"Now cub," Mimi says gently, as she watches the eagerness on Dumplin's face, "I want you to be on your best behavior."
"Yes, Mimi," Dumplin says with complete seriousness, her chubby cheeks so pinchable.
Sighing, Mimi ruffles her hair affectionately and picks her up like a puppy, "Why are you so dang cute?"
"Because I am a cub?" Dumplin says with the same amount of seriousness.
Mimi chuckles and says, "Yes, because you are a cub. A little cub."
She blows a raspberry on Dumplin's head, and this finally gets a laugh out of her.
Chen stomps out of her room, and Mimi feels as if she is physically struck by pre-teen angst. Setting Dumplin down, Mimi stares at Chen's crazy hair and disheveled dress.
She gently pushes Dumplin toward the bathroom, "Now go and brush your hair and get ready. We leave in an hour."
"How's it going, cub?" Mimi asks Chen in a mixture of amusement and anxiety.
"I'm tired," Chen groans and puts her head down on the table.
Suspicious, Mimi hesitantly investigates Chen's room. For a child, the room is relatively clean. Mimi had expected much worse. Chen's prized book collections were stacked in neat piles around the room. A couple of dresses were strewn around. Mimi picks one up and lets out a strangled noise as a chicken pecks at her arm.
"Chen!" Mimi cries, holding her arm against her chest as if the beady-eyed creature before her had bitten it clean off.
The pre-teen stumbles into her room, and her eyes go large as the chicken clucks at the fox spirits furiously.
Mimi stomps out her anger as she takes in Chen's face.
"You stressed, cub?" Mimi asks, reaching hesitantly back towards the chicken and trying to get a grip on it.
"I'm sorry, Mimi, I'm sorry! I couldn't control myself! It won't happen again!" Chen digs her hands into Mimi's skirts and grabs her around the waist.
"Look, cub. I get it. You are stressed," Mimi pokes at the chicken in the side experimentally, and the beak comes down on her claws, immediately bouncing off.
"What is bugging you, cub?" Mimi asks, looking down at the trembling child.
"What if they don't like me?" Chen asks, "Dumplin is cute and so talented, but I am just me!"
Mimi kicks the basket with the chicken over. So it did not stare at her judgmentally as she attempts to parent without any caffeine in her system. She unceremoniously yanks Chen on to her lap and grunts a little at her weight.
"Our sister and her wife will adore you," Mimi says, carefully running her fingers through Chen's hair to straighten it out.
The pent-up magic in the child's system is creating terrifying-looking tangles in her long black hair.
"Honestly, I think they are probably feeling what your feeling now," Mimi says, thinking of the two birds she had received yesterday, "Apparently, her wife is planning a huge lunch for us just for the occasion. They sent me two birds yesterday, each one saying how eager they were to meet you and Dumplin. Besides, if for whatever reason they didn't like you, which I seriously doubt, then that's on them, not you. You are so, so talented. I seriously can't believe how smart you are sometimes. I mean, look at how talented with barriers and foxfire you are, already? Look, it doesn't matter, others think. We have our little family here," Mimi wraps her arms around her sister and hugs her tightly, "I won't force you to come if you don't want to."
"You said we were only staying for a couple of hours, right?" Chen asks nervously, looking up at her sister.
"Yup," Mimi squeezes her, "or if you feel uncomfortable, just let me know, and we'll be gone."
"Okay," Chen nods and finally returns her sister's hug.
"Now, I have to go and . . ." Mimi glares at the chicken, "dispose of that. I want to see you and Dumplin ready to go when I return. I have a surprise for you both."
"A surprise?" Chen asks curiously, her mood immediately lifting.
"Yep, and I am going to teach it to you when we get back," Mimi nuzzles her nose against her sister's nose.
"I'm sorry bout the chicken," Chen says with a pout.
"You are getting better at controlling it," Mimi says, lifting Chen off her lap and giving her butt a light smack, "now go get dressed."
Mimi flips the chicken upside down into a basket and quickly shuts the lid, silencing the outraged squawks.
