"You are going to put your sister to shame, Dumplin," Mimi remarks, keeping a sharp eye on her littlest sister, who is shooting at a miniature target less than ten yards across the river.
It was a beautiful day, and Mimi stretches luxuriously on a bed of grass. The previous night's events weighed significantly on her mind. There was nothing for it but to steal Dumplin and limp up the mountain to chase the sunlight. Chen was bonding with some of the younger cultivators that she met during the tournament. If Mimi is honest with herself, she is also avoiding the clan leader's too sharp eyes.
Dumplin nods ferociously, her chubby cheeks slightly jiggling, and shoots wide, not even grazing the target. Mimi waves her hand, and the arrow appears once again in her sister's hand.
"I can't do it," Dumplin cries, her eyes brimming with tears.
Trying to avoid the still tender wounds on her side Mimi gets to her feet and slowly moves to the little girl.
"You are already doing better than I would. I can't shoot at all."
"I know that!" Dumplin stomps her foot and waves her bow over her head.
Trying not to chuckle at how much her littlest sister reminds her of a munchkin, Mimi scrunches down, so she is on the same level as her.
"We can visit Qiaolian and Daiyu in a couple of days. They are patrolling the land and making sure that we are safe. They don't like being around so many cultivators in one place. I am sure that Qiaolian will be more than happy to continue teaching you how to shoot a bow."
"Or you could learn from the master! Ow!"
Already on edge and acting on instinct, Mimi quickly shoves her sister behind her. But it is only Lan Zhan and Wei Wuxian. Master Wei had apparently run directly into the temporary protective barrier she had constructed.
Rising to her feet, Mimi bows to the two men and warily drops her protective barrier.
"HanGuang Jun, Master Wei, are you hiding from the other clans as well?"
The two men return her bow but do not move any closer. Apparently, wary of another one of her barriers. Rubbing his nose Master Wei chuckles, "The Lady Shen did seem quite popular with those at the welcome feast. I assume that is why you are in hiding?"
Nodding, Mimi begins to relax, "I was hoping they would be gone before we returned."
"I am happy to bring you the news that most of the clans have disembarked already," Master Wei grins mischievously, and Mimi wonders if he had anything to do with the rush.
Feeling a slight tug on the bottom of her dress. Mimi looks down to see Dumplin carefully peering out from behind her.
"Ohh, the mighty huntswoman! Lan Zhan, you must protect me!" Mimi is reminded dimly of Scooby-Doo as the cultivator leaps into the apparently waiting arms of the other man.
Giggling a little at the strange man's antics, Dumplin looks up at Mimi for confirmation.
Mimi nods with a smile, "Why don't you go greet HanGuang Jun and Master Wei?"
"Uncle Wanji! Uncle Wei!" Dumplin quickly maneuvers her way to the two cultivators, showing them her small weapon.
"That is a unique bow," Lan Zhan says softly, so softly that Mimi had barely heard it.
"Lan Zhan!" Master Wei protests as the cultivator dropped him abruptly on the forest floor to better inspect the child.
"Thank you, Uncle Wanji!" Dumplin squeaks adorably.
"Why don't we see what you can do!" Master Wei smiles, beckoning towards the target.
Dumplin looks up at Mimi, her emerald eyes positively glowing, "Is it safe?"
Biting her lip Mimi casually looks over the men before her. She is about to give her permission when Master Wei gets on his hands and knees, "I will ensure that the youngest Lady Shen will be the leading archer in the world beside her sister!"
Not being able to help herself, Mimi laughs at the sheer determination in his voice, "I suppose with a promise like that," glancing down at her sister, who is absolutely delighted by the handsome man bowing to her.
Mimi nudges her sister, "Go ahead, cub."
Stepping off to the side but remaining close, a surge of pride rose in her breast as she watches Dumplin regally raise her chin and hold her bow close to her side as her eldest sister had taught her.
"Shall we sit?"
Mimi had momentarily forgotten about the clan leader's brother. Glancing briefly over at the stoic man, she soon realizes that he is gesturing at the bed of grass.
Nodding, Mimi tries to look casual as she walks across the forest floor to sit under the tree. She continues to keep her sister in her peripheral vision. Wincing a little, she sits down, the wounds in her sides aching.
"You are injured?" Lan Zhan asks quietly, sitting down beside her, ensuring that the child didn't hear.
"I'm merely sore. I'm fine," Mimi says carefully.
