The Earliest Memory
The dark shape of a dragon slowly disappeared in the distance, the very young Baofeng stared blinking as the dragoness left behind him and his father. Turning his head he looked up to his dad and snorted a bit. “Father. I don’t understand why is mother leaving?”
His father Liubu wore a grim expression, it seemed to be a muddled mixture of emotions somewhere between anger and great sorrow. Upon hearing Baofeng’s words he straightened his face into a smile that was stern and knelt down in front of his young son. “Your mother, she has things she must do, things that we cannot help her do. She must walk this path alone. While we will continue to learn about the peace that we have been striving for.” He stroked his son’s face Baofeng’s scales giving a rough texture on his warm hand
The comfort from his father greatly strengthened Baofeng’s spirit as his mother’s form had now disappeared in the distance. He gave a serious nod to Liubu. “Of course father. I cannot let this deter me from my studies, all things that happen in life give us strength, even loss.” Though he could not stop a tear slowly drifting down from his eye and across his snout. The lone droplet fell hitting the ground and causing the soft light brown dirt to turn a darker brown.
Liubu stood up putting a large hand on his son’s back and walked him back towards the house and then gently pushed him in the direction of the storehouse where they kept all their fresh water. “Gather a bucket son, and wash up. We’ll have dinner soon. While we’re waiting I want you to read a scroll loss, and how to pull strength from it.”
With disciplined obedience Baofeng nodded and went about doing what his father wished. As he went into the small shack off the side of the house they used as a storage he stopped and stared at the well. “Mother…” He muttered softly and walked to the well and lowered the bucket deep into the stone depths till he heard a splash. Working the handle he began to pull the bucket of water back up and set the bucket on the ground. He repeated this action with a new bucket before setting it on the ground as well. He removed his pants hanging them on a hook and pulled a long brush off the wall with some rather stiff bristles and dunked it into the nearest bucket before scrubbing it across himself. Dead flakes of scales falling away.
Once done he hung the brush back up and dried himself off with a towel from the walla nd replaced his pants. He picked up the bucket he had used for scrubbing and poured it into a shallow dip in the ground outside where it began sinking into the ground. with light steps he moved and grabbed the bucket and returned to the house to set the water next to his father’s feet where Liubu was cutting up several vegetables.
“Thank you Baofeng.” He took the bucket and set it on a table next to a pot. “I have laid the scroll outside on the meditation rock… Please go read and think upon whta it says while I cook.”
The ever obedient son Baofeng went through the back door to stare out across the horizon the rolling hills and Pyresian capital in the distance. He could see dragons taking flight in the distance and he gave a sigh before climbing atop the meditation stone and cross his legs. His clawed fingertips gently unrolled the scroll. He began reading allowed as he did. “Have courage, and strength. He has heart, who knows fear, but destroys it. See the abyss, not with sad eyes, but with the eyes of falcon. With the claws of the falcon grasp the abyss, with courage you shall know the abyss, but not be saddened by it but rather strengthened. Loss is not a the lack of, but rather a moment, to remind yourself of all the love you known in your life. Treasure this and do not remorse, and find solace in the memories of those that you no longer know.”
Staring off at the sunset his body stock still for a moment Baofeng slowly rolled up the scroll and took a very deep breath as he had been taught to do. He considered the words of the scroll and tilted his head. “I should be thankful for the times I have, and take care to lead my life in a sensible way and valuing what takes place. I should not feel sorrow, but instead rejoice in love that is still here.”
Liubu’s voice came from the home. “Dinner is read Baofeng!”
Baofeng stood quickly running for the home. “Coming father!”
