The Creatures that We Are

Shangqing District.

While Spring and Qilin fought, Waking Insects had evacuated every survivor from the danger zone before collapsing from exhaustion, reverting to gas form. He hadn't even managed to explain the Spectres' intervention.

Nine Frost chose to hide everyone in a mall rather than return to their secret base. The base was too distant for their injured state, and despite the slim chances, he worried about being followed.

They took shelter in a clothes shop, administering first aid with their remaining Medicine Cs. Fat Jun, their only healer, had lost consciousness from blood loss and showed no signs of waking. They couldn't count on his healing.

Wang Zikai and Zhang Wei were also unconscious. Heavenly Dog, Nainai, Muzitu, War Tiger, Zhong He, Dead Pig, and Raven Shark all nursed injuries of varying severity. The loss of their companions weighed heavily, crushing their spirits.

They sat in darkness, silent as forgotten statues in abandoned ruins.

Qing Ling, Nine Frost, Chen Ying, Gregor, Lying Wood, Hong Xiaoxiao, and Ke Yo had fared better. Qing Ling, Gregor, and Ke Yo maintained watch while Hong Xiaoxiao and Lying Wood tended the wounded.

Nine Frost and Chen Ying conversed briefly before approaching War Tiger.

"Uncle Tiger," Chen Ying said, "Gao Yang responded. All went well on his end. He'll rendezvous when possible. But we need to act—we should bring Lovely Lamb here to heal everyone."

War Tiger stood against the wall, holding a half-burned cigarette he hadn't touched.

He nodded. "Do that then."

"Okay," Nine Frost said. "I'll have Qing Ling escort Lovely Lamb."

Chen Ying hesitated. "What should Qing Ling say if Lovely Lamb asks where White Rabbit is?"

War Tiger trembled, cigarette ash falling.

He stared upward for two seconds before breaking into a grin.

"Tell her that White Rabbit went to find the Big Gray Wolf[1]."

…

Rooftop of an abandoned construction, one o’clock in the morning.

The skeletal structure barely qualified as a building, thick dust coating its unfinished surfaces. Without doors or windows, the cold wind swept through unobstructed, whining like a wild cat.

Gao Yang, Liao Liao, and Dr. Jia lay exhausted, each wrapped in worn curtains against the cold hard wall.

Suddenly, Liao Liao’s eyes fluttered in alert.

Someone’s here!

She pretended to be asleep while reaching for her gun under the curtain, ready to use God of Firearms.

Beyond the windowless opening stretched the city, shrouded in night's hazy veil. Though celebrations had quieted, occasional fireworks still bloomed against the dark sky. Ŗ₳ƝồβËＳ

Woo—

The wind strengthened. Powdery snow began to fall as a silver-haired girl in a red cape landed gracefully outside. Light from behind rimmed her figure in gentle gold, her silver strands dancing as her cape fluttered.

"Don't be scared. I won't hurt you." The girl sensed Liao Liao's hostility.

Liao Liao opened her eyes but kept her finger on the trigger. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"I'm Fresh Snow." The backlit girl cocked her head with a smile.

"Fresh Snow?" Liao Liao started. "You're... the little girl from the Spectres?"

"I'm not a little girl! I'm technically twenty-eight!" Fresh Snow corrected her with serious indignation.

Liao Liao studied her more carefully. She looked no older than seventeen—silver hair, crimson eyes, and snow-fair skin creating an ethereal beauty. Like a dream's bubble, she seemed ready to vanish at a touch.

"I'm Gao Yang's..." Fresh Snow's smile faltered. "Friend."

Liao Liao didn’t lower her gun. “How did you find us?”

Fresh Snow pursed her lips proudly. "I don't know, but I can find Gao Yang wherever he is. Sister says it might be a spiritual connection."

Liao Liao began another question when a hand lowered her gun barrel.

"It's okay. She's on our side..." Gao Yang murmured without opening his eyes, exhaustion dragging him back to sleep as his breathing deepened.

Finally, Liao Liao relaxed. She looked at Fresh Snow awkwardly. "Then... make yourself at home. We've got nothing to welcome you with."

"Yeah." Fresh Snow nodded with a small smile, her large eyes fixed on Liao Liao in silence.

"You... wanna sit here?" Liao Liao offered after a moment's hesitation.

"Yeah!" Fresh Snow nodded eagerly before growing shy. "May I?"

Haha, she's quite polite. Adorable.

"Of course." Liao Liao suppressed a smile, shifting to make space. Fresh Snow immediately settled between Liao Liao and Gao Yang, her petite frame carrying a cream-like fragrance.

"You should rest," Fresh Snow said. "I've checked. There's no danger around here."

“Okay. Thanks.” Liao Liao closed her eyes and held her gun with the other hand.

Fresh Snow tucked her legs in and rested her head on Gao Yang’s arm. She didn’t dare to act as intimately as she had done in the past; the contact was soft and reserved.

She inhaled deeply before closing her eyes in contentment, quickly drifting off.

She hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long, long time.

Outside, the snow fell harder.

[End of Act 5: Part II]

1. When Ghost Horse died, White Rabbit made the analogy to a big bad wolf/big gray wolf to explain what happened to Lovely Lamb. ☜

Houseau3's Thoughts

Fresh Snow's back! And we're going to the next part of this act :D

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