"The tasks?"
"Mimi! Mimi! Watch!"
Mimi gratefully turns to give her full attention to her little sister, "Yes, cub?"
Adjusting her stance just a little, Master Wei steps to the side as Dumplin set loose her arrow. The arrow struck deep into the very top of the target.
Clapping, Mimi opens her arms to catch the excited girl who jostles her wounds in her eagerness for a hug. Wincing, Mimi hides her discomfort from her sister's notice by kissing her on the cheek.
"I am so proud! Qiaolian and Daiyu will be very proud too. Now go and see if you can hit the middle of the target," Mimi gently turns her sister around and prods her back toward Master Wei, who has already summoned the arrow back.
Still beaming with pride, Mimi settles back, trying to subtly find a more comfortable position. Smiling, Mimi turns to the clan leader's brother fully for the first time and stops. It was like staring at nearly a carbon copy of the clan leader and her wife. The crack in her heart seems to bust open a little more.
"Yes. I . . . finished the last of Lord Shen's tasks last night," Mimi decides just to be honest, knowing the clan leader would undoubtedly be keeping his brother informed.
"I know."
Ripping her eyes away from the stoic cultivator, Mimi watches her littlest sister shoot.
"We will find it," Lan Zhan promises, and this tugs Mimi back in surprise.
Reading her expression, the cultivator follows her gaze to where her sister and his cultivation partner were standing, "You are good for Xichen. Family."
"Thank you," Mimi says quietly. She is about to ask if he knew anything about the man in the portrait when she hears small feet running towards them.
"Mimi?!"
Nearly twisting her head all the way around, Mimi looks over just in time for Dumplin to jump into her lap, brushing once again against her wounds, "What is it?"
Making little cub whimper noises, she buries her head under Mimi's chin. Mimi defensively looks over at Master Wei. Putting her nose in the air, Mimi froze.
Immediately getting to her feet, Mimi uses her free hand to soundlessly cast a barrier of protection over the group just in time for a serpent of air and wind to crash against the barrier. Dumplin screams as both men leap in front of her with swords at the ready.
"They won't be able to get in," Mimi growls, baring her teeth, challenging the spirit with her cub in her arms.
The serpent circles the barrier multiple times, unable to penetrate the surface. Emerald green foxfire cuts the spirit with every hit that it took on the shield. Tearing off slivers each time. The spirit cries out in pain but continues to charge.
"That is amazing!" Master Wei cries, clapping his hands together, "Can we throw talismans or spiritual energy out at the ghost?"
It took a moment before Mimi realized Master Wei is talking to her.
"I could rework the barrier to allow it, but it may allow the ghost in. I don't want to take that chance with Dumplin."
"Take down the barrier and run to Cloud Recesses. We will hold it off. Summon the clan leader," Lan Zhan commands, his voice calm.
"We are protected for now within the shield. The ghost will tire or be burnt," Mimi argues back, unwilling to risk Dumplin.
"Do you doubt our capacity?" Master Wei said with humor, seemingly unwilling to believe that there was any doubt to his power after getting his spiritual core back.
The serpent crashes against the barrier with such force that green foxfire sizzles through the creature's snout and wriggles down its body. Further breaking it apart. Dumplin clung to Mimi crying her eyes out as Mimi ran her fingers through her red hair, trying to soothe her, "Do you doubt mine?"
The three magic users stared at each other in stony silence before Master Wei laughs and nudges his cultivation partner affectionately in the arm, effectively getting the man in white to lower his sword from the serpents.
"Question?"
Mimi peeks at Master Wei while planting a kiss on top of Dumplin's head, "Yes?"
"When we walked up, and I hit your barrier. Which I am assuming is the same as this one. Why didn't I get roasted?"
"Intent. If you had come up the mountain and hit my shield with the intent to harm or maim. You would of," another serpent struck the side of the barrier from the side head-on and immediately dissipated with the explosion of foxfire, "been 'roasted.'"
"Ah, well, it's good we're all friends here then?" Master Wei chuckles, staring at Lan Zhan blatantly, elbowing the white-robed man in the side.
Raising an eyebrow at this, Mimi quickly realizes why the clan leader's brother looks a little off. The forehead ribbon is missing, and with a flash of the wrist, Mimi spots it on Master Wei's wrist.
Deciding to think about this later, Mimi wraps one arm more firmly around her sister to free her other arm. Leaning more towards the tree, Mimi scratches firmly into the bark relaying a message.
