The road back to Oaken Vale dragged like a rusty blade slow and grating. They were supposed to keep going, to press on straight to Ans, but Xi Feng's body said no in a dozen quiet, aching in ways she didn't think could hurt. Every step had pulled at half-healed bruises and knotted muscles, and by the time they reached the old house, she looked like someone had rung her out and left her to dry.
She collapsed into her bed in her roo. Her bones hummed. Not the good kind either.
"Xi Feng?" a voice chirped, light as a bell.
She barely lifted her head she was too tired and too sore. She knew that voice, though. Mei Mei, The girl skipped into the room without hesitation, like it belonged to her.
"Roger's already in the kitchen making that stir-fry you love the one with too much ginger and not enough shame," she said, plopping down next to her, all grins. "Jin Long's out scouting. So that leaves me. And I'm here to make sure you don't get boring and lonely and full of gloomy thoughts."
