The caravan leaving our sect is a large one, composed of twenty inner disciples and a multitude of servants and artisans all leaving for the city of Tong Xun.  Tai Qiu looks surprisingly comfortable on a healthy looking brown mare as she rides up and down the caravan to make sure everyone is ready for the week long trip. 

I watch her discussing things with the various masters that will be accompanying us from my position at the front of the caravan. The other core disciples in the wagon with me are polite, but I don’t really know any of them, so I stay quiet.

Soon we start moving at a sedate pace, the steps leading up to the gate of our sect growing smaller as we travel.

I watch the trees pass by us, birds and small animals peeking out from their hiding places to observe us.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath of air, noticing the change in the spirit around us as we leave the sect grounds, the spirit is becoming more wild. 

Being free of the walls of the sect is a relieving feeling, I missed the outside world. 

The other disciples in the wagon talk quietly with each other or meditate, none of them sharing the same fascination with the outside world as me.

I look back to the trees, thinking about the pace we are travelling; it isn’t much faster than a walk.

With a mischievous smile I leap over the edge of the wagon onto the dirt road we’re travelling on.

Tai Qiu notices me leave the wagon, smiling at me before turning her attention back to the Master on horseback she is speaking to.

I’ll take that as permission to leave the wagon. 

A giddy feeling overtakes me as I walk alongside my wagon. I’m walking somewhere on my own two feet, not being flown by the elders or riding on a wagon driven by horses.

I can’t help but hum a marching tune I’d heard from my father’s warriors when I was younger.

Eventually, something catches my eye off to the side of the road. A red flower, pulsating with spirit.

I know better than to touch it, so i just watch it, knowing that I can run to catch back up to my wagon. The pulse travels through the stem of the flower, until it reaches the petals, expelling soft spiritual energy. It only takes me a moment to notice that the pulse continues underground, travelling to the trees around it through their roots.

I look up at the old wizened trees, brimming with a power all their own. 

I smile at them, then bow, unsure if they are watching me as I am watching them. 

Nothing happens, so I hurry to catch back up to the wagon.

Many more fascinating plants and animals line the side of the road, and I find myself stopping near most of them to observe their energies and actions. 

Some respond aggressively, their energy turning dangerous as I watch them, so I respect them and continue on my way. Others ignore me, or try to hide when they notice my attention. 

After a long time travelling, the caravan pulls to the side of the road in a clearing made for such stops. The evening sun shines on me as I watch a colony of ants carry food along a road that they’ve made for themselves. They notice me watching them, but they don’t respond to my attention. A lot of the creatures and plants in the forest have spirit travelling through them in a symbiotic relationship, and these ants are the clearest example of that. 

Each individual ant has a unique spirit, but they are all connected in a web, sending information along pathways of spirit. As soon as one ant noticed me, the whole colony became aware of my presence. An older and wiser spirit somewhere deep underground, guides most of the ants, and it was the one that chose to ignore me.

“They are fascinating creatures, aren’t they.” Tai Qiu says from beside me. 

I nod. “They are separate, but... they live as one.” I say, trying to explain my observation.

“Indeed.” Tai Qiu says softly. “I came here to tell you that I will be busy with the other masters as we discuss our plans.  You are free to explore, but don’t travel too far from the road Disciple Lin. There are creatures in this forest that even I am wary of.”

“Yes Elder Qiu.” I respond, looking away from the ants to smile at her.

She smiles back before walking away. 

I continue to watch the ants, eventually bringing out my flute to play as I watch them. I play a simple children's song, quick and cheerful in its melody.

It might just be my imagination, but the ants seem to work with more gusto as I play my music.

I notice the older spirit from the nest paying more attention to me, not in a malicious way, it simply observes me as I observe them and play.

I pause, mid song as a strange feeling comes over me. My gaze looks into the forest, frowning. 

I put my flute into my robes as I stand up, walking away from the camp. Movements of the Silent Monster quiets my footsteps as I walk over the roots of an old tree. I carefully walk around spots that hold predatory or dangerous spirit, while keeping the firelight of our camp in sight. 

“I enjoyed your music.” a feminine voice says from the trees, and my hand lowers to the sword at my waist. 

I bow carefully in thanks, keeping my eyes on the forest around me. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“Could you play another piece for me? I’m sorry for interrupting you previously, but I was hoping to hear you better if you were closer to me.” 

I pause thinking carefully about whether I should fulfill her request and move my hand from my sword. I close my eyes, sensing the spirit of the place I had been called to. There is danger in the spirit of whatever I’m speaking to, almost like a dagger ready to strike. 

Still, that danger isn’t directed towards me. There is also peace here, a sense of protection and a hint of sorrow.

