7 A Thousand Years

Whimper

The soft cries of a tiny tiger cub were drowned out by the pitter patter of the rain as the sun descended and darkness engulfed the forest. The giant trees towered over him as the shadows of their branches stretched out their spindly fingers to snatch at the little cub. The eerie chirps and hoots that knew no origin felt like they were inching closer. The cub had gotten lost while chasing after a butterfly. He had gone so far from the cave that his pack called home that not even the surrounding scents were familiar. The cub curled into a ball trembling as the chill sank into his bones, its fur so dirty and covered in mud that not one inch was white anymore.

The bushes nearby started to ominously rustle. The cub covered his head with his front paws. The little cub felt himself be lifted into the air by the scruff of his neck, fear gripping him as he trashed about. The tiger cub was stunned to find himself blue eyes to grey eyes with the most beautiful creature. He recalled his mother calling this type of creature a human. His mother had warned him and all of the other cubs in the pack to run away if they ever came across one. Mother also warned them that should a human catch them they would be forced to form a contract and taken away from the pack. Though, the more he stared at this human the more they seemed to glow. This human seemed to have a golden aura that matched the warmth they radiated.

The tiger cub he curled into the embrace. He found himself purring and drifting off while his head was gently patted. After a while a familiar scent reached his nose. The little cub turned and was greeted by a gentle smile. Looking around he saw that they had stopped at the edge of the forest. It was near the cave that the white tiger pack called home. They scratched him behind the ear, placed him on the ground and gave his head one last pat then turned and disappeared into the cold darkness of the forest.

"You're here A'Bai."

The warm smile in the king's voice was evident as he called over his shoulder to the white tiger who was lurking in the shadows of the forest. The now 200-hundred-year-old slowly walked out of the shadows into the bright sunlit lake where the king was laying. He was laying on the soft green grass, his long inky black hair gently cascading over his shoulder and the elegant red and gold robes glittering in the rays of the sun. The clear waters of the softly rippled as he occasionally skipped a stone across its surface. The scene was stunning.

The king patted the empty space in front of himself. The white tiger trotted over to lay next to him with a goofy smile on his large face, his pink tongue cutey hanging out. He sighed in content; this was why he made the trek from his home beyond the forest to the king's garden. The tiger's heart was filled with incomparable joy every time he was in the king's presence. It didn't matter to him wither they were lazing around in the garden sunbathing or couped up in the king's tiny log cabin just looking on as he researched and crafted new medicines. Sometimes the tiger would just stalk him from the shadows as the king strolled around the garden.

"Why!?"

The king's blindingly gold aura clashed with his right-hand man's purple aura. Crimson red liquid dripped past his fingertips staining his sky-blue robes, his usual gentle smile nowhere to be found. The difference between a level 3 white mage class cultivator and a warrior class cultivator was clearly shown. Though the human king had reached the peak of cultivation and achieved immortality hundreds of years ago and his right-hand had just recently entered the third level as a high-level white cultivator, a mage was no match for a warrior. It was impressive that the king had climbed to the top of all humans relying on his own strength but without the secret method of the beastman mages his faith was inevitable.

Explosion boomed around them, clashes of weapons and the cries of war hammering at their eardrums. The once grand castle grounds littered with death and destruction as far as the eyes could see. The now three-hundred-year-old white tiger leaped over the bodies of fellow white tigers and soldiers his heart pounding in his chest. His sharp claws cleared a path to the king, his king. The silver tag on his right ear flashed with each explosion.

"Your majesty please leave this to us!"

General Li jumped in between the two clashing titans. He emptied the contents of a jade vial into his mouth then unsheathed his sword. The sword glowed a menacing red then erupted into flames from his mana. The king was pushed onto the white tiger's awaiting back. Bai raced off without hesitation into the direction of the forest. He ran through the now empty patch of land where the king's garden once sat and into the shadows of the tree line. The muscles of his large body rippling with each leap. The black and white blur disappeared deep into the forest temporarily shaking their pursuers.

He made his way to the cave that his pack once called home. They had moved onto the castle grounds after Bai and the king were soul bonded as a sign of mutual respect. Bai carefully lowered the injured king onto the floor of the cave. The king looked around in a daze, his heavy eyes could barely focus on anything, his breathing labored. Bai nudged him with his muzzle and whined. The king smiled weakly and patted his large fluffy head.

"Don't worry little one I'll..... be fine," he reached a shaky hand into his breast pocket pulled out a jade vial and pushed it in front the tiger. The small jade vial had two green pills that had a faint white aura. Bai whimpered when he saw what it was. These were his master's treasure. The very first pills the king had created when he became a third level white mage. Bai pushed the vial back to him and the king laughed. Discretely wiping the blood from the side of his mouth he came to a compromise with the stubborn tiger, they would each take a pill.

The king struggled to sit up straight with the tiger's help and crossed his legs. He swallowed the green pill and nodded his head at Bai for him to do the same. After swallowing the pill Bai was engulfed in a blinding bright light. His body erupted in pain as his bones twisted and snapped. He slowly transformed into a humanoid form. The newly humanoid Bai took a seat across from his master and folded his legs and began cultivating. As he felt the qi surrounding him swirl and the mana inside his body grow, he also felt something snap. A deep hollow sensation filled his heart as a tear fell from his eye.

The sun set and the moon rose. Winter's chill bit his body and the summer roasted him. Bai sat in that cave cultivating as the years passed by slowly forgotten by time itself. Then suddenly he felt it. It felt like a warm hug. The soul bond that had left a permanent void in his heart had snapped back into place. He didn't know what was happening and he didn't care. His master was back.

Opening his eyes for the first time in years he saw a golden cocoon where his master once sat. Stretching his back, he slowly stood up, his muscle protesting as his bones cracked into place. He walked over to the cocoon and observed it as the silk threads of mana glowed in the dim light of the dusty cave. He tilted his head in confusion as the pull of the bond didn't originate from the cocoon. Puzzled he decided to go out and check. Bai leaned down to give the crown of the cocoon a fleeting kiss before he left the cave. As soon as he stepped outside the cave entrance, he felt like something shattered.

"Who goes there?" a soldier raised his blade to Bai's neck, "How did you get here?"

Bai looked around in confusion to see that the cave he just exited was now gone. It had disappeared to be replaced by a mountain. In front of him was a paved courtyard, gone the towering trees of the forest he once knew. The impatient solider lounged at Bai making him snap out of his daze. They both started to clash, the sounds of Bai's sharp claws scrapping against the sword attracting more soldiers. Bai leaped up the side of the mountain to get away and the soldiers followed close by. Soon Bai found himself cornered at the edge of a cliff the sharp edge of multiple swords pointed at him. A soldier leaped out of the crowd at him causing him to stumble and fall off the side of the cliff. He free felled through the air for what felt like eternity then everything went black.

Bai Huya's body jolted awake, his eyes flying open in fear only to be stunned into pleasant confusion. Wu Liang Hui sat casually on his stomach frotting. His perky pink nipples were just ripe for the picking. Huya smiled as the beauty on top of him leaned down to give him a peck on the lips. What a wonderful way to wake up in the morning, he thought to himself as he gripped onto Liang Hui's hips. Lifting him up slightly he positioned himself at the dripping entrance. Bai Hu Ya slowly sank into Wu Liang Hui and the youth arched his back in ecstasy.