The message quickly sped up the tree and burst out the branches in a flurry of birds made from leaves. The serpents paid no attention to the strange-looking birds and continue circling the barrier. There were several now.
"What was that?"
Tired, Mimi cuddles her sister closer, she had stopped crying but continues to shake uncontrollably, and little whimpers would come out. She didn't look at Lan Zhan right away, "I sent out a signal of distress. One to my eldest sister and one to the clan leader. We'll see who gets here swiftest."
"Five rubles on Zewu-Jun," Master Wei comments. The white-robed cultivator whispers something in his ear, and Mimi could swear a little tinge of pink rose to Master Wei's ears.
But as another serpent struck the barrier, another cub like noise came from Dumplin.
"We are safe, Dumplin," Mimi leans back, cradling her against her chest more securely.
"You're not going to throw me out there, are you?!"
There was immediate silence within the barrier. Ignoring the two cultivators. Mimi aligns the child so that she could see her face, "Why would I do that, cub?"
Using the sleeve of her robe to wipe the child's tears from her face, not caring if she stained the fabric, she waits, heart-clenching in her chest.
"Father put me in a room with ghosts. Wanting to awaken my powers! Don't make me go back! I will be so good!"
A serpent suddenly struck the barrier on their side, and Mimi growls savagely at it, watching in satisfaction as the ghost went up in a pillar of green flames. Dumplin began to cry once more in her sister's chest.
"Shhhh, you know I would never ever let that happen. I would die first before I let that happen," Mimi promises, holding her little sister close to her chest and kissing her cheek, "I love you and Chen more than anything," wiping more tears off the girl's face, "Don't cry cub."
A flash of white appears out of the corner of her eye. Mimi tries not to flinch as she realizes it is a handkerchief being held by Lan Zhan.
"We will not let happen," he says gently, obviously trying not to spook the child.
"You're going to be the best archer in the world, remember?" Master Wei comments cheerfully, but Mimi could see his eyes were angry.
Taking the handkerchief and thanking the cultivators, Mimi wipes Dumplin's face, "There, no more tears. We're okay."
An earsplitting howl swept through the trees, and at the same time, an arrow pierced Mimi's side.
The barrier sputters for just a moment before Mimi brings her hand up to steady it.
Looking down at herself, Mimi puts her hand to her side; blood is left on her fingertips.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
Confused and head swimming Mimi tries to make sense of the arrow sticking out of her side. She could not focus as the sound of a guqin twang from nearby.
The barrier finally sizzles and goes out as Mimi fought for consciousness. The colors dancing in front of her vision were too tricky. With great effort, she pushes Dumplin behind her.
White fire explodes into the air, dissolving the serpents immediately upon impact.
"Lan Zhan! She's hurt!"
Lan Zhan stood in front of the group. His guqin laced with Mimi's spiritual energy struck the serpents with untamed ferocity. Eliminating them before they could descend.
A black shadow appears before her, "Hey, hey, I'm going to feed you some spiritual energy. Just stay with me. Zewu-Jun will murder me if you die."
"I didn't mean to!" Dumplin screams from behind her sister.
Another scream joined Dumplin's as a white creature descends with unearthly grace from within the pillars of white fire it had created.
Mimi struggles to stay conscious, blinking her eyes rapidly as Master Wei continues to give her spiritual energy.
She looks down and sees Dumplin's arrow sticking out of her side. Well shit.
"Dumplin, Dumplin," Mimi calls, and Dumplin peeks her head out from behind her.
Clasping her hands with her little sister, Mimi says, "You were scared. This is not your fault. Do not blame yourself. Dandan, Dumplin, look at me. This is not your fault. See? Master Wei is taking good care of me. I will be better soon."
"Remind me to get that in writing when Zewu-Jun demands my head on a platter -"
Wei Wuxian screams as giant white fox lands over Mimi and Dumplin, growling savagely at the black-cloaked cultivator.
"Lan Zhan!" Master Wei screams as the fox shifts into Qiaolian's human form.
Lan Zhan immediately turns at his scream and stands in front of Master Wei protectively. A string of webbing descends from the heavens, efficiently binding the two cultivators together.
"You were trying to heal my sister, so I will not bury you where you stand," Qiaolian growls before attending her sister.
"Hey, hey, hey you. I got your message. Tell me where it hurts," Qiaolian says gently.
