The abode of the animal keeper was a mix of a hunting lodge and a zoo. The furniture wasn’t the dainty tables and chairs like in my home, but massive hunks of wood roughly carved out of whole trees. They looked heavier than the weight of the heavens and shone like the pristine surface of a glacial lake. The walls were decorated with every conceivable type of ancient weapon from swords to spears and even a mace, but no animal heads.

The animals were everywhere else. Birds were perched on the backs of the furniture and a snake slithered between the legs of the chairs, no doubt jealous of their limbs. The strange fire creature lay on a rug in the center of the room. It cracked open one eye and studied us for a moment before returning to its nap.

Kang pointed at a couch with leather padding. “Sit there. I will go fetch the supplies.” He slipped away into the interior of the home.

Eastwei did as he was bidden and lay me in his lap. He stroked my back and this time my purring didn’t lead to more black mucus. I leaned into his gentle touch and rubbed my cheeks against his hand.

“I believe this should work,” Kang spoke up as he sauntered out of the rear of the house. He stopped dead in his tracks and took in the full picture before him. A sly, crooked smile slipped onto his lips. “What an interesting sight this is.”

Eastwei rolled his sharp eyes up and frowned at our host. “Is there a problem?”

Kang shook off his bemused expression and strode toward us. “No problem at all. I was merely worried I had forgotten some of the bandages but I believe I have enough.”

He set the medical supplies on a low table in front of us. They included gauze, a roll of bandages, and a brown bottle with a bitter odor that I assumed was some homemade antiseptic.

Kang held out his arms to me. “Shall I take her?”

“No need,” Eastwei replied as he reached for the supplies. He poured out some of the antiseptic onto a small bundle of gauze and lifted my left leg. I whimpered but held still as he daubed the wound. A terrible stinging pain shot through me but I resisted the urge to yank my leg away.

He did the same to the other leg as Kang took a seat on a roughly carved chair not far away. His sharp curious eyes studied me. “I have never seen a cat with such glistening silver fur. Where did you find this creature?”

“In the land realm of the wild boards,” Eastwei informed him. He set the gauze down and took up the bandage which he carefully wrapped around my paw.

Kang lifted an eyebrow. “What a strange place to find such an elegant creature. Do you wish for me to care for her?”

I stiffened and whipped my head around to look up into Eastwei’s impassive face. His expression didn’t change as he wrapped my wound. “There is no need.”

Kang leaned forward and used a hand to gesture to me. “Then what will you do with her?”

“I will care for her.”

The beast master’s sly smile returned and he arched an eyebrow. “Are you quite sure? Keeping an animal can be quite a nuisance.”

Eastwei moved on to the other paw, the one that had been skewered by the tree. I shut my eyes before he started the daubing. A sharp hiss escaped me and the tip of my tail twitched like a rattler. The pain shot up and down my leg and my fur stood on end.

Eastwei’s soothing voice cut through the agony. “Focus on me.” I lifted my dilated eyes to him and I was struck by the gentleness in his orbs. “This will only take a moment.” I managed a stiff nod and he continued his daubing. The pain sank into my bones but I clenched my teeth against its onslaught.

Kang clapped his hands and shattered the moment. “I had no idea you were so proficient in mastering animals! Perhaps you might teach me your skill?”

“You have little need of my advice,” Eastwei countered as he finished cleaning the wound. He wrapped the bandage around tightly enough that it wouldn’t fall off but loosely enough that I could barely feel it press against the hole.

Eastwei stood with me curled in his arm and tucked close against his chest. I rubbed my cheek against him and reveled in the feeling of his warmth against my fur. “Thank you for the help.”

Kang’s grin stretched from ear to ear as he rose. “I hardly did more than give you the supplies you needed to treat her.” He stepped up to us and scratched the back of my ear. I leaned into the touch and purred, and that earned a laugh from the god. “She is a magnificent creature. You had better care for her or I may come and steal her away.”

I felt an almost imperceptible tightening in Eastwei’s grip on me. “I would advise against it.”

