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For as long as Dan Heng has lived he has known the same shrine.
The little lake in the center of the woods. His lake— Dan Heng was its dragon and guide. A lonely ritual he was content with.
Or, at least he pretended he was content. He was exiled here many years ago, a punishment for his past incarnation’s betrayal of his species. Dan Heng made friends instead with the wildlife. The squirrels and the deer. Even a wild boar came to greet Dan Heng every morning on his walks around the lake.
In the center was his shrine, a beautiful place that was made of ancient stone and silver. The Pearlfin, that’s what they called it– for giant pearls were here formed from clams that created beautiful stones of their very creation. Old stories that these clams were the spirits of ancestors being reborn.
Perhaps it would be a beautiful story. But not a single clam had produced a pearl in many, many years. One— One had come to Dan Heng when he was first assigned here. He had seen its beauty…its luster. A deep crimson pearl— shifted with a bright blue shimmer when it hit the sunlight.
His peers took the pearl and Dan Heng was set to look after the shrine. Many years passed and the little shrine became Dan Heng’s home.
Every morning– Either jasmine or oolong tea. Grilled fish and rice porridge. About once a month he’d take a walk to the nearest village and collect his commissary. The people here knew Dan Heng’s reputation well. They were told the rumors by his elders. Told Dan Heng deserved his punishment but not enough to be denied food or literature. So many years had passed since Dan Heng had been exiled— some villagers started to think of it as a wise tale. They even began to talk to him more.
“You’re very beautiful.” One girl said as she handed Dan Heng his bag of rice and another of glutenous flour.
“Thank you.” Dan Heng responded curtly. He had recently cut his hair so that it fell a little past his shoulder and he could tie it into a neat knot at the base of his neck. Now he could easily drape his hair over his shoulder.
The girl smiled. “Say, do shrine protectors get married?”
Dan Heng blinked at this, surprised by the question. “I don’t know. I have never been told either or.”
“I only ask because I swear I saw a prince! A beautiful man came into the village last week and he said he was looking for a dragon.” She chuckled into her sleeve.
“Oh, well…there’s more of my people. How’d you know he was a prince?” Dan Heng scratched at his cheek. This was one of the longer conversations he had had with one of the villagers in a while.
“I didn’t! He just looked like one. Tall and handsome! He’d be a perfect match for someone like you.” She mused as she began scooping more rice into another linen pouch.
“Why do you think that?” Dan Heng was confused now. He didn’t know what she meant by any of this. Dan Heng assumed himself very mundane.
“Because you seem so lonely, and he did too.”
Dan Heng frowned at this. “I’m not lonely. I have my shrine and forest friends. I uphold a duty to watch over the lake.”
It was then another woman came over and made a gesture for the girl to be quiet. This was Dan Heng’s queue to leave with his stipend. He moved along to collect the rest of the things he needed from the village. Eggs, honey, and more tea to satisfy his daily needs. He decided to go with green this month, for he was enticed by a fresh shipment from the mountains.
As he took the path back Dan Heng dwelled on the things she had said. A tall and handsome man that looked like a prince? Dan Heng had never seen anyone like that in the village– for the village wasn’t rich, nor poor. Most people were modest earners, rice farmers and craftsmen. In the past— well known steel smiths. That had changed after Dan Feng’s ‘betrayal’. Dan Heng knew little about it, for he was very young when it all transpired.
All he knew is that he was also to be punished for being within the blood that caused the ultimate betrayal of his kind: The death of a God.
Dan Heng had told himself not to dwell on it anymore. For he no longer felt guilt— He couldn’t feel guilt for something he wasn’t there to see. How did he have a hand in it anyway?
So why did Dan Heng stay?
Duty?
No, it was pride. It ran deep. More deeply than Dan Heng would have liked, for it made him want to prove himself. Not to the elders or the preceptors that had sentenced him here, but no— to the villagers and the occasional visitor to his shrine. To prove that he was better than his peers. To change the idea of what a dragon was.
Back at his shrine, a three kilometer hike. Dan Heng had to stop as he reached the stony-tile path that led the way through the lake.
