SuiMei

Senior Keeper

Immortals Clan

Reading, writing, napping off in some remote corner of the Land

I read a lot. Too much, too many.

The chirping of the birds every morning and the songs of the stream. Typical forest sounds.

I rarely watch TV. =/

Leo

SuiMei, the Immortal of the Pristine Woods

Considered the youngest among the Immortals, SuiMei was named after the delicate white flowers blooming near the glade where she was found the son of one of the leaders of one of the great clans allied with the great General Xia. Being but a child then, the beastly features of a Yao Jing still had not manifested themselves--at first glance she looked human, except for her eyes, which had tints of yellow common only to those of the beast. The clan who took her in disregarded it, however, and attributed it only to just a quirk. So she grew up in the grand house of the clan, surrounded by all the comforts humans regard necessary.

But the beast within can never be silenced, and on her tenth year in the house, the first signs appeared. Her ears slowly morphed to that of a fox, and sometimes in the dead of the night she would be found unconscious in the courtyard, half-covered in fox fur. Soon the clan council noticed the changes and summoned her to appear before the council.

Since her foster father was now head of the council, having assumed leadership after the death of his father, he persuaded the council to let SuiMei stay, and hopefully still be treated as an equal. But behind his back, however, they discriminated against SuiMei, especially the Fragrant Masters who were jealous of her new powers.

Deciding she had enough, on the last night of a full moon she headed out from the city of humans, hoping to reach the city of beasts to find any clue to her past and lineage. But at her crossing of Dragon Valley, her path was blocked by a veiled man, his Soulless being poorly masked by the mortal body that he controlled. He challenged SuiMei to a duel of words, and only if she won can she continue her journey.

And so they started, shooting terms at each other like the fire-arrows of the Wingkin. It was only after the third day that the Soulless was silenced, and let her pass to the city of beasts, but not after revealing that her Soul was slowly being eaten away as a result of the duel. Only by seeking the other Soulless shall her soul be truly redeemed.

This led her to journey to the corners of the World, to seek redemption for her soul. And on these journeys she found the Path to Immortality.



Taming

I raise my staff up to the sky.

I feel the power of the woods climb up to my hands from the earth, from my feet and body; like vines reaching for the sun in springtime where all bloom and awaken.

I hear the voices of the forest echo throughout--that of the untameable tiger whose thundering roar echoes across the forests, the near-silent footfalls of the regal deer, the joyful chirps of the birds riding the wind, the busy buzz of bees going about their work. My furry ears twitch, overwhelmed and in awe.

I inhale deeply; and I smell the blooming flowers raising their head to the sun, the dew-laden grass swaying in the breeze, the fresh earth offering her bounties. I breathe the essence of life, and it calms my spirit.

I see the trees with their arms reaching up in praise, the cerulean heavens, the golden sun bringing warmth to all. My eyes blink--these glories cannot be captured even by the master painters in the service of the Jade Throne.

And then I cast these upon the tainted wolf that I am facing.

Will he hear the voices? Smell the rebirth of life? See the glory of the woods? Will he feel the power of the forests?

And I ask him, will he come with me to discover the secrets of the wood?

He crept nearer and looked up at me. He then curled up at my feet, exhausted, the cleansing of the taint taking its toll. Yes, he will come with me.

My tail, tickled, swings in delight. I conjure a protective spell around him, enclosing him inside a white egg-like shell as I brought him back to the city to rest.

I found a new friend for my journeys.



Background image from http://earthselkie.deviantart.com/

Hmm...I prolly met you before. You just didn't notice me. ;)