"She's hurt badly in the side! It's an arrow!" Master Wei cries as he and Lan Zhan struggle with the webbing.
Qiaolian turns Mimi on her side and studies the arrow, "It's deep. We'll get you healed, cub. Remind me why I don't drag your sorry butt up the mountain, to keep you out of trouble."
With one deft pull, Qiaolian yanks the arrow from her sisters' side, and Mimi lets out an unearthly scream.
Lan Xichen, Lord Qiren, and Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, and Chen burst from the woods.
Chen breaks formation and runs to her sister's side and immediately sees the arrow, "What happened?! Why is she bleeding?! Why are you holding a bloody arrow?!"
Qiaolian picks up Dumplin and puts her in Chen's arms. Uneasy with so many cultivators, Qiaolian pushes them behind her. Shielding them from the cultivators. Her tails violently moving around, producing balls of threatening foxfire.
"What is going on here?!" Lord Qiren shouts as he sees his nephew and Master Wei tied together to a tree.
They gape at the fox spirit, and before they can budge, Lan Zhan says calmly, "They are fox spirits. Lady Shen is hurt. Serpent ghosts were attacking us. We are fine."
"Lady Shen!" Lan Xichen shouts, torn between freeing his brother and helping the woman he has grown so fond of.
Seeing that his brother is otherwise entirely unharmed, Lan Xichen quickly puts the puzzle pieces together, this must be . . . the sister.
He bows before the ancient fox spirit, "Lady Feng. I am the leader of the Gusu clan. Please allow me to offer my assistance."
Lan Xichen holds his hand out, signaling for his clan to lower their weapons. The fox spirit studies him closely as Mimi groans in pain and embarrassment. Qiaolian places her hand upon Mimi's side and begins to heal the wound.
Qiaolian nods to the clan leader, "You are the skilled painter that my sisters are so fond of?"
The clan leader is torn between answering the obviously powerful fox spirit and checking on the sisters.
"I . . . yes. It would be an honor to be thought of in that way by your esteemed siblings," Lan Xichen says firmly, trying to make eye contact with the sisters underneath.
"Perfect," Qiaolian gives him a foxy grin as she continues to heal Mimi.
"I would like a large portrait of mys-" a dainty figure descends from the canopy on a line of silver silk, her more spidery appendages hidden by her wife's magic, "my wife. My lovely wife to hang above the fireplace."
Kill me now, Mimi thinks as Daiyu rolls her eyes at her wife and bows to the clan leader, "Please accept our humble apologies, clan leader. We wished to meet under more celebratory circumstances. We must have received the same message you did and rushed to our sister's aid."
The clan leader returns her bow, "Let us all return to Cloud Recesses. I believe that there is much to be discussed."
Chen and Dumplin crawl under Qiaolian and soon flank Mimi as she continues to be healed by her eldest sister.
"Are you okay, Mimi?" Chen asks, awkwardly giving her a sidewise hug.
"I'm fine, cubs," Mimi says and nuzzles each of her sister's noses.
Lord Qiren sputters, "They are all spirits?! We cannot allow them into Cloud Recesses! This is madness!"
"They have not hurt anyone, uncle. As you recall, if it weren't for Lady Shen, I would not be alive right now. Lady Shen needs medical care, and her relatives are entitled to our protection!" Lan Xichen smiles at Mimi's relatives, "Please, you are welcome in Cloud Recesses. If you could follow us?"
Qiaolian looks upon the clan leader approvingly, and she and Daiyu share a look.
Daiyu bows, "We accept your offer, clan leader. If you lead, we will follow. Many blessings upon your clan."
"Alright," Qiaolian smiles down at her sister, "the arrow pierced your rib and a couple of organs, but everything is healed now. You are just going to be very sore for a couple of days."
"Super," Mimi grunts as Qiaolian tries to hold her up. She felt like she was hit by a truck.
"Qiaolian, can you move please," Mimi says irritably. Trying to sit up and finding it difficult with her eldest sister crouched over her protectively.
"We shall see if the clan leader loves you, cub. You just leave it to us," Qiaolian whispers, and Mimi grabs her by the front of her robes and says, "You will do no such thing."
"That's what you think," Qiaolian pats her hand affectionately and wriggles out of her grip before prancing over to Daiyu with her tails wriggling excitedly.
Seizing this opportunity, the clan leader quickly moves to the sisters. He immediately embraces Chen and Dumplin, who were terrified at Lord Qiren's words, despite Mimi trying to comfort them. He is delighted when they hug him back.