Blood. A puddle of crimson stained the ground where the path fell close to the edge of the water. Dan Heng had never seen anything like this, despite all the wild animals that treaded close to his sanctuary…Not this amount of blood had ever been spilled on this holy ground.
Dan Heng tied back his long, flowy sleeves and knelt close to the blood. Examining it— Dark, but the faint smell of…something lingered to it? Dan Heng looked to his left, then right– droplets led away from the path, around the exterior of the shallow lake.
Whatever left the blood was stumbling, for the droplets formed a path that wove in and out in a zig-zag pattern. Despite his better nature, Dan Heng followed the blood. From the paw-marks in the mud, he could tell that this was no robber, but a canine. An animal that Dan Heng had been entrusted to look after. He immediately took his basket of groceries to the bridge, leaving it on a bench that he often used for the occasional delivery and began to follow the trail of scarlet. Further and further he walked until the trail took a small path into the woods. Dan Heng knew this path, as it was often taken by the wild boars. He was glad he had tied back his sleeves, for the path was tight, branches often sticking out at weird angles and catching in his hair.
He didn’t care, for his only interest was figuring out what left that blood, and how he could fix the issue. He was let out into a clearing. A beautiful spot where the sunlight casted deep stains of sunlight on the moss-encrusted forest floor. This place would be so serene…if it wasn’t for the massive wolf laying in the middle of the forest floor.
Heavy, deep breaths. He snarled at Dan Heng as bright ruby eyes burned like fires. He was kicking his hind leg under his body— where a huge,deep gash was leaking blood. It looked as if someone had stuck him with a blade.
Dan Heng raised up his hands, lowering himself to his eye-level— which wasn’t much, the wolf was massive. If he stood up on his hind-legs he’d be taller than Dan Heng, certainly. This was no ordinary wolf. Dan Heng knew well of animal gods. He had met the deer god once— just once. Perhaps this was–? Dan Heng couldn’t be sure.
“Don’t be scared, I’m here to help.” Dan Heng said in a low tone, ensuring he never broke eye-contact with the wolf. He waited, for what felt like an hour until the wolf lowered his head somewhat, no longer showing his teeth.
An invitation. Dan Heng moved forward, slowly, giving the wolf ample time to change its mind. It didn’t move, merely made loud, low breaths through its nose as Dan Heng examined the wound. He was amazed the creature had made it so far. For it was deep enough to reach the bone. Dan Heng immediately ripped into his own dressings, tearing a clean scrap of linen and soaking it in some of the blessed water he kept in a gourd at his hip. It would only help a little bit now, he’d need to stitch the wound shut, and for that he’d need his medicine box.
A deep whine left the wolf but he didn’t move. Massive teeth gritted. “These healing waters will help for a little bit, but I need my full kit to mend your leg. Can you get up? I will take you to a safe place in my shrine.” Dan Heng tried to offer a comforting smile.
The wolf looked at him for a few moments before— miraculously, stumbled up. But he was weak. He had lost a bit of blood and his legs wobbled. Dan Heng then made the command decision to pick the wolf up.
Yes, he was huge— but Dan Heng had to do something. What is a dragon if he couldn’t lift other creatures in need of aid? He struggled but managed to hook his arms under the wolf’s leg. It was the only way he could feasibly hold him and it took much effort to carry him back the way Dan Heng had come. The brush made it hard, for the canine grunted and whined when Dan Heng would suddenly move to avoid particularly low and dangerous branches. Dan Heng breathed a sigh of great relief when he made it to the lake and was able to cross his stone bridge with ease.
“Welcome to Pearlfin, injured one.” Dan Heng lowered the wolf onto a mat, where the creature looked up at him reproachfully.
“My waters have some healing properties, but without stitching this up it will not heal your leg up properly. I hope you don’t mind…I promise I’ll be as gentle as I can.” Dan Heng had taken a wooden box off a shelf.
The wolf did not respond but continued to stare at Dan Heng. He took this as understanding and he began to sanitize the curved needle and soaked the threads in more of the waters from his gourd. He removed the bloodied fabric from the wound and began to work. The animal was strangely calm as he worked. This made Dan Heng confirm– this was no ordinary wolf.
