Cold Blooded

We're Here

Ajax stared at Chongyun's small body, curled up in Saya's arms. Baizhu's words echoed in his head as they walked the misty path of Wuwang Hill. "That is what is wrong with your friend." The image of that monster leaping towards Xingqiu still burned in the back of his mind. Ajax had frozen and hadn't reacted fast enough. Someone could have died because of his mistake. What was going on?

Ajax had always been a fighter from the moment he could walk. The thrill of the fight had always made his blood start pumping and brought a smile to his face. He was always itching to challenge anyone stronger than him. He wanted to take on the whole world, but now... it was like it was missing.

It didn't feel bad, exactly... It felt like something had fixed itself and that hunger for the fight had been satisfied. Ajax had never felt satisfied before. He always needed more. Someone new to challenge. Another achievement to prove himself.

Now, all he needed now was to fix what he had screwed up. He needed to save Chongyun. That festering hunger for bloodshed was hidden beneath the facade of that innocent boy, and Ajax knew that Chongyun could never want that.

A hunger that can never be satisfied will only end up devouring itself.

-<>-

Saya smoothed over a bit of Chongyun's hair as she clutched him close to her chest. His body was so cold. The only reason she knew she wasn't holding a corpse was the slow rise and fall of the boy's chest.

It was scary to say the least. The frail body in her arms that she would protect with her life could switch at any moment into a beast that would devour her in moments. If she had any sense of self preservation, she would have abandoned this entire venture a long time ago. And yet, she couldn't. She couldn't leave Chongyun or Ajax. They were all she really had left.

She couldn't return to the fatui and she couldn't even return to her own village. She had nowhere to turn, but to these people.

"We're here!" Hu Tao called back to the rest of the group. She waved her arm high above her head as she stood at the mouth of a gaping cave. The wind and mist wound their way into the tunnel, whistling an ominous tune.

"This is the entrance to the afterlife?" Saya tilted her head to the side. She had imagined the place being a bit more... impressive?

"Yes, it is indeed," a somber voice responded from the rear of the group.

"Mr. Z-"

"Zhongli!" Ajax called out over Hu Tao. A smile spread across his face that was unlike anything Saya had seen from him before.

The man, Zhongli, smiled in a secretive way back at Ajax. "Why, hello, Childe."

"I'm glad you saw the note I left, my dear consultant," Hu Tao chimed, jumping between Ajax and Zhongli. "I hope we can use your expertise to help us out of our little... pickle."

"Of course, Hu Tao." Zhongli turned to look at the young director. "How may I be of assistance."

"Nothing yet," Hu Tao smiled, hoping back to the entrance of the cave. "According to the doctor, our first step is through here."

-<>-

Three clutched a hand over his head. It felt like his mind was trying to burst out of his head. He clenched his teeth and forced his feet forward up the path that wound through the hill.

Just keep going. Just a bit longer. We're almost there. Once we get Yin back, brothe- Thirty Seven will fix us.

                                                                                                  Yes, then we will be worthy of being fixed.