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for Mùchén

Lian had kept herself scarce during Kexin's recovery. Time was required to bond with the babe, and to recuperate from the birth's trauma on the body. Lian knew harmony had been disrupted - she could not easily forget the urgency in Lady Kaede's voice or the revolting overwhelm of the scent of Kexin's blood. But only time and rest would bring things back into order, so despite her desire to do more, Lian kept herself busy in the places in the Dynasty she was best suited for. A pretty face and calm voice to set hackles at ease, a clever mind behind gilded eyes to subtly guide the Tianlong on the holy path. The life of a princess, as the Tianlong worked to establish their foundations in this new and disastrously plagued land, was a rather...sheltered one.

Lian missed eavesdropping on her father's meetings and debating strategy with Shouren. She missed garden parties and entertaining the efforts of diplomatic envoys to ply their ways into the Tianlong's good graces with sweet words and pretty jewels for their beloved Princess and Empress.

One task she could set her mind to was the relationship between the Empress and Kexin, at least. It had never once slipped from Lian's mind the abrupt exit Yue had made from the birth scene even before it had noticeably taken a turn for the worse. The memory still haunted her, and she could not help but fret over what her own experience would one day be. She did not speak of this and would not, even to Yue nor her own mother.

These were unbecoming concerns, and fears that would not change what she would one day do for her dynasty.

Instead, Lian concerned herself with feeling out what the tension might be between the women and setting it right. Kexin was a valued physician. Surely she would be the choice by Yue's bedside when the Empress finally gave the Emperor an heir. Carefully, Lian steered her mind away from how that idea made her feel. Yue was precious to the Tianlong. She was treasured by the Princess, too; her own mother and the Empress were both remarkable role models for what Lian should hope to become one day. She would not see friction harm either the Empress or the physician.

Elegant, measured pawsteps carried the princess to the physician's den. A familiar place, now; it looks and smells unassuming, even cozy, in the daylight. Lian situates herself before the mouth of the den, mirroring her posture when the little one within was brought into the world. A soft bark announces her presence - something far too small to even be Kexin's questing nose wobbles at the entrance.

Greetings.

Was that? Oh, she hoped it was!

Late to wake this day, Muchen lazed idly in the wake of his mother's warmth—she had already risen and left to work, but the babe was curled with the white rabbit pelt that had easily become a favorite of his father's gifts. He could not bother Touying as easily and readily as he could bother Kexin, so he clung to the traces of his father. When would he be old enough to go out with him?

A voice roused him from his dozing and he peeked outside of the entrance to the den with curious, wide blue eyes. Oh! A new person to meet?! He was meeting lots of new faces lately!

He quickly shook out his fur and grabbed the rabbit pelt to take with him, scampering from the den to display it proudly to the pretty lady that had called a greeting.

Hello! he beamed at her, placing the white pelt before him. His speech was not great, picking up what he could from listening and talking to his parents, but he hadn't quite grasped the concept of introductions.

Look this! he said, patting the pelt. Pretty! Like you! She was a wash of warm colors that contrasted the inky coats of his parents, although not as vivid as his friend Kyoami's.

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It was indeed! Lian could do nothing to make the smile splitting her features any more measured, any more graceful - there was no one else around, so she decided it would be no issue if the heavenly daughter of the Tianlong gave a gleeful little wiggle and beamed as the tiny - how was he so tiny! - boy re-emerged from the den with something grasped in his teeth.

Fluffy, and white; it obscured him for a moment in the full light of day before he set the pelt down to extol Lian's praises. A thrilled coo lilted from the princess' lips, as she took in the boy's healthy bearing of his own insubstantial weight, the brightness of his sapphire eyes. The danger of his birth-day had long passed. Lian eagerly tried to put her fears to rest. Here, with Muchen, it worked. In the quiet hours of her day, when her mind has no puzzle to pick apart except the inevitability of her fate and still all the things she cannot be sure of, it will return.

For now, she is in the overcast sunshine with Tianlong's truest treasure, and her heart swells even as her gaze flits over the shades of his coat. He has Kexin's chimeric fractures. Where Touying's furthest points are bathed in dark, Muchen wears clay and rabbit-pelt-white. A thought, half-formed, flitted across her mind. Lian's psyche flinched back from it, though, shuttered the access to such musings. With urgency, she wrested her attention to the worthy recipient of it before her. Her paws shifted with care, so she could lower herself closer to the pup's level.

You honor me; it is indeed beautiful. Lian is not well-experienced with children. This seems like a good opportunity to gain some, so she settles more comfortably on her belly and nods toward the depths of the den. Have you anymore treasures to show me, 虎子 (tiger)?