“Are you a god?” Dan Heng asked as he finished sewing the wound shut. He tied off the enchanted thread and placed a few droplets of his enchanted water on stitches. He could see the healing properties already taking effect.
Again, no response from the wolf.
“Well, If you’re a god…or something close to one, you are safe here. My shrine is a haven for all living creatures, but I ask you not disturb the clams, for they sleep in the clean waters. Dan Heng smiled and lifted himself. “I don’t eat red meat, but perhaps you’d like some fish? I have trout and eel.”
The wolf moved his head, looking uncaring as it stretched his leg out. He looked exhausted.
“I need you to regain your strength, I’ll go prepare some of the fish.” Dan Heng walked out of the room, entering the tiny kitchen that was attached to the living quarters of the shrine. He decided to roast the fish, feeling it might be easier to consume for the weary wolf before making some rice porridge for himself. He remembered to go back and fetch his basket of groceries from the bridge before as he waited for everything to finish cooking. Once he was finished nit-picking, he returned to the room where the wolf was and set the meal down in front of him. Dan Heng also brought his own food along, intending to eat his meal with his new guest so as not to be rude.
The wolf would sniff the fish before letting out a sigh and lowering his head. He looked as if he didn’t even have the energy to eat, his scarlet eyes fluttered. Dan Heng frowned. He moved across the floor and sat in front of the wolf again. “You need to eat. Here.” He picked up a chunk of the cooked fish and with some effort opened the maw of the wolf.
The creature would protest, but Dan Heng, with his quick hand– would shove the fish into the great wolf’s mouth. He was forced to chew and swallow and Dan Heng was relieved when the creature finally started to eat more of the trout.
Dan Heng smiled indignantly as he returned to his own meal. He was happy he could make the massive beast eat, and he cleaned off his hand before returning to his own meal. He needed to return to his actual duties— he had things to do as guardian of the shrine. He needed to do his daily blessings and check on the clams. He finished up.
“Please rest, I’ll be back to check up on your wound later.” Dan Heng nodded at the wolf before leaving the room. He had prepared a small bowl of water for the creature as well, hoping he would drink as well, if not, he’d need to also force water down his throat. Something Dan Heng didn’t want to do.
He was behind so he didn’t finish his duties until the sun had already set. He’d need to rise earlier tomorrow to ensure that nothing got left behind. He didn’t know how long the wolf would take to recover, but Dan Heng would ensure that he returned to the wilds safe and sound…He still needed to know who had slashed the creature…A hunter, perhaps? A brave one. Locals knew well that the lands near Dan Heng’s shrine were holy. They knew defiling the waters would be a death sentence from the Preceptors that oversaw many of the goings-on. Dan Heng was a mere shrine protector— he could, if he needed to, defend himself— but punishments were enacted by his peers that had sent him here.
Before bed, he checked on the wolf. He was still on the same mat, sleeping heavily in a pool of moonlight. Dan Heng refilled the water and the wolf did not wake as he passed. He also left some more of the fish on a small plate. The stitches were already healing. Dan Heng looked outside, pondering his situation.
He cared for injured birds, rodents, even an otter in the past, but never a creature such as a wolf. They were typically at the top of the food chain in these parts. Nor did they ever wander close to the lake. He wondered what would happen when the creature had regained its power. If it was truly a god of the forest, I’d return to its pack.
Dan Heng went to bed. His heart was lightened by the fact that he had done something good for the forest today.
When he awoke early in the morning. Dan Heng found the wolf was gone. The mat empty and the plate of fish, untouched. The water, however— was gone. Dan Heng felt this as a relief though. The creature surely went back home and his duties as the shrine guardian would resume to be mundane as it was tasked to be.
He walked out to the front of the shine, checking on the clams before lighting the incense that were supposed to expel evil spirits.
Then, he saw him. A man. Tall– beautiful. Dark indigo hair that framed his handsome face. Wearing a set of dark red robes. He stood with such intent— it almost scared Dan Heng. He stood at the end of the bridge that led to Dan Heng’s shrine, holding something in his hand.
“Have you come here to say a blessing?” Dan Heng tucked the box of matches close to his person. His spear was propped against the wall behind him.