Lan Xichen strokes Mimi's cheek and says dryly, "And now I understand how Wanji must feel keeping track of Master Wei."
Feeling a little affronted at this, Mimi is about to argue when Chen interrupts her.
"Uncle Xichen, you aren't mad that we aren't human?" Chen asks, her eyes very frightened.
Dumplin hid her face from the clan leader entirely as if expecting some sort of blow. The clan leader does not like this at all.
"You both have proven over the last year how wonderful, talented, brave, and special you are. As long as you wish to stay, Cloud Recesses will always be your home. You will always be family. This is unexpected, but I am not angry. Merely surprised."
The girls cling to him happily, causing Lan Xichen to wonder when precisely the small children had managed to wrap him around their little fingers.
"Umm, do you mind releasing us?" Master Wei asks.
"I apologize, Master Wei and Second master lan. Far too much excitement going on," Daiyu bounces over and cuts through the thread with her fingers.
"What is this?" Lan Zhan asks, pulling at the silk.
"It's a special type of silk I make from scratch," Daiyu brags, bowing to them both.
Lan Zhan and Master Wei share a dubious look before bowing to the tiny woman.
Qiaolian returns to her sisters and pats Mimi on the shoulder, "Do you feel like you can get down yourself, or do you need assistance?"
"I might be okay," Mimi braces herself against the tree and tries to stand up.
Hearing this, Lan Xichen bends to examine Mimi, his face scrunched up in worry.
"What is going on with us and being pierced by arrows?" Mimi laughs and then winces, holding her side.
"I suppose it must be fate," he answers, examining her wound.
Making a split decision, he gently scoops Mimi up in his arms, cradling her against his chest. She did not look at him.
Seeing the couple needed a bit of space, Qiaolian guides the children to the other side of the clearing. Qiaolian shifts into her fox form, which causes Master Wei to dash down the mountain at a thunderous pace. He is immediately followed by Lan Zhan, who chases after him.
Daiyu picks up Dumplin and fondly hugs her before putting her on Qiaolian's back. She turns to Chen and hugs her as well.
"Are you running or riding?" Daiyu asks.
"I'll run," Chen grins.
Daiyu nods in understanding before she leaps on to Qiaolian's back behind Dumplin.
"We'll meet you at the border then," Daiyu calls before Qiaolian darts off in a run similar to a bolt of lightning.
"Uncle Xichen, watch me!" Chen says, waiting for the clan leader to look.
Lan Xichen looks up from Mimi and gives the child his full attention, "I am watching."
Chen shrinks into her fox form and darts up to the pair. Lan Xichen is immediately reminded of a much larger fox and looks down at Mimi, who is watching her sister.
"You are such a cute little fox!" he says, fondly, looking at her two fox tails wriggling around happily.
Delighted with this compliment, Chen bounces around the clan leader happily before she darts off after Qiaolian.
"You can do that as well, can't you?" Lan Xichen murmurs to Mimi as she hesitantly looks up at him.
"I suppose the fox is out of the bag," she says ruefully.
"Firefly?" he asks, and Mimi hesitantly nods and points to herself.
The clan leader smirks, "Why did you do that?"
"At first, it was because I wanted to see what sort of man you were before exposing you to my siblings. I liked being around you. I liked being there for you," Mimi says tiredly, and the clan leader remembers she had been healed not too long ago.
He stands and carries her down the mountain, "It's nearly been a year. Why didn't you mention this sooner?"
"You saw my sisters' reaction to you knowing. I was scared. You are a good man, and so is your brother and Master Wei. But it is difficult for spirits to shake the fear of cultivators."
Mimi pauses, "Would you like us to leave?"
"No. Of course not," Lan Xichen holds her just a little tighter, "You have one more task, and I already promised your sisters this will always be their home. Nothing has changed."
She looks up at him and finally lays her head on his chest. His heart is pounding.
Mimi closes her eyes and sighs in contentment, "Thank you for what you said to them. You can't know how much it means to them to hear those words from your lips. They respect you so much. It meant the world to Chen, showing you her form and you accepting her."
"I adore them," Lan Xichen smiles, thinking of the two girls.
"Will you show me your true form?" Lan Xichen asks curiously. He had not seen Firefly or any other tails since the day at the lake.
"Perhaps," Mimi smiles, "but to be fair clan leader, my sister just pulled an arrow from my side."