplings. I looked at him, " is this pay back for stealing my snacks?" " yeah" He smiled. I chuckled and sat at a table as I drank the water and monched on the rest of his food. 

" So uh, what are you doing here?" I asked. " I was planning on snatching you again, but you looked so pitiful" He scratched at the table. " Pitiful!" " Please, you looked so, out of it. Like you were dissociating or just depressed." he crossed his arms on the able. " Then watching you run away and call for the white tiger was confusing. Did you take drugs?" " Oh ha ha" I sighed as i finished the water. I got up, " well you can leave me alone now" I fixed my head piece. " ha! no way, come on, lets have fun" he held out his hand. I stared at him and than his hand before smiling, taking his hand. " whatever emo."