The man began to walk, approaching Dan Heng and the shrine. He was barefoot, Dan Heng realized. Dan Heng almost got an uneasy feeling but then— as the man got closer, he saw something familiar: Rubies basked in fire.
Just like the wolf. He walked up to Dan Heng and offered a bundle. “An offering.” He said in a deep, low voice. Dan Heng blinked, he took the bundle and moved to take it to the offering altar for the shrine but the man stopped him. “The offering is for you.”
Dan Heng stopped, blinking up at the man. “I’m sorry— One should bring offerings to the shrine, I am a mere guardian.”
The man frowned. “No, I offer that to you. Take it.”
The smaller man looked down at the silk-wrapped package and slowly-surely, untied it. Inside was revealed to be a plate of dried persimmons. A delicacy in these parts. A rich gift, one that would only be provided by someone of high status.
“I cannot accept this.” Dan Heng said lightly, he tried to recover the silk-clad treat.
The man was firm, he reached out to uncover the persimmons. “This is thanks for mending my wound.”
Dan Heng blinked, the lingering feeling in the back of his head was confirmed. “You are the wolf?”
The man nodded slowly, his expression remaining impassive. “I am.”
“You’re not a god?” Dan Heng wondered. For he didn’t know the animal gods could shift into human forms.
A slight smile crossed the man’s face– he had slightly pointed canines. “No, I am not a god. Merely a cursed man.”
Dan Heng bowed his head regardless. “I am…sorry. But please, I heal all who come to my steps. You were no different.”
“Dan Heng.” The man said, his fingers had lowered to Dan Heng’s wrist. Gentle, warm— it sent shivers up Dan Heng’s spine as if feeling a jolt of electricity. This man, he was more than a wolf or god…but what was he? And why did it feel so familiar?
“How do you know my name?” Dan Heng stared up at the man with confusion.
Still, the man remained impassive. “I have long known you, Dan Heng. For it’s because of you I still haunt the living world.”
Dan Heng pulled his hand away from the man. He didn’t know what to think, or feel for that matter. “I’m sorry.” He said again. “What is your name?”
“Ren.” The man said simply, his bright eyes casted downwards before wandering to look towards the pools that housed the magic waters and the shells that rested below it’s surface.
“I’m glad I was able to heal you, Ren. But I’m sorry. I must return to my duties.” Dan Heng bowed his head.
“Can I visit you? I will try not to disturb your work.” Ren finally said, standing back and looking out towards the lake once more.
Dan Heng had to pause at this. “Everyone is welcome to visit this place, as long as you do not defile the waters.”
“Alright.” Ren began to walk back across the lake, leaving Dan Heng in a confused stupor.
Every day, from that day on, Ren would visit and pay his respects to the shrine. Bringing offerings for the shrine and also Dan Heng— who would only tentatively accept the gifts. The preceptors had told him from a young age that he should never be greedy. But when Ren began to bring him literature, he couldn’t help but accept them.
And— it was also a company. Dan Heng hadn’t realized just how lonely he had grown over the years in his isolation. Dan Heng would find himself rambling on about animals, stories and the weather, and Ren would simply sit by the shrine and listen, nodding occasionally.
Dan Heng had asked him many times why he chose to come back to the shrine. He merely said he owed it to Dan Heng for saving his life. Of course the shrine guardian couldn’t deny that– He had in fact done his best to save his life. Ren certainly would have bled to death in that clearing.
But he never gave him an answer.
Who had given him the wound?
“Ren. It has been many weeks. Who attacked you?” Dan Heng was sweeping the bridge and Ren was sitting on the bench. He had now obtained a more decent set of clothes. A silk hanfu that reminded Dan Heng of rich craftsmen from far away lands.
“I told you, it was merely an injury obtained from a trap.” Ren said as he leaned back in his seat to get a better look at Dan Heng’s disappointed face.
“I sniffed out that lie the second you told me it. There are no longer trappers in these woods, and I know well trap wounds, that was a wound made by a blade, a big one at that.” Dan Heng huffed as he leaned on his broom.
“Mm.” Ren responded, his scarlet eyes wandered.
