With Zhu now a permanent presence, I wonder what will happen now...
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        "Wake up, boy. The sun is going to make it easier for enemies to spot you," Zhu's now familiar voice said in (y/n)'s head.

        "I have a name you know. You better start using it," (y/n) growled, not too happy to have been awakened from his sleep which was hard to come by. It had been a week since he lost everything, and so far he was coping pretty well. There were the occasional emotional meltdowns and the often fits of anger and melancholy but he was otherwise fine. Surviving was also no proble,  and he'd already gotten used to Zhu's annoying presence.

        "Why should I use your name when you've neglected to talk to me unless you need something?" Zhu inquired.

        "Oh I'm sorry if I don't talk to you that often. Maybe I just don't want to sound like a crazy person. Did you consider the fact that I lost my entire way of life?" (y/n) snapped as he lifted himself from the ground, picking up his bag as he did. The small bag was running low on the various things he'd collected from the ruins of his village, but as long as he had his spear, he would likely survive until he could find help.

        The nearest and likely safest area was a place east of the now nonexistent Fahrmann but (y/n) didn't want to go there. He'd likely be questioned and treated all kinds of ways for simply being the single survivor of a mass murder. "I suppose you're correct, but you can't stay out in this wilderness like this. Someone or something is going to attack you," Zhu said.

        "Zhu, the sun is barely over the horizon. If something was going to attack me, it would have happened already," (y/n) said as he rubbed his eyes squinting as he searched for the path he intended to take that morning.

        "It would be best for you head to a populated area. You aren't going to last out here like this. The land is desolate. You've just been a little lucky to come across the prey you've found so far. I still haven't told you about my high maintenance either," Zhu said.

        (Y/n) couldn't help but let out a slight laugh. "You? High maintenance? What? Are you going to tell me that you actually have to eat?" (y/n) scoffed.

        "In a way, yes. I'd have told you sooner if you hadn't insisted that I stay silent," Zhu said. (Y/n) sighed and began walking towards his unknown destination. He knew that he'd eventually come across nothing but desert at some point, yet he needed to get to someplace where he was sure he wouldn't be recognized.

        "So...what are your maintenance requirements anyway?" he asked Zhu as he pulled wheat grains from his bag. He wasn't really hungry although he had to maintain his stamina and knew better than to wait until later to eat something.

        "Well first of all. I need to be outside of your soul for a minimum of two hours a day. It keeps me from accidentally taking your soul or something like that. It's been a while since I've shared a soul with a human," Zhu said.

        "Sounds weird but continue," (y/n) commented.

        "Secondly, I am not a spirit like the sacred weapon of the Haan family. I am a living breathing millennium fox. I require souls of any kind whether it be human, elf, phoru, or otherwise," Zhu said. (Y/n) stopped in his tracks.

        "Okay, no. I'm not eating souls for you. That's not happening," he said.

        "Who said anything about eating them. All I do is absorb them. You'd have to give me control of yourself for me to do so while I reside in your soul," Zhu explained. Despite that, (y/n) still shuddered.

        "Still sounds like you're eating souls. What other disturbing high maintenance things do you require. I swear if you say anything worse than eating souls, I'm going to make sure I find a way to get rid of you," (y/n) said.

        "Take it easy. I was only going to tell you of my capabilities. I'm not really the combative type unless I'm attacking an enemy myself. I specialize in support, so you're going to have to rely on your own strength, got that?" Zhu said.

        "It doesn't matter to me. I'm more than capable of taking care of myself," (y/n) muttered before yawning. Most of his walk was rather peaceful despite Zhu's constant ranting, but if (y/n) were to be honest, he actually learned quite a bit simply by listening to the thousand year old fox.

        This peace instantly vanished when a creature suddenly lept out from the cover of the surrounding vegetation. If it weren't for (y/n)'s extreme reaction time and natural dodging reflex, he'd have likely had claws going through his head. He rolled aside and quickly took an attack ready stance as he faced the beast that intended to end his life. "You've got to be kidding me. What is a tiger like this doing out here anyway?" (y/n) muttered to himself.

        The white, blue stripped cat let out a menacing snarl but (y/n) remained unphased. It was nearly the same size as Zhu if not a bit larger. For a second, (y/n) wondered if Zhu could fight the beast in his place, but he dismissed the thought as soon as it arrived. "I've got this one Zhu. I can handle this," he said.

