Nong awoke to the sound of her governess packing up her belongings. They would leave for the trip to the North later that night. Fast and quiet. It was already midday. She quickly washed herself, tied back her curly hair into a simple ponytail, put on a purple dress, and joined her governess in her living room. When governess Gao saw Nong, she smiled sadly, and passed her a small wooden box.

"This belonged to your mother,"

It was a plain box no bigger than a small story book. Nong opened it carefully.

Inside was a blue folded tapestry. She held it out in front of her unfurling many small pictures stitched on to it. Some of the threads were frayed and parts of the fabric was tattered. But along the border of the tapestry Nong could make out the four Gods embroidered in golden thread: The Sunbird, The Sage Turtle, The Powerful Tiger, and The Dragon. There were also other little details within the middle of the tapestry: people, mountains, rivers, and lotuses as well. And in the very center a black square was woven around a crude face of a beast.

Governess Gao pointed to the little images as she begun, "Northern women use to weave their tales onto these cloths. This one depicts the history of the Lotus Kingdom...though you'll see...it's not a kind story to tell,"

"Long ago...the four heavenly siblings lived side by side with the humans. They used their magic to help with whatever they could. The human king and the Powerful Tiger became good friends. The Tiger gifted the human king with a pond of lotuses. Each blossom containing priceless gems,"

Her finger brushed over the embroidered lotuses and over to a young girl. Only her back was woven.

"The human king offered his daughter's hand in marriage to Tiger. But when Tiger refused – this angered and offended the king. He devised a plan to capture Tiger,"

Nong's face hardened at the depiction of Tiger inside a cage. Her governess continued.

"Tiger was severely wounded during the fight. His life was fading fast. The other sibling's felt betrayed and together they transformed Tiger's remaining spirit into a terrifying beast. They left him underneath the king's castle until the day it would awaken and devour everything in this world. Then the siblings returned to the sky never to be seen or heard from again,"

Nong let her governess take the tapestry and gently fold it back up. She placed it inside the box and closed it with a soft click. Nong could make out a small carved feather at the corner of the box's lid.

"It is said that the eldest of the siblings, The Sunbird, felt a shred of pity for humankind and so blessed them with the Bird Clan. The only beings on this world that can use any magic. But many Kings and Queens either sought them out or killed them and now I'm afraid you're the only one left..." Governess Gao placed a hand over Nong's.

"Nong...your mother and father were on a secret mission in the North before Prince Edan's campaign and they were killed by rebels. If there truly is a beast – then they must have been looking for it...And now...if you're vision is right then you're the only one left that can stop it,"

Nong sighed, "I serve the Lotus King...what choice do I really have?"

"That may be so...but you must remember that you can be more than the King's oracle my child. More than the last Bird Witch. If you want to marry Prince Edan and finish what your mother was doing...I'll help you. If you want to run off and go be a fisherman, I won't hold it against you. You deserve to be free and happy. And you don't have to feel guilty about wanting that," Governess Gao squeezed her hand.

Nong warmed at her governess's words. She thought about her mother and father. There were so many things she didn't know. Could she even muster up an ounce of the courage her parents had? But Prince Edan was waiting for her. She had to go find him. Her thoughts went to Ru Feng and his plea last night.

"What if...what if I want to save the beast?" She asked quietly.

The governess looked at her quizzically. Then she smiled, "You'll definitely need help with that,"