Dan Heng stood there, resolute. “If you won’t be honest with me, I won’t allow you to loiter here any longer.”
Ren looked up again. “Really?” He looked like a wet dog, almost. His slightly droopy eyes, accentuated by his dark eyelashes.
“Y-yes.” Dan Heng hesitated, he almost fell for the man’s spell.
Ren extended his hand. “Come for a walk with me tonight, and I’ll tell you everything.”
It took some sizing up, but Dan Heng took his hand. “I’ll come.”
A huff, not unlike a great wolf. Ren got up and offered a little bow to Dan Heng. “I need to get back…Until then.” He walked off down the path and back into the woods.
Dan Heng wondered about the mysterious man. They were friends, right? Dan Heng had grown to trust the man. After all the weeks of visiting the shrine. Despite his rather intimidating height and stature…he seemed kind, content. He had little words to speak. But Dan Heng knew aura’s well, he had been trained to understand the world of magic and mundane. He could sense things others could not, and nothing about Ren was…bad– perhaps misunderstood. He only spoke of his curse once. Something he had had since birth, the blood of a former wolf god. Forsaken to turn when his mind was weak or the moon was full. Something passed down from a prior life.
Dan Heng emphasized. For he also cursed. Cursed to haunt this shrine for his past sins. His heart ached. He wanted to understand the man more than ever.
The sky was clear— the breed cool as the ocean. Dan Heng waited at the end of the bridge for Ren. Dressed in a simple hanfu, his sleeves weren’t tied back now, his hair loose from its ribbon. Ren had appeared from the treeline, hair tied up into a ponytail and his expression muted as he approached Dan Heng.
“Good evening.” He said simply as he offered his arm to Dan Heng.
“Evening, Ren.” Dan Heng didn’t take his arm. He wouldn’t, not so close to his shrine. He was never told if he should be so close to another being— but he didn’t want to risk it, even when he felt like defying the preceptors every day.
Ren didn’t seem offended, he merely made a sound before lowering his arm. He gestured. “Let’s walk.” He started walking and Dan Heng joined him. They walked the similar path around the exterior of the lake. The path Dan Heng had taken when he followed the blood that Ren had left in his injured state.
“So? Are you going to be honest with me now?” Dan Heng said in a slightly dour tone.
Silence from Ren. Dan Heng thought he’d refuse to answer until the man stopped just shy of the entrance to the animal trail. “I have been looking for you for a long time.”
Dan Heng frowned. “Why?”
Ren opened his mouth. “The preceptors. They hid you here— an attempt to stop us from uniting once again.”
Again, the smaller man’s mind whirred. He knew the Preceptors were dishonest, he knew their intents were mired in spite and greed…Dan Heng had assumed his duty because he thought he -had- to. Then he thought.
The one pearl, the one that he had seen right after he first came here as a very small child. They told him it was corrupt, that it would be taken far away.
That was Ren’s soul, returning to the world. Dan Heng knew it, for he felt the same power, the pull that made the wolf so familiar as he stitched up the wound.
“How’d you find me?” Dan Heng asked softly.
“Many, many years of wandering, of making a name for myself as a craftsman. Finally, I heard a rumor of a dragon shrine, hidden deep in the forest, overlooked by a single, lonely protector. I knew it must have been you.” Ren lowered his head as he took Dan Heng’s hand in his.
“The preceptors…they are the ones that hurt you.” Dan Heng knew now, the draw of the blade…so familiar with the craftsmanship of the cloud nights that guarded the elders.
“Yes. And I’ve been protecting you ever since. Every day they send men to reclaim the pools, they fear you, and what you are.” Ren lowered his head, speaking in a whisper.
“I am just a shrine protector…I don’t have any power.” Dan Heng repeated the words that he had been told his whole life. When the preceptors came to him, monks sent by the elders taught him to read, clean and cook for himself. They had told him he was that. Nothing more, nothing less.
“They thought putting a curse upon me would stop my pursuit, in the end it only helped me. Killing us— would be mercy, but they know, we’ll only reunite in another life.” Ren squeezed Dan Heng’s hand gently. Again, he was warm compared to Dan Heng’s cold fingers.