Nodding at Mameki, who is chattering to Dumplin while wielding a hairbrush, Mimi darts out the door into the sunshine. There were no shadows. Growling with annoyance, Mimi hurries across Cloud Recesses. She manages to slip by the young cultivators who were being given a lecture by Lord Qiren. The chicken coop is in her sights. Looking around, Mimi checks the lock. She is about to try jimmying the lock when she hears an all too familiar voice.
"It's a beautiful morning. A perfect time to help with the livestock."
As if just waiting for its master, the chicken in her basket began making a horrendous noise.
"Good morning, clan leader," Mimi smiles innocently and thinks about childishly hiding the large basket behind her.
"My sisters found this creature around the residence. I thought it might belong to you," Mimi holds the writhing basket out to the man.
He shakes his head and takes the basket, "My apologies. I can't figure out how they are getting out and getting back in. I count them every day. Lately, it has been normal, but for a while, three chickens were going missing and being returned. One chicken would go missing and be found by the coop. Perhaps we should add this to your tasks?"
Mimi laughs a little too loudly while looking at the chicken coop, "Clan leader is quite amusing."
The clan leader looks her over before taking a ring of keys from his robes and unlocking the chicken coop. He sets the basket on the ground and gently lifts out the now placid chicken. Its beady eyes glare at Mimi with uncontrollable loathing as it clucks nicely to the clan leader.
"They are so tame," the clan leader says, gently stroking its feathers before lowering it back into the cage.
The chicken immediately runs to the side closest to Mimi and begins squawking at her.
"I think she likes you," the clan leader grins.
"I don't think so," Mimi says simply, stepping away from the chicken coop.
Lan Xichen walks alongside her as she makes her way back to the residence.
"I am bringing my sisters to see my eldest sister today," Mimi confesses, curious about his reaction.
"Ah, the notorious eldest Shen, I am sure it will be a wonderful reunion," he says, sharing her happiness.
"Feng," Mimi corrects, but she is smiling at his excitement for her and her siblings.
"My apologies. Will you bring her and her cultivation partner to Cloud Recesses?" he asks, curious.
"Maybe. Dumplin is excited, but Chen is still nervous," Mimi slows her pace down a little, wanting some time with the clan leader.
"Why is this? Family strife?"
"I think it's because she has heard stories about her in our clan and is worried about being found lacking," Mimi sighs angrily, wanting nothing more than to punt the Lord Shen's head into space.
"You told me that your eldest sister is quite eager to meet the young ones. It is my opinion that she will be most impressed by their talents as we are here at Cloud Recesses. Just the other night, Wanji was telling Master Wei about the fine progress the second eldest Shen has been making," he says confidently.
Mimi beams with pride, "Thank you."
"I believe they will be fine cultivators one day," the clan leader praises fondly.
Mimi isn't quite sure what to think of that, but smiles, nonetheless.
Said girls come running out of the residence. Mimi is reminded belatedly of a hurricane as they gracefully bow to the clan leader before tumbling over Mimi like large puppies.
"Are you two ready to go?" Mimi asks, pushing back Chen's hair from her face.
"Are you coming with us, clan leader?" Dumplin asks, staring up and up at the tall man, almost comically.
He crouches down so that he is eye level with her, "Unfortunately no, but with your eldest sister's permission, I can at least walk you to the boundary line."
"Permission granted," Mimi smirks, and the group treads lightly through Cloud Recesses past the Wall of Discipline.
As Mimi picks Dumplin up off the ground, she can hear the clan leader talking to Chen.
"Wanji told me that he thinks your swordsmanship is vastly improving."
Mimi wraps an arm around Chen, "See, I told you so."
"I also noticed that Wanji and Master Wei have already put up a particular picture that the youngest Shen has drawn," his eyes dart to Mimi's, and he looks uncertain for a moment.
She mouths, "Thank you," and his face visibly relaxes.
They quickly reach the barrier, and Mimi feeling anxious, out of habit, hands Dumplin off to the clan leader, thinking he is Chen. He is quicker than she is and carefully takes the child from her as she is about to admit her mistake. Mimi hesitates to see if Dumplin is alright with this. The clan leader adjusts his grip and wiggles his sword in front of Dumplin. She grabs hold of it with a grin. Relaxing, Mimi signals Chen to stay behind the boundary line as she carefully steps through to check for danger.
