The Creatures that We Are

“Oh? Already?”

Gray Bear sighed and reluctantly stood up. Downing the hot wine in his cup, he cast it to the snow-covered ground and declared while shaking his fist, “Let’s go! The fifth team is going to make our name this time!”

He marched forward, and the other four followed with Gao Yang falling to the back.

Lithe Snake played with the throwing knife in his hands, glancing back at him every once in a while. “You’re walking too slowly.”

Gao Yang forced himself to brighten up and put on a smile. “I’ll stay in the back to protect you.”

Lithe Snake raised an eyebrow. “Fine. I’ll scout ahead.”

Then the man moved to the front of the group.

The five of them journeyed through the vast, dark snowy plain at a relaxed pace in a file, like a pack of wolves. After some time, the snowfall grew heavy once more, obscuring their view.

A red dot emerged as a point of focus in the blurry scenery.

Gao Yang slowly got closer and had a better look. It was a girl with a small frame, Can, wearing her red coat and a scarf. She stood alone amid the white snow scrolling on her phone with her head low, the light of the screen shifting on her palm-sized face.

Suddenly, she put away the phone and looked up at everyone like she had sensed them approaching.

She waved happily and hopped in place. “Captain! I’m here! I’m here!”

The five of them reached her soon. Can’s face was flushed, her moist eyes unblinking. Snow decorated her hair and eyelashes.

“What took you so long? I’ve been waiting!”

“Brat!” Gray Bear ruffled her hair. “Called out to only Captain? Did you not see your vice-captain?”

“Geez!” Can smoothed out her ruffled fringe. “You’re all together. I’m calling out to all of you by calling out to Captain! Why are you being so petty? Are you thinking about going independent?”

“Turning this against me now, are you?” Gray Bear scowled and decided to go for the kill. Clearing his throat, he began a phony impression of Can.

“Ahem… If…if the person I like returns my feelings, I’ll stop liking them. So don’t return my feelings, Captain. Tee-hee. Then I can continue to like you…sob…”

“Uncle Bear! You, you, you’re courting death!” Can bent down to grab a handful of snow and threw it at Gray Bear’s face, embarrassed and angry.

“Hahaha! You aren’t gonna admit what you’ve said?” Gray Bear got down to make a snowball too to threw it at Can’s coat.

“Gah! My coat!” Can swatted the ice off the coat and said petulantly, “Xiran! Uncle Bear’s bullying me! You’re on my side, right?”

“Yeah!” Xiran adjusted his glasses with a smile and pushed Ronnie. “Let’s go together!”

“Of, course.” Ronnie joined the alliance against Gray Bear.

“You’re bullying the minority…” Gray Bear ran from the three kids and hollered for help, “Lithe Snake! A hand?”

“Lame.” Lithe Snake crossed his arms and watched them fight.

Standing on the side, Gao Yang watched his companions run around fighting each other playfully in the snow. He smiled, but with the smile came his silent tears.

“Cap-captain…”

Can jogged up to him while panting. She looked up at him from his side. “Why…are you crying?”

Gao Yang choked out, “Can, I’m sorry… I didn’t protect you well…”

Can paused before touching her hair with a smile. “Eh, who would’ve known that Six Rime and Azure Dragon still had something else up their sleeves? It wasn’t Captain’s fault…”

“No, it was. If only I were stronger. If only I had made better calculation…”

“Captain.” Can interrupted him and wiped the tears on his face.

“You did your best. I know, I’ve always known. Ever since you became our Captain, whether it was back in the Eleventh High, during the Werewolf game, or the dangers we faced after that, you never once gave up on me. You came to my rescue every time… That’s enough for me.”

Gao Yang lost his voice to his sobs. “I’m sorry…Can, I’m sorry…”

“Captain.” Can’s eyes were red, too. “I really, really didn’t want to leave you, but we can’t be too greedy, right? You’ve taken care of me well enough, Captain. I’ve accumulated enough wonderful memories…”

“What did you say at the last moment, Can?” Gao Yang looked at her. “Tell me…”

Can wiped her own tears and pursed her lips into a smile. “Sorry, Captain. There are words that can only be spoken once.”

“Enough already. It’s time. We should go.”

It snowed harder. From the head of the line came Lithe Snake’s voice. He reminded them of the time with a hand in his pocket and the other hand playing with his throwing knife.

“Alright, stop messing around!” Gray Bear dusted the snow off his body and spoke like a proper vice-captain. “You must follow my orders for this mission, understand?”

“Okay.”

“Yeah.”

“I, understand.”

“You don’t have to join us for this mission, Captain. Wait for Old Bear’s good news!” Gray Bear gave Gao Yang a thumbs-up. “I’ll show you what the MVP of the fifth team is made of!”

Xiran and Ronnie followed him, but not without looking back at Gao Yang.

Xiran smiled. “Captain, if you ever see Lin Mengjuan, tell her that whatever she is, I’m glad to have known her.”

“Captain, check out what’s behind the Gates for, me,” Ronnie said with a matching smile.

“Hey, wait for me!” Can shook off the snow on her and stumbled to catch up with the rest of the team.

Halfway to the group, she suddenly stopped to look back at Gao Yang with lingering attachment. Then she cocked her head and waved slightly with a smile before turning back and jogging up to the group.

Come back!

Don’t go, don’t go!

That’s an order!!

I’m your captain! Stop right there!!

Gao Yang was rooted to the spot, unable to move.

He wanted to shout, but something was blocking his throat. He could only watch as the five familiar figures vanished in the heavy snow.

The storm increased in intensity, turning Gao Yang into a snowman. It was getting darker and darker. And when he realized it, it was already pitch black around him.

His feet lost purchase. He quickly plunged toward the endless void.

A hollowness overtook his heart. He felt like he was being gnawed and eaten by countless bugs of void.

He was scared, helpless, on the verge of tears.

But suddenly, he was propped up. The support eased his rising anxiety.

In the dark, five familiar hands reached him to rest on his forehead, shoulders, and chest, injecting him with mystical energy like a silent, warm blessing.

Then Gao Yang heard a chorus of inhales.

…

“The odds be with, you.”

Houseau3's Thoughts

I wonder if this is actually happening, or only in Gao Yang's head.

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