XiShi stood there, the rough cave floor feeling cool beneath her bare feet. ShenYan, ever the elusive one, had slipped away some time ago, leaving her to the not-so-silent company of XueLing. Currently, that company consisted of XueLing's dramatic monologue about being cock-blocked , as he so eloquently put it. He was in the midst of a tirade, lamenting the cruel interference of his tribe, in his pursuit of conjugal bliss. Apparently, being the best elder ever came with the heavy responsibility of ensuring their safety. The irony was thick enough to cut with a knife, considering the novel―which XiShi had inexplicably stumbled upon―implied that a truly enraged XueLing could probably hurl those same tribe members across the continent with little more than a flex of his talons. But whatever, she thought, letting it slide.

XueLing, having finally exhausted his vocal chords, proceeded to rest his head on her lap. XiShi, attempting to preserve a modicum of sanity, diligently ignored the distinct rustling and shuffling noises emanating from outside their cave entrance. The Feather Tribe members, those cautious feathered souls, had apparently established a loyal vigil. XueLing had, with a dismissive wave of his hand, instructed them to leave, promising to grace them with his presence shortly. The tribe, clearly well-versed in the temperamental nature of their leader, had obeyed with the alacrity of prey fleeing a predator. Or maybe it was just a healthy dose of self-preservation.

Her thoughts drifted to HuanHuan, XueLing's former or Canon... sort-of mate. This whole situation was a mess, truly. The fact that XueLing, now her mate, was once designated as HuanHuan's fourth mate in the novel, just fueled the absurdity. Not that she cared, of course. HuanHuan had never particularly treated XueLing well, though XiShi had to admit, XueLing wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows either. Still, there was a possessive little green monster whispering in her ear, content that such a magnificent, albeit sex-crazed, idiot was now hers and hers alone.

"Don't you think we should go?" XiShi sighed, trying to inject a note of practicality into the situation. "They're probably waiting for you!"

XueLing, however, reacted to her query with a melodramatic pout. The very idea of having to remove himself from her lap seemed to inflict immeasurable suffering upon him.

"Fine," he grumbled, finally pushing himself up. "But promise you'll let me mate with you later. Please~" he whined, his large golden eyes wide with pleading.

Such a sex maniac, XiShi thought, rolling her eyes internally.

Honestly, if she wasn't so strangely infatuated, she'd be mortified.

"Sure...."