The White Phoenix

Chapter 27 - Another Dream

He was no older than about four or five, and dressed to look like a rag doll, with gray colored robes covered with patches of dirt and bloodstains. His skin was white like snow and ice and covered with cuts. The blood on his limbs stood out like a cardinal in a flock of bluebirds. His hair was a tangled mess of dark raven matted strands from how long it had been since being brushed, and his eyes were silver like a bell.

Although it was hard to tell because the sunlight was fading away and the forest began to grow dark. With a little motivation left in his beautiful beating heart, he triumphs his way down the trail. A flowing river echoed in the distance. The little boy didn't care about that, all he cared about was a place to sleep for the night.

As the little boy walked along the forest floor, he approached a little abandoned cabin that didn't really feel all that inviting. The outside of the cabin made it look like it hadn't had a living creature in it for a long time. The roof is green with moss and caved in at the left side. The windows were faded gray with dirt while ivy hung to the outer walls. It looked as if the little cabin had grown up from the very earth. The boy had a relieving look on his face when he approached the door that just barely hung up on its hinges. The boy managed to squeeze inside through the door.

The inside looked less inviting than the outside. Streaks of black flowed across the walls as mold from the damp nights seeped in. Flaking speckles of paint lined the floor with dust and the corpses of unfortunate creatures. The disused wooden furniture was rotting to the core and stained with lichen while the curtains would hang limp and moth-eaten. It wasn't really safe and comforting to stay in, but it was the only place for miles. The little boy was tired and all he could do was fall asleep on the hard wooden floor.

The little boy rose the next morning to see the entire cabin he laid in engulfed into flames. He had no idea as to why every place he stayed or lived, they ended up on fire. This fire, it was warm and soothing but it was all the same, terrifying. The little boy stood up and ran out of the door. Barely making it out, the cabin collapsed to the forest floor, and the fire started to spread throughout the trees.

The little boy continued to run through the woods, soon having a pack of wolves closing in on him. The boy was so scared that even though his lungs were basically out of air, he kept running. Seeing an opening in the trees, the little boy ran as fast as he could. Just as he exited the forest, he was engulfed by warm comfortable arms. The arms lifted him up and he the the figure took off into the air.

"A'Zhan?" The little boy asked.

"I told you, A'Ying, I will always be there to save you, to help you," Lan Wangji told him.

"How did you find me?" Wei Ying asked.

"The fire," he answered.

"I didn't mean to. I cannot control it," Wei Ying told him.

"You will one day," Lan Wangji told him.

Wei Ying soon opened his eyes and was engulfed by sunlight. He sighed as he, yet again, had a bad dream. It ended okay but he hated it. Wei Ying got out of bed and dressed into fresh robes before meeting up with Wangji.

Lan Wangji was sitting at the table with a scripture in one hand and a tea cup in the other. He had just finished his morning meditation and was now waiting for Wei Ying. Today, Wei Ying will be going to the training grounds to practice his archery. Wangji will be there to guide him or course. Wei Ying came out and his bottom lip was sticking out in a pout.

"A'Ying, you are pouting," Wangji pointed out.

"Can you hold me for a little bit?" Wei Ying asked, "I had a bad dream again."

Lan Wangji set his book down and his tea cup and held his arms out, "want to talk about it?"

"I was younger, lost in the woods and I found an old cabin to sleep in overnight. When I woke up, the cabin was on fire. I ran out and then the cabin collapsed, and the fire started spreading. I started running and I was then then being chased by a pack of wolves. I found an opening in the trees so I ran as fast as I could and then I was caught by a set of arms...your arms. I was confused on how you found me. You said you promised to save me whenever I needed you, and you saw the fire and you knew I was there," Wei Ying explained. He basically just told Wangji a story.

"It sounds stressful," Wangji said, "but I did I as said, I saved you."

Wei Ying nodded, "you did do that...why am I always dreaming about being alone, being chased, or setting things on fire?"

"That is what bad dreams and nightmares are. They are what you fear," Wangji said, "you are afraid. It is okay to be afraid, but you have to know, you are a lot stronger than you think. Always remember that."

"I am trying but I..." Wei Ying became silent for a moment.

Lan Wangji gently placed a kiss on Wei Ying's forehead, "you are still young, so I understand on why you are afraid. Do you feel afraid now?"

"No, why would I, I have you with me," Wei Ying said.

"Even if we are in separate places for whatever reason, just remember I am always here," Wangji pointed to his heart, "I am not going anywhere but it is just to let you know, I am always with you, even if it may seem I am so far away. I will always come back to you."

"I love you, A'Zhan and I will try to always remember that," Wei Ying told him.

"Good, and I love you too, now, you must be hungry," Wangji said.

"I am so hungry," Wei Ying pointed out.

"Let's go to the dining hall then," Wangji said standing up.

Wei Ying took hold of Wangji's hand, "okay."