Ballad of the Desert

Chapter 20: Deflowered

When I open my eyes again, I find myself in Huo Qu Bing's embrace. In the dark night, with the vast desert, the only sounds are the horse hooves. I look at the two or three faint stars in the sky, my heart completely empty. Mischievous Xiao Tao, constantly destroying things Xiao Tao, loves to annoy me Xiao Tao. Gentle Xiao Qian, always taking care of Xiao Tao's Xiao Qian.....

"Awake?" Huo Qu Bing lowered his head and looked at me. I was silent for some time before answering "Where are we? Xiao Yue Shi?"

He raised his head and looked towards the distance "You've slept for a day and a night now. We've passed Xiao Yue Shi, and are almost at the Qi Lian Mountains. You're familiar with the Qi Lian Mountains, right?" I softly answered yes. My body feels weak but I straighten myself "I want to ride by myself." He gently said "You were so distraught back there so the doctor upped the dosage to knock you out. Even though you are awake now, you likely can't exert any strength. I'll take you the rest of the way." I was silent and then nodded my head.

In the darkness the shape of the mountains grows closer. In the distance comes the sound of wolf howls. My heart lurched and I tightly gripped Huo Qu Bing's arm "Can you hurry? I hear....." I bit my lip and swallow the rest of what I wanted to say, only turning my head towards the Qi Lian Mountains.

Huo Qu Bing urged his horse faster and quickly bypassed everyone, rushing straight ahead. Gradually we've left everyone behind. I turn to give him a startled glance and he just smiles "I hope it's that wolf of yours."

A few wolves are lurking in the base of the mountains eyeing us. My heart leapt and I howled towards the Qi Lian Mountains. Huo Qu Bing's horse almost stumbled and wanted to throw me off. From the mountains came a distant howling, joining my howl and reverberating through the hillside. The horse continued to go wild so Huo Qu Bing had no choice but to get off the horse, holding me and leaping to the ground.

I immediately tear myself from his embrace and he doesn't stop me. He lets me howl and run towards the wolves at the base of the mountain. I can't believe that when they saw me, they gave a few low howls and then ran away with their tails twitching. All my emotions hit a roadblock and I angrily yelled "Wolf 89, why are you hiding from me? You don't recognize me?" A few small wolves came out and looked at me, and I tried to gesture for them to come over. They were getting close when their mother howled and they hid again. I stomped my foot "I won't force you to go warm yourself next to a fire."

Huo Qu Bing stood to the side and laughed, shaking his head "Yu Er, I thought you were the princess of the wolves, and the wolves would come welcome you back. But it appears no one wants to see you right now."

I glared at him and I hear a wolf howl getting closer and closer, with a final resounding howl that shook the trees. A silver wolf bounded out from the forest directly for me. I leaped forward to embrace him, grabbing his neck and the two of us rolling on the grass. Brother Wolf sniffed my face and neck while I hugged his neck, my nose all wet and my eyes all teary.

I fussed with Brother Wolf for some time before we calmed down. Brother Wolf howled towards the forest and a snow white female wolf and a silver and white baby wolf slowly walked out to greet me. I laughed and went to embrace the baby wolf, turning happily to Huo Qu Bing "I have a little niece. She's the real princess of the wolves. Isn't she beautiful?"

Huo Qu Bing smiled and walked forward, but Snow Lady warily eyed him and gave a warning howl. I shot Huo Qu Bing a pleased expression "She doesn't like you, they don't think you're a nice person!" Huo Qu Bing had no choice but to halt.

Little Princess has a small face and spiky hair, like a snowball she rolls all over me. Brother Wolf used his tail to play with her and Little Princess was non stop leaping and jumping, occasionally returning to my embrace. She would bare her teeth and stick her tongue out at her father. I can't control my laughter, and the sound of human laughter and wolf happiness sounds through the hillside. Huo Qu Bing stands off to the side and watches us, with an expression of worry mixed with self-blame.