This hug was clearly unusual for a tyrant who had conquered countless planets.
But at this moment, Amos had yet to realize that.
He had only just witnessed a world he could never have known, with that little one who cried and blew on his own wounds, striking a chord in his heart.
He rarely felt such sourness.
Behind them, though Frey and Anya hadnโt seen that strange vision, they still felt the bitterness from the little one’s words.
Memories of their own time as cubs were not very clear.
Too much time had passed, and every loss of a clansman seemed to cover the ever-turning gears of childhood with a layer of red rust, until those gears could no longer turn. So they grew up, matured, stood in the place of their elders, filling in one vacancy after another.
But even now, if they thought back carefully, those blurred images from time still recalled the carefree romping of siblings, always under the protection of their elders, never alone, never crying.
So different from Little Chu Zao.
This cub, though he was one of their Crown Clan, part of the new generation, his origins and past unknown, seemed always to have lived aloneโ
He was five now, but what was he like before that?
Unimaginable.
Even Anya, who had always insisted something must be wrong with this cub, said nothing at this moment.
He simply stayed silent, face cold, quietly handing Amos the second package sent from the medical centerโnew cub milk.
Yes, the little one was severely malnourished, and it seemed his sleep had always been poor; now he needed double replenishment.
So the groggy, just-woken little cub got another helping of cub milk.
Once again, the nutrients in the milk soon made him sleepy.
Who knew how much time later.
In the end, he looked up at Amosโs halo, snuggling into Babaโs arms, childish voice soft: โAwoo!โ
Zao Zao already blew on it, donโt break again.
Only when the cubโs breathing steadied did Anya mutter discontentedly: โWho does this little guy think he isโฆ Just because he says donโt break, it wonโt break?โ
The habitat planet was polluted and destroyed, every Crown Clan memberโs spirit force tied to the habitat, all slowly doomedโthere was no resisting such a fate.
Besidesโ
Anya couldnโt help looking at the little halo atop Little Chu Zaoโs head. He dropped his eyes, long lashes covering his pupils, now a bit empty.
Even this little one would have to go throughโฆ
That kind of terrifying nightmare.
Amos said nothing, just silently held the cub for a while longer, then carried him upstairs to continue sleeping.
After leaving the room, he looked at Frey and Anya.
โHis spirit power is recovering; it shouldnโt be long before he stabilizes into human form. He canโt do anything right now; he needs teachers, bodyguards, and friendsโฆโ
Anya: โBut brotherโฆ I still havenโt figured out what exactly he is.โ
โThatโs not important to the Crown Clan, Anya.โ
Frey cut Anya off.
Amos looked over too, as if seeing through Anyaโs wavering and fear. He raised his hand, lightly patted the youngest Crown Clan of their generation, his youngest brother, on the shoulder: โHeโs one of us. The alpha will bear the fate of the whole clan, and guide the pups, just as Mother and Father taught us, Anya, you donโt need to worry.โ
*
When Little Chu Zao woke up again, daylight was shining outside.
The little white fluff climbed slowly off the soft bed, stretched his forepaws forward, spread his little wings, ears twitching and rising, and that little halo lifted to its peak for a moment. His backside stuck straight up, tail raised, giving a big stretch.
โAwoo!โ
So refreshing!
He looked around, feeling this was the best sleep he ever had.
In his old world he never slept on a bed this soft. He always used broad leaves and dry straw, and like a busy little bee, he made trip after trip, building a birdโs nest-like home on a suitable ancient tree branch.
Little Chu Zao lived there for a long time.
Except when it rained, things got messy and he had to watch out for big monsters who wanted to eat him, so he rarely slept soundly at night.
Who knew what he drank yesterdayโafter drinking, he just wanted to sleep all warm and cozy.
After a good sleep, he felt endless strength, full of energy.
Though he still couldnโt revert to what he considered his little angel form, something inside was stirring, waiting for his call.
Little Chu Zao didnโt pay it much mind for now; he twitched his tail, jumped off the bed with a soft โawoo.โ
And stepped out.
This time, the palace AI Yuan didnโt repeat the butler Moriโs programmed routine, but as soon as the little cub stepped out, the lights began to twinkle in all colors.
โGood morning, little prince, itโs minus ten degrees outside today, light snow, sunny, keep warm when you go out! Once again, every strand of fur is perfect, little prince, wishing you a happy, pleasant day.โ
The little one froze, looked at the rainbow behind him, ears instinctively flattening, halo lowering, his walk becoming proud after the praise, stepping daintily forward.
โAwoo.โ
He responded, then hurried down the stairs as he remembered.
Downstairs, because of the cub, Amos, Anya, and Frey were still inside.
Even Meilun, whoโd left early yesterday, was sitting in the sunlight, white hair gathered on one shoulder, crimson eyes looking even better than yesterday.
There was steaming coffee on the table, a rare leisurely morning, with one dish after another being served for breakfast.
Amos was the first to notice.
He turned.
At the top of the stairs, a little golden halo peeked out, followed by a snow-white little head, amber eyes as warm as honey blinking at them, bending gently when he saw Amos.
โAwoo!โ
Baba!
Then he ran downโ
Probably in too much of a hurry, after two steps his paws slipped, nearly tumbling, wings flapping, four legs in uncoordinated motion, staggering all the way into Amosโs arms.
โAwake?โ
โAwoo!โ
Awake!
The cub replied, gaze wandering to the window.
