“Igni, back off,” Kai called, his voice firm but calm. The flame-striped tiger glanced at Kai, his ears twitching slightly, before reluctantly stepping away from the tree. Kai approached slowly, keeping his movements deliberate and non-threatening. He crouched down a few feet away from the crevice, making sure not to crowd the boy.

  “Hey, it’s okay,” Kai said softly, his tone gentle. “You’re safe now. The boar’s gone, and the tiger won’t hurt you. He’s with me.” He gestured toward Igni, who sat a short distance away, looking almost offended by the boy’s reaction. The other spirit beasts lingered nearby, their curious eyes watching the scene unfold.

  The boy’s sobs slowed, though he still eyed Igni warily. “Y-you promise?” he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

  “I promise,” Kai said, offering a small, reassuring smile. “My name’s Kai. What’s yours?”

  The boy hesitated, his wide eyes darting nervously between Kai and the spirit beasts. Finally, in a voice so soft it was almost swallowed by the rustling of the trees, he whispered, “L-Lu Bu.”

  “Lu Bu?” Kai repeated, slightly taken aback by the name. It rang a faint bell in his mind, like the echo of a story he’d heard long ago or a name whispered in passing. He paused, his brow furrowing as he tried to place it. Lu Bu… Lu Bu… The name felt significant, almost legendary, but the memory was just out of reach, like trying to grasp smoke. Was it a historical figure? A warrior? A myth? He couldn’t quite remember.

  Shaking his head, Kai pushed the thought aside. Now wasn’t the time to get lost in his own musings. He refocused on the boy, who was still watching him with a mix of fear and curiosity.

  “Well, Lu Bu,” Kai said, his tone gentle but steady, “you’ve had a pretty rough day, huh? But you’re safe now. I’m not going to let anything hurt you. Can you tell me how you ended up out here all alone?”

  The boy—Lu Bu—glanced nervously at the spirit beasts again, his small hands clutching the hem of his tattered shirt. His breath hitched, and for a moment, it seemed like he might speak. But then his face crumpled, and he froze, his words catching in his throat. Whatever had happened to him, whatever had driven him into the mountains alone, it was clearly too painful to put into words. His small frame trembled, and his eyes welled with fresh tears, though he fought to hold them back.

  Kai watched him carefully, his heart aching for the boy. He could see the anguish etched into Lu Bu’s face, the way his small shoulders hunched as if carrying a weight far too heavy for someone so young. Kai knew better than to push. Some wounds were too raw to touch, and some stories needed time before they could be told.

  “It’s okay,” Kai said softly, his voice a soothing balm. “You don’t have to talk about it right now. Let’s just focus on getting you somewhere safe and warm, alright?”

  Lu Bu nodded shakily, his grip tightening on the hem of his shirt. He didn’t say anything, but the relief in his eyes was enough to tell Kai he’d made the right call. For now, the boy needed comfort, not questions.

  Kai stood slowly, careful not to startle him, and extended a hand. “Come on,” he said gently. “Let’s get moving. We’ll take it one step at a time.”

  Lu Bu hesitated for a moment before reaching out and taking Kai’s hand. His grip was small and tentative, but it was a start. Kai gave his hand a reassuring squeeze before leading him away from the tree, his spirit beasts following at a respectful distance. Igni padded alongside them, his massive frame a silent but steady presence, while Snow and Shuiying kept watch, their sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. Ning lumbered behind, her calm demeanor a grounding force, and Yinying and Hunhan sat on top of Ning.

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  The boy stayed close, his free hand occasionally brushing against Kai’s sleeve as if to reassure himself that he wasn’t alone. Kai didn’t mind. He knew what it was like to feel lost and afraid, and if his presence could offer even a little comfort, he was glad to provide it.

  For now, the questions could wait. Kai’s priority was making sure Lu Bu felt safe. The rest—the boy’s story, the significance of his name, and how he’d ended up in such a dangerous place—could come later. Still, Kai couldn’t shake the feeling that the name “Lu Bu” meant something more than he realized. It tugged at the edges of his memory, like a fragment of a dream he couldn’t quite recall. Maybe it was tied to the strange, otherworldly dreams he’d been having lately, or perhaps it was something else entirely. But for now, the mysteries would have to wait. The boy’s safety came first.

  Kai glanced up at the sky, noting the position of the sun. It was late afternoon, and the clearing they were in seemed as good a place as any to make camp. A river flowed nearby, its gentle burble a soothing backdrop, and the giant boar carcass was too heavy to move. Kai didn’t want all that meat to go to waste—it would feed his spirit beasts for days. Plus, the clearing was open enough to provide visibility and safety, making it an ideal spot to settle for the night.

  He set to work gathering wood for a fire, moving with the practiced ease of someone who had done this countless times before. Lu Bu stayed close, his small frame shadowing Kai’s every step. The boy’s wide eyes darted nervously around the clearing, especially as more of Kai’s spirit beasts began to arrive. When Kai had rushed to Lu Bu’s aid earlier, not all of his companions had kept up. Now, they were trickling into the clearing one by one, their presence transforming the space into a lively, if slightly chaotic, menagerie. There were creatures of all shapes and sizes—feathered, scaled, furred, and everything in between. The clearing, once quiet and still, now buzzed with the soft sounds of paws padding against the earth, wings fluttering, and the occasional low rumble or chirp.

  Lu Bu’s anxiety spiked as the clearing filled with more creatures. He clung to Kai’s sleeve, his small hands trembling. Kai did his best to reassure him, speaking in a calm, steady voice. “They’re all friends,” he said, glancing down at the boy. “They might look scary, but they won’t hurt you. I promise.”

  Once he had gathered enough wood, Kai arranged it into a neat pile and turned to Igni. The flame-striped tiger had been lingering nearby, his amber eyes watching the proceedings with a mix of curiosity and pride. “Igni,” Kai said, “mind lighting the fire for us?”

  Igni perked up at the request, clearly eager to show off. He sauntered over to the woodpile, his movements deliberately slow and dramatic, as if trying to impress. With a flick of his tail and a low rumble, he exhaled a stream of fire, igniting the dry wood in an instant. The flames crackled to life, casting a warm glow over the clearing. Igni then turned to Lu Bu, his expression almost smug, as if to say, See? Cool, right?

  But instead of being impressed, Lu Bu let out a small yelp and hid behind Kai, his eyes wide with fear. A tiger breathing fire was apparently a step too far for the already overwhelmed child. Igni’s ears drooped, his proud demeanor deflating instantly. He let out a low, almost apologetic whine before slinking away to the far corner of the camp, where he flopped down with a dramatic sigh, his tail flicking in disappointment.

  Kai couldn’t help but chuckle softly at Igni’s reaction. “Don’t take it personally,” he called to the tiger. “He’s just not used to… well, you.”

  Turning back to Lu Bu, Kai crouched down to the boy’s level. “I know it’s a lot to take in,” he said gently. “But you’re safe here. Igni might look scary, but he’s really just a big softie. And the others—they’re all here to help. You’ll see.”

  Lu Bu nodded hesitantly, though his grip on Kai’s sleeve didn’t loosen. Kai gave him a reassuring smile before standing and turning his attention to the boar carcass. There was work to be done, and the sooner they got settled, the better. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the clearing, Kai set about preparing the camp, his spirit beasts milling about in the background. For now, at least, they were safe.

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