“You shouldn’t be here. You’ll send more of them after you, I do not want to endanger the lives of the animals here, nor the villagers.” Dan Heng returned softly as he reproachfully pulled his fingers from Ren’s grip.
“I’m sorry, but I cannot leave. Not until the preceptors put aside this quarrel with your past self and mine. Come with me, Dan Heng. Come on a new journey with me, the clams will never shepherd souls again…for the preceptors have cursed them with their greed and villainy.” Ren’s expression again was impassive, but Dan Heng detected no lies in his tone.
His heart ached— He was bound to this place by pride more than anything. All that he had worked for. He felt as if to abandon this place would be to abandon the forest and leave it to die…He knew well that this would not be the case. Long had the villagers paid respect to the forest, for fear of backlash from the higher powers.
“Dan Heng, The preceptors bound you here with lies. They hid you here and told you to obey because they know you’re the real dragon god. They bind your power. I have seen what you have done. It was thanks to you that my memories returned to me all those years ago.”
Again…that pearl that Dan Heng had witnessed. He had held it for a moment before the preceptors had taken it from his grip.
“I’m sorry.” Dan Heng lowered his head. There he went again, apologizing for something he had no control over.
Ren’s hand lifted his chin, making it so they made eye contact. “You are not Dan Feng any longer. You deserve to choose your own path. I only ask you to come with me to realize that.”
Dan Heng hesitated again. Long have his lonely memories kept him bound. “I need to think about all of this. It’s no easy task to leave this place. Even if it was merely a place to keep me silent and complacent. I’ve grown accustomed to my life.”
Ren nodded. “I won’t force you, but I’ll always protect you. Anyone who may try to harm you will be met with my sword and claw.” He lowered his hand from Dan Heng. “I will wait.”
A slow nod was Dan Heng’s response, his blue eyes looking out into the silent lake. The moon was casting beautiful serene ripples upon the surface of the waves, and in the distance— his shrine. The only place he had known his whole life, over a hundred years.
He longed for adventure, to help others beyond his borders. Yet all of this was so sudden– and he couldn’t help but be attached to these pools of clear blessed water. The waters that he had blessed every morning.
“I’ll be here.” Ren said in a soft tone. “For as long as you need me, I will follow.”
A grit of his teeth. “Ren..I want you to have choices too. You cannot bind yourself to me like a lost duckling.”
A laugh from the man’s lips. “Alway so selfless, such pride. I made my choice long ago.”
Dan Heng let out an exasperated sigh. “I suppose you have made your decision.”
“Let’s continue our walk.” Ren offered his hand again and this time, Dan Heng took it.
They continued their stroll, Dan Heng starting to enjoy the warmth drawn from Ren’s fingers. “Were we lovers in our past life?” Dan Heng finally asked as they stopped by a particularly thick crop of cattail reeds.
“Yes.” Ren responded, he’d squeeze Dan Heng’s hand ever so slightly.
“I remember…some of it. I remember your hands and your smile. I remember others too…Are they gone now?” Dan Heng lowered his head. He had seen it in his dreams. Memories like they were his, but his eyes were not.
“We are scattered like leaves to the wind. It took me some time to embrace my curse, and remember your faces.” Ren pulled Dan Heng down another path, one that Dan Heng used to go down, where there was a small stream that led towards the mountains. They were silent for a good while. Despite Ren being around almost every day for the last two months, Dan Heng felt so far…yet so close to the man as the stopped in another clearing. Here there were purple lilies growing near the stream. Their petals open now, but Dan Heng knew they would be closed in the morning.
“I have a memory of us, drinking below the moonlight. You’d get onto me because I could not handle my rice wine.” Ren sighed quietly as they looked upon the glittering stream.
“I remember your laugh.” Dan Heng mused. “I didn’t want to think about it at first. I was told not to embrace those memories.”
“You don’t need to embrace them, just understand them.” Ren frowned down at Dan Heng.
They stood there in silence, the crickets and a lone nighthawk were their only music. “Thank you, for returning.” Dan Heng broke the silence.