        "No you can't. Don't get yourself killed, boy. I can't afford to have you die, and you can't just die after being saved," Zhu reasoned as the predator began to inch its way closer to (y/n). In response, (y/n) inched away from the growling beast with his spear brandished to inspire some level of fear within the cat. In an instant, the feline pounced on him, not allowing him any time to dodge. The only thing (y/n) could do was use his spear to stop the tiger from bitting his head off. The weapon was instantly snapped in half but the feline bit at him again almost immediately. (Y/n) reacted by stabbing the beast's eye with the sharp half of his spear earning a roar of rage from the tiger. Without hesitation, he got away from the feline only to find his back to a tree.

        "(Y/n), you must run!" Zhu demanded. He didn't have to say it twice either. (Y/n) was smart enough to know when he didn't need to fight or at least he'd like to think so. Qualities such as that one were essential for survival. It was easy for (y/n) to weave through the trees and small shrubs, but the tiger, despite now only having one good eye, easily caught up to him. It was already hard enough to see with the sun having yet to fully rise, but (y/n) didn't feel like getting eaten so he managed. "Watch out!" Zhu's voice said as (y/n) was forced to the ground against his will.

        Seconds later, the homicidal feline flew right above him, claws outstretched to catch him if he'd still been there to catch. "Go the other way!" Zhu yelped.

         "I know!" (y/n) snapped although it wasn't intentional. He was simply under a lot of sudden stress. Oh yeah, he was also running for his life. The tiger didn't take long to change its course. "This isn't going to work. I can't outrun this thing," (y/n) said as he began to panic a little.

        "Be calm," Zhu said more like a command than a suggestion. Instantly, (y/n)'s panicked state vanished, and his head was cleared of any distracting factors. He could now think perfectly clearly and was able to focus on more than just the predator chasing him. "Think, boy. You have to do something." Even if he had thought of something to help, his time was up. He felt the paw press against his back before he even hit the ground.

        (Y/n) let out a cry of discontent as the tiger loomed over him growling as it dug its claws into his back. He tried to escape, really, he did. But what could he do against a tiger that was many times stronger than him? The beast pressed its paw down on him and a few sickening cracks could be heard followed by (y/n)'s cry of pain. He barely breath as he continued to struggle for his life. He really did think he was about to die and would have died thinking so if the paw that was slowly killing him wasn't suddenly lifted.

        Although he couldn't move, (y/n) could hear the sounds of struggle and threatening growling. He knew instantly that Zhu had finally decided to take form and attack. Several more growls far more intense than the others followed the odd temporary silence that took place. (Y/n) winced when he heard what he assumed was he sound of many bones being broken and for as second he feared that Zhu had been the victim of such an assault. "Relax (y/n). The threat is gone. You are safe now," Zhu's voice could be heard saying. Even so, (y/n) couldn't ignore the immense amount of pain he was experiencing.

        He saw Zhu appear within his line of sight seeing that the fox was showing his bloodied fangs. Zhu quickly left (y/n)'s line of sight and nudged him with his snout causing more pain, but (y/n) was in no condition to complain.

        Strangely though, the pain began to disappear and (y/n) found it easier to breathe again. "Can you move now?" Zhu asked. He could, and (y/n) didn't hesitate to get on all fours before resting on his knees.

        "Yeah...I can," (y/n) said, his voice a little shaky after staring death in the face a second time. Even his hand shook as he held it out in front of him. "Thank you, Zhu," (y/n) spoke with a sigh as he tried to ease away the adrenaline that still flowed through him.

        "No need to thank me. It is my sole purpose to ensure that you remain alive no matter what dangers you face. I respected your request this time, but next time I won't hesitate to step in if the situation requires me to do so," Zhu said as he curled up around (y/n) and lay down.

        "Okay," (y/n) muttered with a nod, not caring if Zhu had said anything he wanted to. "We should get going before scavengers find its remains," (y/n) said as he regained his composure and stood.

        "As you wish. Might I suggest that you take a break and let me do all of the traveling for now? It'll give you time to return to normal," Zhu said. (Y/n) simply nodded and leaned against Zhu's side still trying to stop himself from shaking.

        "Just how many times will I come close to death?" he thought as his consciousness faded.
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Almost got too close to that word limit of mine but whatever. It wouldn't be the first time I pass it. Until next time you epic readers!