Kang eased back and held up his hands in front of him. “I am only joking, My Lord, only joking.” He straightened and cleared his throat. “However, should you need more assistance with her, do not worry about reaching me.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Eastwei merely inclined his head and strolled out of the house. I blinked against the bright sun above us but the momentary blindness was only temporary as the familiar red magical glow surrounded us. We teleported and the destination was one of the palaces in the heavenly kingdom, but not one which I had entered. Still, its luscious interior bespoke a person of high rank and I could only assume it belonged to Eastwei.

The lord carried me up a long hallway to a sitting area where he lounged on the reclining seat. He set me in front of him where I happily laid myself down on part of his clothes.

A thin young gentleman scurried out of a side hall to our left and bowed low to Eastwei. “You have returned, my lord. Were you in need of-” He stopped when his attention fell on me. I gave him a soft meow for a hello. “My Lord, has something happened?”

“This animal protected me. I have brought it here to heal,” Eastwei replied as he stroked my fur.

The man’s eyes widened. “Protected you, My Lord? Has something happened?”

Eastwei’s soft expression hardened and he stared at the floor in front of him. “Yes. Inform the king I wish to speak with him as soon as possible.”

The man bowed low at the waist and hurried away. Eastwei continued stroking me as a tense silence settled in the room.

I looked up at him and rubbed my cheek against his hand. He set his gaze on me and pursed his lips. “Perhaps if you could speak you would tell me what it is we fought this day.”

I wish I could tell myself I inwardly mused as I gave him an extra-loud purr.

There it was. That faint smile again. “You appear to be unbothered by the attack. Have you found trouble before?”

Oh boy, had I I thought to myself as I let out a great purr.

Eastwei scratched my head before his brow was darkened by worry. He stared down the hall and pursed his lips. “There is something more to this danger than we had guessed.”

My ears perked up at his words. They implied that he had some knowledge of the plant creature beforehand. The idea left an icy chill in my heart, though not as icy as the creature that strolled down the corridor toward us.

It was Shian and she had a smug smile on her face. I wanted so desperately to wipe that smile off her face but the situation wasn’t ripe for revenge. How could I explain to them in meows and hisses that she had tried to off me in the land realm? I looked about for a pen or pencil, but none was to be found on the low table in front of us. There wasn’t even a scrap of paper.

Shian stopped just shy of the platform and bowed low to Eastwei. “Dadan, I am very glad to see you have returned from the land realm.”

Dadan? I thought to myself. Is that a name for him?

“Was there any doubt?” Eastwei replied.

“There are many stories of the land realm being attacked by some mysterious foe and I worried for you,” Shian explained before she nodded over her shoulder. “And I noticed Puren hurry away with a dark cloud upon his brow as if he was troubled.”

“There is no need to be concerned,” Eastwei assured her as he stroked my back.

His action forced Shian’s attention onto me and a hard look slipped into her eyes. “What is this, Dadan? A stray?”

I drew back my ears and scowled at her.

“Something I discovered in the land realm,” Eastwei answered her as he held up one of my bandaged paws. “I am seeing to her mending.”

Shian’s face tightened as she tried to keep the smile on. “I. . .I see. Would you not prefer that Puren care for the beast? Or perhaps one of my maidservants might care for it? After all, we do not know anything about the creature. It may carry fleas or some contagious disease.”

“I doubt it,” Eastwei mused as his fingers stroked my back. “I see no signs of stress other than the injuries she sustained shortly before I met her.”

My mortal foe eyed me with all the affection of a cat eyeing a mouse. This kitty didn’t like it. “Well, I am sure after your care she will be a creature fit to be seen about the heavenly roads.”

Suck up I muttered as I lay my head down atop Eastwei’s clothes.

“Did you need something?” Eastwei inquired as he looked up at his guest.

Shian’s face brightened. “I only desired to invite you to another dinner. Prince Yushir has promised to come again if you agree.”

“I will consider it,” Eastwei replied as his focus turned to the scurrying figure behind Shian.

It was the noted Puren and the servant had worry written all over his face. He stopped just behind and to one side of Shian and bowed to both of them. “My apologies, My Lord and Lady, but the king requests your presence most urgently.”