“I require no thanks.” Ren closed the gap between them and Dan Heng lifted his head slowly to the man. Their lips drew close and Dan Heng had to be lifted, just somewhat to kiss Ren. And kiss they did, and memories sprung like a spring into Dan Heng’s mind.
The moonlight drinks, the faces of his previous friends. The ‘crime’ he had committed. The love. He felt it all as they drank within each other deeply. Dan Heng’s fingers, cold and shaky, found Ren’s face, touching him like he’d never touched another man before—and he hadn’t. Ren had been the only person he had been close to for a hundred years.
“I’ve missed you.” Ren said, almost in a growl as he tightened his arms around Dan Heng.
Dan Heng had to laugh. “Yingxing, you’ve seen me every day for the last two months. You couldn’t have missed me that much.”
The name that was always at the tip of his tongue.
“I did, I really did. Sometimes I felt angry— horrid that maybe, perhaps— you were the cause of all this. I thought for a moment, the preceptors were correct in their punishment. But I know— You made the sacrifice for all of us. I made the sacrifice. We’d do it all again…again and again.” He grumbled, his words heated as they hugged.
“I don’t want to look back anymore.” Dan Heng felt tears sting his eyes. He was partially telling the truth. He must learn from the past, but forge his own path forward. With Ren.
“You don’t have to.” Ren pressed his lips to Dan Heng’s forehead.
Dan Heng didn’t know when they had tumbled down into the grass, but before he knew it he was atop Ren, peppering the man with kiss after kiss. He felt like a lizard desperate to cling to a hot coal. Perhaps Dan Heng was? He was a dragon after all. Ren relished in return, holding Dan Heng close, his hands on the smaller man’s tiny waist.
“Dan Heng, you’re so beautiful.” He grumbled into a kiss.
“Were you the prince?” Dan Heng asked, raising his head, breathing heavily.
“Prince?” Ren canted his head to the side.
“The village girl said there was a prince looking for someone like me.” Dan Heng’s fingers wandered close to the collar of Ren’s hanfu.
“Oh, yes. I traded a few days in the village, asked if they had seen someone like you…Did not expect her to take me for a royal.” Ren gritted his teeth as his grip tightened on Dan Heng’s waist.
“Should we be out here like this?” Dan Heng finally realized they were laying in the middle of the woods, in such an intimate way.
A blank look crossed Ren’s face now. “I don’t think I’d be comfortable laying like this in a shrine that is watched over by the preceptors.”
“Ah…true. But what if one of the knights passes by?” Dan Heng was stifled as Ren pulled him in for another passionate kiss.
“Don’t worry, they will not come here.” Ren’s confidence was practically infectious, Dan Heng wrapped his hands around the man’s buff shoulders, kissing his jawline.
Consumed, that’s how Dan Heng felt as he embraced the warmth underneath him, as he hiked up his hanfu and Ren unknotted his silk belt. Despite his age, Dan Heng had only seen himself naked, for he never used public bathhouses in the village. He was told that none should be able to gaze upon his nude form. But now, he was unabashed as the alabaster skin on his legs were marked with pink where Ren had squeezed and caressed the flesh.
To be so intimate with a man he had slowly come to appreciate over the last two months–that he had known locked in his memory all these years. It felt freeing.
“You’re wet.” Ren said as he sat up, allowing Dan Heng to rest in his lap as his fingers found Dan Heng’s silk undergarments.
“Mm.” Dan Heng could hardly form words as rough fingers pushed past the fabric and touched his sensitive folds. Ren smiled as he pressed his warm lips against Dan Heng’s neck.
“Can I take them off?” Ren asked as he pulled at the fabric.
“Y-yes.” Dan Heng murmured shyly. Ren’s fingers expertly slid the satin down Dan Heng’s hips, allowing him to lift his legs so that the undergarments were off, allowing free exploration of Dan Heng’s cunt. Ren didn’t waste any time, his fingers spread slick up and down Dan Heng’s cunt, his middle finger prodding at the smaller man’s entrance.
Dan Heng had experimented with himself times before but having another person touch you was a sensation beyond that he’d ever felt. He whimpered, biting down on the side of his knuckle as Ren’s fingers teased his nub, sending sparks of pleasure up Dan Heng’s spine.
