Like most stupid ideas, it was only after she began doing it that Mei realized she had been an idiot. She basically met all the standards to enter the Idiot Competition.
Running into the forest at night? Check.
Bringing no supplies at all? Check.
Looking for people whose faces you didn't even know? Check.
To add insult to the injury, Mei was also completely, totally, 100% lost.
Miserably, Mei sat down on a tree stump. It was gross and slimy. Because it wouldn't be fun if it wasn't.
She wanted to cry. Or scream for help. But of course, she was too prideful. Stupid pride.
"Yo," A male voice suddenly said.
Mei looked up. A man, maybe 12 years older than her, was standing over her. He had slightly grown-out hair and emotionless brown eyes. His clothes were traditional red Chinese garments, with a golden sash.
"I'm Li Xiang," He said, "Are you lost, little girl?"
Mei immediately became angry.
"I'm not a little girl!" She declared, jumping up. "I'm already 12, okay? And my name is Mei."
Li Xiang looked amused. "Like, whatever. So are you lost or not?"
Mei sighed. Maybe it was time to accept defeat.
"Yeah," She mumbled, "I was looking for my twelve brothers-"
Li Xiang furrowed his brow. "Twelve brothers?"
"Yeah. Anyways, my dad was gonna kill them 'cause of me, so they ran away-"
"Your dad was gonna kill them?"
Li Xiang looked perplexed.
"Yes!" Mei snapped, "Stop asking questions! Anyways, my mom was super sad, so I came to find them and bring them back! I also got dad to not wanna kill them anymore. You see, my mom, she's really nice and pretty. Her name's Nü Wa-"
Li Xiang stiffened. "Nü Wa? But… that's…" He stared at Mei. "She does look a bit like Yao... like, no way…
"I think we might be siblings!"
Mei looked shocked. Then she instantly leaped into his arms.
"Ge ge!" She squealed, "I'm so happy to see you! I can't wait to go home together-"
"Woah," He said, lightly pushing Mei off. "How can we be sure we've even found the right person?"
"The royal seal mom gave all of us!" Mei squealed.
Li Xiang looked surprised. "You're, like, kinda smart."
Mei pouted. "Don't sound so surprised."
The two produced their royal seals. They were a match.
Mei squealed again, and then rushed back into Li Xiang's embrace.
"I'm so happy! Where do you live? Can I go there? When can we go home? Do you have a girlfriend? Or a boyfriend? 'Cause I really love yaoi and-"
"Hold it with the questions," Li Xiang said, "There might be a slight problem."
"What is it?" Mei asked, looking up at him with big, adoring brown eyes.
"My brothers and I may or may not have sworn to kill every girl we came across…"