Outside, the world was even whiter, the โlittle snowmanโ by the window now covered by fresh snow, flurries still falling, palace guards neatly clearing the path.
Amos took a new bottle of cub milk from the side. His Majesty Amos learned quicklyโafter feeding twice, he was adept at it.
He let the little one lean into his arms, forepaws hugging, hindpaws braced, gulping hungrilyโAmos only needed to hold the very end of the bottle, letting the little one save a little effort.
Meilun looked on, jealous.
He was very reservedโโAhem, Your Majesty Amos, you keep eating. Let me help you feed him.โ
Meilun was hung up on not being able to hug the cub yesterday, so heโd come early.
Amos watched the cub gurgle the milk, voraciously emptying the entire bottle, and idly tapped the bottle.
โHeโs done.โ
Meilun: โฆ
How does he drink so fast!
Damn!
Frey said nothing.
Anya took a bite of meat, snorted, watching the cub and his bottle, feeling an inexplicable itch, which somehow turned into a weird dissatisfaction at the cubโs apparent popularity.
โBut, such a young one not even weaned.โ
Little Chu Zao licked his lips with his small tongue after finishing.
He blinked his big eyes, sitting in Amosโs arms, looking at Anya.
Anya looked โfiercelyโ back.
โSo? You going to challenge me, little guy?โ
Such a soft thingโ
Was he going to leap up and hit his knee?
Of courseโ
โYou can try.โ
Anya seemed amused, dropping his fork, making a classic grownups-scaring-kids face, baring his teeth at the cub.
He watched as the white furball shrank back, feeling rather pleased with himself.
Hmph, scared, are you?
โChildish.โ
Frey commented, kicking his chair leg.
Little Chu Zao had grown up alone, so was highly sensitive to everything, and always knew that. Faced with someone strong, you had to be even stronger not to get bullied. Watching Anya make faces, he didnโt hesitate, reached out a paw, grabbed his halo, yanked it off.
โHissโโ
As all the Crown Clan nearby winced, teeth on edge, the little cub, like throwing a boomerang, zipped his halo outโdead on target, hitting Anya on the nose.
After striking a little red mark on Anyaโs nose, the halo trembled and flew back onto Little Chu Zaoโs head.
The white fluff gave a happy โAwoo!โ
With the boomeranged halo atop his headโZao Zao is awesome!
Coronet halo? No, boomerang.
Anya: โฆ
Anya had stood only to scare the kidโnow he covered his nose in shock, shrinking back, face full of disbelief.
His head hurt, his nose stung, he felt utterly helplessโwhat just hit him?
Waitโ
Heโd justโheโd just been hit by a โhaloโ?!
Heโd just been hit by Little Chu Zaoโs โbrainโ?!
No, no, that wasnโt the pointโ
โHow can you throw your halo?! Thatโs your core spirit power, not a boomerang!!!!โ
Anya was about to lose it!
Meilun, whose smile froze at seeing the cub yank off his halo: !!!!!
โNo, so what I saw yesterday wasnโt my imagination???!!!โ
Meilun was about to lose it!
โCould you not play around like this at breakfast? My brainโs buzzing!!โ
Frey, having kicked Anyaโs chair again, was losing it too! Even after knowing, seeing the cub remove his halo still felt painful!
โWhatโs it got to do with me? How was I to know he could toss his halo that far!โ Anya retorted.
The Crown Clanโs halo couldnโt leave the hostโno, the halo mustnโt be touched, everybody knows that! Anya protested.
Amos, though, seemed rather used to it. He looked down at the little guy, and saw his golden halo, which gradually materialized intoโa little bow?
Just like Amosโs own spirit sword, the Crown Clan could create their own spirit weapons through trainingโbut this little one had already done it?
โAwoo!โ
Little Chu Zao barked again.
Whatโs more, heโd discovered this morning that he could easily summon his weapon now.
The little bow aimed at Anya.
A whoosh and it fired.
The spirit arrow was too fine to hurt a Crown Clan member, so Amos didnโt stop it, watching thoughtfully.
In the middle of an ordinary argument with Frey, Anya stiffened, looking at Frey with feelings shifting oddlyโhis big brother suddenly looked so agreeable.
Frey was about to drag him to the training hall when he heard Anya suddenly say, โBroโฆ I love youโโ
Frey, face cold: โLove you too, you little brat, come to the trainingโwait, what?โ
Anya, coming to his senses: โฆWhat did I just say?
Anya, realizing what just happened, turned around shocked: !!!
In Amosโs arms, the white, soft cub held a spirit weaponโa little golden bow, cuddled in his paws.
โโฆWhatโs that?โ
โAwoo!โ
Cupidโs Bow!
Zao Zao named it himself.
Crown Clan had their own unique spirit weapons, with all sorts of traits, but most were meant to be strong, never to affect oneโs mindโso why would your spirit weapon do that?!
Meilun hadnโt recovered, finding it all absurd: โLooks like itโs because of Zao Zaoโs spirit weapon traits. So youโre sayingโyou said you love your brother?โ
No one would be happy to blurt out โI love youโ in a quarrel.
โโฆDonโt repeat it, Uncle Meilun, I beg you!โ
Anya had been through too much for just one morning.
He slumped into gloom.
ใAuthorโs Noteใ
On what weird paths a cub evolves when growing up without parentsโ
Zao Zao: Iโm a little angel of love and peace, isnโt this normal? ใshakes wingsใ