"Did your sister not intend to send an escort?" the clan leader asks with concern looking about the woods. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling of happiness as Lady Shen temporarily entrusts him with her youngest sibling.
Lan Xichen is reminded strangely of a bloodhound as he notes her looking around in all directions before scenting the air. Mimi summons her foxfire and grins at the clan leader as she once more forms her transportation of choice.
Mimi makes a beckoning gesture to the trio.
"Does your eldest sister approve of this manner of transportation?" Lan Xichen asks, a little jealous of the children.
"She patented it," Mimi chuckles, holding her hands out for Dumplin.
"We get to ride on this?" Dumplin asks, her eyes shining brightly, looking between the clan leader and her eldest sister.
"Your going to teach me how to make one of these?" Chen practically squeals.
The clan leader suddenly does not want to let go of the youngest Shen just yet.
"I did promise, didn't I?" Mimi says, finally taking Dumplin from his grip.
"May I be present for this demonstration?" the clan leader asks uncertainly.
"Of course, I'll seek you out when we return," Mimi promises.
"Is your sister good on her promises?" the clan leader asks Chen, who nods her head repeatedly,
"Yeah, when she says she is going to do something, she'll do it."
"Alright, I will take your word for it," the clan leader then smiles at Mimi, who he just catches, rolling her eyes with amusement.
"So, we shall see you at dinner?" Mimi asks the clan leader, lifting Dumplin into the billowing green fire, before doing the same to Chen.
"Dinner," he agrees.
They stare at each other awkwardly before Mimi bows and steps back to join her sisters. The clan leader returns her bow and resignedly steps back behind the barrier.
Leaping on to the column of fire, Mimi gently guides it into the air as her sisters' wave at the clan leader.
"Don't lean over the edge," Mimi instructs as she slowly increases speed, making sure to keep her eyes on both her sisters and the landscape.
On second thought, Mimi allows the foxfire to form seatbelts around the children. Satisfied with this, Mimi looks over the forest. Her eldest sister could not have taken her very far. Mimi bites her lips and runs her eyes over the horizon until a golden ball of light shoots out from the ground, hovering around them. Letting out a sharp yelp, Mimi urges the green fire forward. But she is stopped by the golden light.
"Hey there!" a voice bursts from the golden light, "I thought I would guide you down. The waterfall is difficult to see from the air."
Mimi recognizes Qiaolian's very distinctive buoyant voice at once.
"Hey Qiaolian," Mimi sighs with relief, and her sisters poke their heads around their sister to stare at the golden light curiously.
"Go ahead and lead the way. I was giving a short flying lesson," Mimi says, watching as the glow began to diminish.
The golden ball lets out a sharp, barking laugh and says, "Don't mind me then."
Less blinding, the ball winds down to the forest below. Mimi guides her foxfire after the golden light. It is nearly like chasing the sun, Mimi thinks.
"Are you guys, alright?" Mimi asks her nervous looking sisters.
Dumplin had crawled onto her lap, and Chen had one arm wrapped around Mimi's waist.
"Was that her?" Chen asks, looking towards the golden glow with fear and aww.
Mimi knew the feeling well. The elder fox spirit is intimidating.
"Yep, that's her. It will be okay," Mimi gracefully descends until the trio lands on top of the waterfall.
She notes her sister's combined interest in the large waterfall and pilots the fox close to the water. The foxfire steams slightly.
"Do you guys want to touch it?" Mimi asks, trying to get them to relax.
"Oh, can we?" Chen asks eagerly.
"Just be careful and don't lean over too much," Mimi cautions as Chen leans over and grazes her hands over the waterfall.
"It's so cold," Chen giggles.
"Dumplin, did you want to try?" Mimi looks down at the child on her lap.
Debating this for a moment, Dumplin shakes her head and buries her hand in Mimi's skirts.
"That's alright," Mimi comforts, "I am not going anywhere near the water, either."
As Mimi guides the foxfire up to the cave entrance, Chen asks, "You don't like the water, do you?"
"It is fairly rare to find fox spirits that enjoy the water," Mimi laughs, "fire and water don't go together very well."
"Why?" Dumplin asks.
"Because fire and water cancel each other out," Mimi explains.
As the sisters arrive at the cave entrance, Mimi can see two figures talking excitedly to one another.
"Well, here we go."