I open my eyes, taking my hand off of the sword to reach for my flute. “I don’t know who you are, but as long as you don’t mean me any harm… I’m truly happy to play for you.” I smile in the general direction of the presence as I bring the flute to my lips. “Is there anything you’d like to hear?” 

She is quiet for a moment, “I would like to hear of the world outside of this forest.”

I think about her request, the correct melody and notes coming to my mind as I stare softly into the slowly darkening night. Qi flows gently through me and into my breath as I begin to play. 

The world melts around us, showing a scene of two children playing in a field, happily dancing to the music I make. 

They twirl with each other, giggling as they trip over each other into a pile on the floor. 

The scenery shifts to a young scholarly woman humming to herself in tune with my music.

She paints a beautiful landscape, each stroke holding power behind it. 

She looks up, smiling at me, and I smile back at her from behind my flute. The scenery shifts again to the very mountains she was drawing.

A group of adventurers laugh as they sit around a campfire on that mountain. The smoke of the fire twists and turns with the rhythm of the music. 

The song ends with one last crackle of the fire. 

I lower my flute, surprisingly drained of my qi. I stretch my arms and place my flute into my robe. “I shouldn’t stay here too long, I don’t want the others to worry.”

“Thank you.” The voice says as a green snake uncurls itself from the branches of the tree next to me. The setting sun gleams off of her scales, shining like gems. Her head, as large as my own, hangs eye to eye with me, but I don’t feel any danger, so I watch her curiously. “Your music is truly beautiful. May I request something of you?” the snake’s mouth doesn’t move, but I know that the voice comes from her.

I look into her eyes, gleaming with deep intelligence. “Of course.” I respond.

I stiffen as the snake fully uncurls from the tree, falling onto the ground in front of me.

“Help me leave this forest.” The snake's tongue pops out quickly, tasting the air.

“I’m not sure what you mean.” I say, still looking into her eyes. “Can’t you leave on your own?”

The snake gently rests its head in my lap. “If I were to leave on my own, I would be hunted. I desire to see more of the world than this forest.”

I bite my lip, “How can I take you out? You’re far too big for me to carry.”

“That can be changed.” The snake lifts her head, approaching the sleeve of my robe. As she reaches it, her body changes, growing thinner. She slithers into my robe, wrapping herself around my chest and stomach.

I stiffen as she does so, an instinct of pure terror filling me. 

I realize that if she wished to, she could kill me easily. I had been lured into a sense of safety from her spirit, but she is still a predator.

“I do not wish you harm, young one,” She says. Her spirit confirms her words, and I let my fear wash over me, breathing deeply to calm down.

Her actions should’ve terrified me more than they did, and I know that I should be more suspicious of her than I am. But I could tell that her request was genuine, even if there was hidden meaning behind it. Her words held truth in them. She didn’t wish me harm, and her spirit isn’t dark, or evil.

I breathe in and out, sensing my own spirit. It seems to resonate with hers in a way I can’t quite define. 

I will accept her request. My instincts tell me it is the right thing to do.

“If you are coming with me, then you must listen to me.” I say, using the same tone my father used when talking to his soldiers. “If you have never left this forest, then you know little of the outside world. I won’t let you cause harm to my family or my sect.”

“Your words make sense. In exchange for freedom from this forest, I will listen to your words and I will not harm those you call family.” Her qi resonates with mine and I realize that she made her own version of an oath.

“Thank you.” 

I walk back to the camp where our caravan is, thinking about how I’m supposed to explain the fact that I have a snake wrapped around my waist.

Tai Qiu smiles at me as I approach before turning back to the Master she is speaking with.

She didn’t notice. 

I look around the camp, realizing that no one recognizes anything amiss. 

“I am an ambush predator, little one. If others could sense me easily, I wouldn’t be able to feed myself.” A hint of amusement is audible in her voice.

“Right.” I say, walking forwards.

I walk to the tent that a servant had erected for the female core disciples, finding my bedroll and slowly laying down in it so that the snake has a chance to move around my body. 

She feels kinda nice on my body, comforting almost. I blush as I think about how she’s against my bare skin. 

“By the way,” I say quietly as I take my sword and flute off, laying them next to my bedroll. “You never told me your name.”

None of the other female disciples are in the tent, so I feel comfortable speaking quietly to the snake.

“I have been called Shia.” The snake says as I lie down.

“I am Core Disciple Jia Lin from the Flowing River Sect. It’s nice to meet you Shia.” I whisper, closing my eyes.

“It is a pleasure meeting you as well Jia Lin.”

I fall asleep surprisingly fast, exhausted from a day of traveling and discovering new things.