My heart was always racing and I was sweating a lot. There was a face that stood out to me. He had fair white skin, golden hair and eyes that almost seemed to glow. He felt familiar but I don’t fully remember him.

The other boy seemed to be trying to tell me something. To stop me from going somewhere. There was a sharp pain in my back. I don’t know what happened but I remember the piercing pain. The boy reappeared. He was far away now, it looked like he was crying as he looked at me.

I felt like I was covered in something like sweat but it was more jelly like. I was grasping for help but there was no one to help me. I was struggling to move. I then felt like I couldn’t breath, I tried to move my hand to grab at my throat and mouth but I couldn’t reach. Some force was holding me back. My eyes watered and I tried to cough but couldn’t find the air too. My throat was burning and felt tight, I didn’t know what to do to stop it. My chest started to hurt and burn too. My mind was racing and numb at the same time as I helplessly tried to do anything. Then there was calm. Gasping, I woke up and held my throat. It was just another scary dream.

It was the night before the caravan was setting out and I could barely sleep. I feel like I just laid in bed watching the stars forever. When I finally fell asleep it wasn’t peaceful sleep either. It is hard to explain what I was dreaming but I know it wasn’t fun. The dreams had been pretty constant since I woke up with little memory. At least I kept waking up in the middle of the night but I rarely could remember the dream at all so this was new.

Sitting up to look outside I saw it was still the middle of the night. I fell back down onto my pillow in defeat and sighed into the pillow. Why did I have to have a bad dream the night before we set off!

When morning came I felt like I was an exhausted mess. Looking in the mirror of the bathroom I sighed as I noticed bags under my eyes. I was about to be meeting people from the other clans on this trip and I looked horrible on day one. I felt like I was in a daze. I had been wanting to do something out of the estate for so long and now that it was here I left like an anxious ball.

As the Mao Clan servants were helping me get dressed in my adventure outfit I just found myself zoning out. Normally I hated being touched since the leather and cloth materials were so tight to my body they had to get super close but this time I just stood there.

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“Shaorankun are you sick? If you aren’t feeling good you shouldn’t go.” My mom pleaded, shaking my head. I brought my gaze to rest on her.

“It’s okay mom I promise, I was just too excited to really sleep last night.” I said doing my best to smile back at her. There was no way I could back out now. Our clan was depending on me.

“They don’t need you there, I can go in your place.” She was coming over and placing her hand on my head.

“I am strong enough to do this mom, you have to stay here you are needed.” I said, trying to reassure her.

“I know you are strong baby but the world is scary and getting scarier by the day.” She said, giving me a hug. I then felt a smack on my bottom and I judged. It didn’t hurt too bad but it stung. Blushing I tried to push my mom away from me in embarrassment.

“Be a good boy and listen to everything Master Banji says, that was a reminder to listen to him. I gave him the full ability to discipline you if needed.”

“Mom!” I whined back and he laughed. My mom pulled me tightly into a hug.

“Now you are starting to sound like my sweet boy again. Please be careful I would be lost to lose you again.” Wait what does she mean by again I thought. Before I could answer Master Banji patted me on the back looking up at him he nodded at me. It was time for us to set off. I would have to wait to ask my mom what she meant later.

The caravan is made of big wooden wagons pulled by ushi, and the wagons are packed with crates, barrels, and bags of food and other things to sell. I approached one of the ushi and looked at them in awe.

Ushi are huge! They are like giants that walk on all fours. They got super long, fuzzy hair all over their brown bodies, like a big, woolly blanket. They have big, pointy sharp horns that look like they could poke through anything! They are so tall it almost feels like they could poke the sky. Their horns are super big and curve out like a giant swirl on each side of its head, almost like it could poke the sky! When they walk, the hooves go thud, thud, and it sounds like a drum. The one I was staring at lookin at me with his large eyes with varying shades of amber. I jumped a little nervous to have it focusing on me.

I felt a hand on my shoulder again looking back. I looked up to see Master Banji smile down at me. “Are you ready?” He said, I nodded back in response. All of our supplies were in the waggons so there was no need for us to have bags.

“Listen to Master Banji and st-” My mom tried to say by I cut her off.

“Stay by his side I know!” I whined back. My mom hugged me tight one last time causing me to blush. I could see another smirk from Banji out of the corner of my eye and scowled at him. I wasn’t a little kitten anymore, I was finally doing something for my clan!

My mom eventually let me go and we set up. Master Banji, a few of Mao Clan’s retainers and a similar party from every other clan. Looking around there were many different hair colorings. I was hit with a pang of annoyance realizing again everyone has a tail but me. But that didn’t matter right now. I finally had a chance to interact with others and make allies. From the looks of it everyone was in the teens as far as the Nine Clans. Most likely 3rd or 4th sons. They all had something to prove just like me.