Returning home

Hu Li return home in a speed of light. She step on the white snow, she feels delighted. She skip and jump as she walks. She look around to see green leaves and snow on the trees. She is eager to see her animal friends. The cave house which have an eternal fire is warm and cosy as she steps in. The food she had collected is long gone. Her friends are missing in the cave. Only the bats at the top remains where they are. There are new creepers on the wall. Her shelves are cover at the top with the creepers too.

Hu Li waited for a long time for her friends to return. She lay to rest on her favourite couch. In her mind, she travel within the cosmic sky in search of her old friend, Chang'er and the rabbit. Instead she keep seeing crystals that are floating and forming a shape together. 

After three days of waiting, she goes outside to dig for more vegetables. She walk up to the creek to wash the vegetables after learning from the ladies that washing it will be better for consumptions. As she happily wash it, she notice the reflection in the water. On her face, there is a red symbol design on her forehead, right at the center between her eyebrows. She use the water and try to rub it off but it remain there. Also there are dots one each on the left and right bottom side of her eye. Hu Li think back if the makeup they have done for her is not remove from her face. She try to rub hard again. Those markings remain where they are. Then she mumble to herself. 

'It's ok. I can use magic to cover them. I use another face after all.'

She continue to wash the vegetable and hum a song. Her tail wiggle with the song she make up. She did not realise that she now have another tail growing out. 

Days pass, she lay around reading her books. Sometimes when she naps, she thinks of Sheng Qin. In it, she see Sheng Qin copying a book. However he is not happy. He copying half way when he look up. She follow what he is looking at, he is staring at the wall which hangs a painting of Hu Li. 

"Hu Li, it's been a month. I miss you." 

Immediately Hu Li's eyes open up. Her heart suddenly is beating fast. She place her hand over her heart and feel the heart beating fast. She wonder what is that feeling, it makes her strange. She look far out into the snow. It seems like her friends are not coming back to her cave house. Hu Li think if she should wait for Di Jun or return to see Sheng Qin before that man cry. 

Months pass, she keep herself busy with the work on keeping the cave house neat. She learn a lot of things to do in the place of living. She created a broom to sweep the floor. She have fun while doing household chores. She regret not bringing some of those sauce for make the dish delicious. She learn to so a proper washing of clothes. She is happy almost everyday. When she is bored, she will talk to the bats above. They will clicks in respond to her. Because she is always alone, sometimes she takes a naked bath in the river. Her long white hair will flow along the river stream. Her white tails will float along with the river current. Her snow white skin is pale against the environment she is in. Bathing in the stream seems to recharge her power as her golden eyes have a deep glow with hint of crystals in it. While her lips are in rosy like the cherry blossom flowers that are blooming in the trees. 

When the next wane of the moon, Di Jun appear. He finds her practising her writing skill. He walk in and sit on the chair and pour himself a cup of tea. He takes a slip and notice that she have markings or symbols on her face. 

"What happen to the last waning of the moon?" 

Hu Li's ears stand up and she smile. She rush to him while dropping the brush in her hands. She pounce on him and he release the cup in hand. They fall on the ground and laugh. Hu Li like a dog lick his cheeks all over. Di Jun desperately push her away however secretly he is enjoying the closness between them. He starting to feel playful. It's been a long time since he acted like a child. Always in a aloofness mood while attending to serious matter has been boring for the last thousand of years. Today, he just want to be like Hu Li, a child. 

After chasing each other in the cave house, they lay down on the bed. Di Jun catch his breath and look at Hu Li who is staying quiet on his side. 

"You haven't answer my question."

"Question? What question?"

"What happen to the last wanna of the moon?"

"How would i know what happen?!"

"I mean... Where have you been on the last waning of the moon? I came here and only the bats are left in this cave."

Hu Li keep quiet and look ahead. Di Jun shift and lay on his side to look at Hu Li. He raise his finger and touch her markings the forehead. Somehow, thee is electricity sparks coming out of it. She turn her head to look at him. 

"Did you miss me?"

"Always. Always."

"When can i go home?"

"Not now. I will let you know."

She turn her body to face him and place her arm on his waist. She move closer and tuck her head on his shoulder. Di Jun see that her tail have grown longer and another tail is growing. He wonder if she is going to be like Hei. 

"Di Jun. The last waning of the moon... I send my friend home. That's all."

"You found the secret portal?"

She nod her head while still tuck at his shoulders. Di Jun with the other hand cast a spell to remove the portal. Outside the portal collapsed and disappear into space. Now she won't have any unannounced visitors who happen to walk into the portal. Her life will be quiet and normal. While inside the cave house, he update the books for her. He deliver more clothes for her. Suddenly she look up at his face, he stare into her golden eyes. As if he is trap in her spell, he is not moving. She raise her finger and touch his white eyebrows and trace down slowly to his long bridge nose. His mouth is open slightly. She can feel the breath from his nose and his mouth. Again she use her finger to trace his lips. She push herself up at face level with him. She stare into his blue eyes.. She remember how Hei push his mouth to meet her mouth. She slowly lower her lips to meet his lips. Di Jun did not resist. He touch her tail which is wiggling behind her. What he did send some sparks to her spine. It makes her eyes glow even more.