“Pretty.” Ren growled. He began to stroke himself, spitting onto his palm to alleviate some of the friction. “Move your hips a bit.” Ren’s free hand moved from Dan Heng’s cunt to his butt, guiding Dan Heng to hover over the man’s cock that was standing at attention.
“It’ll hurt, won’t it?” Dan Heng responded by holding onto Ren’s shoulders.
“It will, just at first. But bite me if you cannot handle it.” Ren pressed the head of his cock against Dan Heng’s cunt, prodding his clit as he did. Dan Heng let out a sharp intake as he began to lower himself onto the man’s cock. Ren was a gentle guide, holding Dan Heng’s hips as he did.
It hurt, especially at a point and Dan Heng didn’t know if he could go further, but Ren whispered soft reassurance. “You’re doing so well. You’re such a beautiful dragon.”
Dan Heng drank it all in—Finally, he was fully sheathed on the man’s cock, and the pain was starting to subside, replaced with a feeling of fullness and warmth and Ren let out a hiss from behind his teeth.
Clearly, he was marveling at the sight in front of him, Dan Heng with his robes pushed aside, sitting on his cock— there may have been the slightest of bulges, but Dan Heng was so ethereal basked in the moonlight. His horns reflected the moon, practically giving him a halo.
Ren couldn’t hold himself back any longer, He started moving Dan Heng, assisting the man atop him with bouncing up and down on his manhood. Pure bliss, The moans of pleasure that left Dan Heng were like music to Ren’s ears. Dan Heng tried to control himself, but he was horrid at stifling his own moans, he was becoming so overtaken by the pleasure and the faster Ren went, the more Dan Heng felt like bursting— In fact he had already cum, his legs shaking as Ren swapped their positions.
Now Dan Heng was on the mossy ground. The smell of crushed grass and sweat filled his nostrils as his legs were pinned against his chest as Ren took him into a mating press. Thrusting so deeply into Dan Heng he could hardly realize what was happening. Overstimulated already— Dan Heng whimpered and cried out Ren’s name, but the large man atop him kept thrusting, battering Dan Heng’s womb until finally— Heat overtook Dan Heng as he felt Ren bottom out, filling him with his seed.
“A-ah.” Ren remained inside Dan Heng as they kissed, stealing the breath from each other's lungs.
“You should be my husband, Dan Heng.” Ren placed a kiss upon Dan Heng’s cheek as they made eye contact.
Dan Heng was weary, hot and sweaty. “Only if you carry me back to the shrine like I did for you.”
“It’s a deal.” Ren smirked, planting another heavy kiss upon Dan Heng as he finally pulled himself from the smaller man.
Nearly a year had passed since Dan Heng and Ren had left the forest to start their own journey. Dan Heng had gotten to meet Ren’s friends— and even made a few of his own. The dragon continued to watch over the land and the animals, but now he also looked after his own life.
“I thought you had bought all the supplies.” Dan Heng had lectured Ren. A new city meant a new list before they could return to their campsite for the evening. Dan Heng was offering his healing powers to the locals, caring for the sick and injured, while offering some writing lessons as well. Ren had made good coin from offering his craftsman expertise, an advisor for a builder developing out a new hospital.
“Ah, I forgot. I’d say we should find a more permanent residence anyway, especially when you’re due in a few months.” Ren offered a basket of vegetables to Dan Heng, kissing his partner on the head.
“I don’t mind traveling. We can manage, even with the baby.” Dan Heng pressed a hand to his belly, heavily swollen at seven months.”Anyway, I saw a doctor today, he said I was in perfect health, as well as the baby.”
Ren frowned. “I hope my curse does not pass down to the child.”
“Ren, regardless we’ll be having a half dragon-half wolf child.” Dan Heng huffed as he began to walk back towards their campsite just outside the city.
Ren joined him, taking the man by the arm so Dan Heng could better keep his balance. Dan Heng chatted, as he normally did, and Ren listened intently. They had not heard from a preceptor since they left the shrine, and Dan Heng was more than fine with that. He had everything he ever needed now, and he hadn’t a single regret.