Friendly in his greetings no matter who approached the den so far, this meeting was no different for him—except, of course, he did not know this was a princess. He had been told about the court here and there, but his attention was not something that could be easily grasped by rules and titles yet. He had probably even been told the names of the princesses at some point, but it was not something he remembered now; and even then, it was not something he even considered to think about in just meeting a new face.

But she was prettier than others who had come to see him. There was a grace to her that awed Muchen. He knew the name of jasmine and could place it in her gentle scent, but he did not know the other things that lingered there. Regardless, this visitor was already set apart from others. Even as she lay to arrive at his level, he felt humbled and small.

So when she asked if he had any other treasures to show her, his eyes lit up. Of course he did! Dad brought him all sorts of cool stuff, like different bones and a cool antler piece! Muchen was not without his own spoils too, like a super cool rock he found the other day! Or the tufts of fur from both of his parents that he'd bury his nose in to when he wanted to smell them.

It was clear he hesitated for a moment but it was not because he did not want to share his treasures. He'd have to show her some more pretty things!

Yeah! he barked finally, jumping and twisting around in one smooth motion. He disappeared back into the den and came out a moment later with a mouthful of different feathers.

He placed them gently before her, taking care not to bite too hard on shafts lest he bend them. There were all sorts of colors and patterns to them, but he picked a light, foggy blue one to show her first.

Mist, he said knowingly, although that was not the name of the bird, just the name he had given to the feather. He grinned widely at his collection, laying onto his own belly and folding his paws neatly beneath his chest so that they could admire the pile together carefully. From dad, he added, gazing upon his hoard of feathers like the whole world rested in this soft pile of treasures.

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The child paused. Was he shy about his collection? Perhaps he did not have many gifts, yet, and hadn't realized he could amass more pieces like the pelt. Or maybe he was just overwhelmed? It seemed the latter, for the boy then perked right back up and affirmed Lian's question. Her brows arched slightly in surprise or perhaps encouragement for Muchen to continue. Either way, he'd already spun to dive back into the den for...well, something. More pelts? Lian ran a paw delicately over the pristine pelt, appreciating the velvety texture but careful not to mar the color with dirt.

It only took a few moments for Muchen to toddle back out of the den's depths. Lian was glad it was all light enough for him to carry. It felt a little invasive to enter Kexin's den in the first place, and Lian didn't think she could be inside without thinking far too much about the night of Muchen's birth. She worried the inside of her cheek with her teeth, lost in thought while the tiny pup painstakingly worked to arrange his bundle of feathers how he'd like.

She thought she might die of delight at how adorable it all was. With admirable restrain, Lian managed to keep from squealing over Muchen's meticulous arrangement of his limbs so they could observe the feathers at their leisure. She toned it down to a warm smile and tiny wag of the tip of her tail where it was curled around her haunches. She didn't want to create a gust of wind to displace the feathers, after all.

Like mist, yes! A good eye, you have. And what a collection! I should be envious. But she didn't want to make it seem like she was, in case he felt pressured by such a suggestion.

From dad.

Lian ignored the lurch of complex emotion in her gullet, and softened her features. How thoughtful of him. Touying - your dad - he is a dear friend to my family.

Her gaze flitted across the feathers, then across Muchen again. Perhaps if she squinted, she could call the shades of tan a faded version of Touying's auburn. Yes, she'd do that. How lovely, what myriad of results a bloodline could produce.

Her genuine interest in his treasures rooted a seed of happiness in his chest. Muchen had met a few others so far and had yet to have a bad experience. Even so, he could tell there was a different air about this one; his parents had tried to tell him about the dynamics of what court life was like, but he hadn't needed to use any of that information yet. He couldn't help but wonder if this nice visitor was one of the important ones.

When she mentioned his ba was a good friend to her family, it clicked for him: she must be one of those important ones, then. He blinked at her, suddenly forgetting all of the things his parents had tried to teach him. It was really important, they had said! The way he would act and speak to the royal family was important! It was like his brain short-circuited and he decided, since she was being so nice, maybe that stuff wouldn't matter.

Friend, he echoed, followed by a wide grin. If his dad was a dear friend to her family, then was he a dear friend to her, too? That's how it worked, right?

Azure eyes cast back to the feathers thoughtfully—he wanted to give one of these to her, but it had to match her beautiful fur and wistful, whimsical being.

He unfolded his paws carefully and reached forward to pick one of the feathers out of the pile: it was a deep red color with a black tip. His father had said it was a rare one to find but Muchen couldn't remember what he called the bird. Regardless, he pushed it gingerly out of the pile and toward her, offering it to her if she would like to look at it more closely.

Pretty, like you, he said again, his voice soft. Ba says rare, he continued, his blue eyes looking up to her with a bright glow. For you! Pretty friend! His eyes closed with the force of the smile he beamed at her. I'm Muchen! If they were friends, they'd have to know each other's names!