Huo Linghun was pouting inside their little bamboo house in their little bamboo clearing one chilly morning. He'd sprained his ankle the evening before after tripping over a fallen bamboo stalk while practicing with his sword. Bamboo stalks sure tripped people a lot.

Xiao Xin sat beside him looking quite a bit more cheerful. "It's okay, Linghun, it's not forever," he consoled him. "You'll get better soon."

Huo Linghun knew he was right- he just wasn't used to sitting around all day. "I know," he sighed. Then he had an idea; "You know what would make me feel a little better?"

"Hmm?"

"If I could have a blueberry cake."

Xiao Xin's ears dropped back a little. "We ate all the blueberry cakes yesterday."

Huo Linghun's ears and entire body drooped.

"I could go to the town and get some for you!" Xiao Xin suggested.

Huo Linghun perked back up a little. "Really?"

Xiao Xin nodded.

"You've never went by yourself. Are you sure you know the way?"

Xiao Xin was already heading for the door. "I know the way," he said.

"It's pretty cold out there," Huo Linghun said.

"I'll be fine," Xiao Xin replied. He waved his fluffy tail around and added, "I was made for the cold."

"Well, just be careful," Huo Linghun said.

"Don't worry, Linghun!" Xiao Xin said. "I'll be back!"

Don't worry, Linghun.

We'll be back.

Those were the words his parents told him before leaving on their quest to battle the fire serpent. The last things they ever said to him. They never came back.

"Wait! Don't go!" Huo Linghun jumped up and hobbled across the little bamboo house. Xiao Xin paused in the doorway and looked back at him. "Don't go," Huo Linghun said. "I don't want blueberry cakes anymore. Don't go!"

Xiao Xin closed the door and helped Huo Linghun to walk back to the bed. "Okay, I won't go! Just sit back down!"

"I'm sure we have something good to eat here," Huo Linghun said.

Xiao Xin went to check their food cabinet. "We have... beets."

Huo Linghun waited for the list to continue but it never did. "Beets? Is that all?" He hated beets. But he hated even more the thought of Xiao Xin heading to the town by himself and something happening to him, the thought of him never coming back. "Beets it is then..."