Chapter Fourteen: Fly away

From the moment Tian decided that she wanted to learn more about the strange people she saw, the young girl used every opportunity she could use to get away from her parents, and try to catch a glimpse of them. This often landed her in trouble, which annoyed her, but Tian felt it was worth it. No matter how many times her parents told her to stay away, Tian never really listened to them. Even if it was just a glimpse, she wanted to learn more and more about those people. Even if they were small, fleeting glimpses, it was something to Tian. Something special.

"I just don't see why I have to stay away." Tian would tell her parents. More her father than anyone else would get on to her about seeing those people.

"They're a curse. Or at least that's what those stupid villagers think about them. You need to stay away. I'm saying this for your protection." Her father stated. Tian still didn't understand.

"Why though?"

"Long ago, the first generation was given powers by Hiryuu to protect him, but the line continued long after Hiryuu had died. The Green Dragon is a curse that clings to this village. Almost a hundred years ago, when one of them got out, people came to our village, and attacked. They did other bad things as well, and that's why the green Dragon lives the way they do. Understand? You need to stay away." Tian pursed her lips as she looked away.

Needless to say, even after the talk with her father, it didn't stop Tian from wanting to see them. She had hoped for a conversation, but she was never brave enough to initiate one. Whenever one of them caught eye with her, Tian was quick to turn on her heels, and run back to whatever she was supposed to be doing in the first place.

This trend continued for just a few more years. The times that she wanted to go see them became further and further apart as she began to have interest in other things. Although her interest in them never waned in the least bit. Then, one day, there was a big commotion in the village.

That day, Tian was out gathering some fish with a local village girl. She had come home with only a few fishes. Afterwards, She had went in for a slight nap before cleaning the fish for the night's dinner.

"...GONE!" Tian was jolted out of her sleep by the loud, gruff voice she was quick to recognize as an elder's voice. She yawned, stretching out, and shaking her head. She then got out of her bed, throwing the covers aside, and gently pressed her ear against the door, trying to hear as much as she could before gauging whether or not she would intrude on the matter.

"Was he brought back?" Tian had to strain to hear her father's voice as he softly spoke. Tian yawned, and then stifled it as the elder was quick to answer.

"No." He quickly answered in a snipe. Tian could hear her father sigh in exasperation." Unlike the other times, the one before him caused a big enough commotion that allowed the brat to escape. We have a party searching for the kid, but nothing has come up yet."

"If he brings attention to himself, this village will have another situation like eighty-five years ago. We can't afford to go through that again. And if he dies, then the responsibility will fall on your family to care for the new one." Another voice, one that Tian didn't know was also there until that moment, spoke out almost accusingly. She felt some part of her bristled at the tone. She wanted to barge in, and say something, but decided against it. That wouldn't help anything.

"It would be fitting. Considering it was your ancestor that put this curse on us." The first one spoke up again, sounding half accusing, and half smug.

"Well, we'll keep you all updated. We'll see you later." With that said, they left the house.

There was a silence that descend on the house as the elders left the house. Tian stepped back from the door a few paces, but she was still unsure of what she would do. Some part of her was worried about the Green Dragon. She could only hope that he would be ok whatever happened to him. With a weight on her chest, she had decided that that moment was fine to come out, which she did. She began to make dinner with her mother, who was trying her best to ignore what had just happened.

During the next few months, the village was in a frenzy looking for the Green Dragon. Although most of the parties didn't venture too far. Surely, they reasoned, the kid couldn't have gone that far that fast. However, he was nowhere to be found. It was during the tenth month of him being gone that the elders called off the search. Since neither a new Green Dragon was born in the village, and no soldiers or bandits had suddenly showed up, they decided it was good riddance to bad rubbish. At least in their eyes. It was just during that time that Tian's family had decided to leave the village.

"Why do we have to go? Why can't we stay?" Tian questioned in annoyance, glancing at her mother as they were packing what little they were going to take with them.

"Your father got a very good business deal some place else, but we have to move. Your father misses his family when he's away, so we're all moving to be with him."

"I don't want to move." She protested, scowling as she gently packed away some tea pots.

Even if the villagers were considerably more cold to them since both of the green dragon's were gone, it was still the young girl's home. The only one she had ever known. She didn't want to leave, and she certainly didn't want to leave to unknown circumstances.

"It doesn't matter if you want to. We're moving." Her mother told her. Tian sighed heavily, shaking her head.

"Whatever." She whispered under her breath, scowling. If her mother heard Tian's words, she made no attempt to reprimand her daughter, and instead just continued to pack for the move.