As the days slowly got warmer and warmer, we got more and more active, though I was in a slightly melancholy mood. This time last year I was rushing towards a wedding; this year, I was moseying on forwards and taking things a day at a time as I felt the land beneath me stirring more and more, like a kid tossing and turning in bed.

The end of winter was within the week now. I could feel it in my bones. Soon, it would be spring, and… Tianlan would be awake. I don’t know if I was looking forward to that conversation, but it was something that needed to happen.

She couldn’t be too bad, not with all the help she had given us. It still weighed on my mind a little, though, and often woke me up early.

Still, my nerves would wind down quite quickly at the beautiful sight that greeted me every time I opened my eyes: My wife on her side, dozing, and our son in between us.

It truly was the greatest. I smiled at the freckles dusting both of their noses, and resisted the urge to plant a kiss on Meimei’s nose.

It was fantastic, let me tell you, to have Meimei all healed up already. She was similarly ecstatic… and as long as we kept it short and sweet, well, we managed to catch up on some time we had, er, missed.

We had to be a bit careful though. Meimei didn’t want to get pregnant again quite so soon. Maybe in a year or two?

But until then, fun was back on the menu, for both of us. Three cheers for over a dozen willing and able babysitters… though really, it had been Hu Li and Meihua to poke at us to begin with.

I just lay there for a moment, basking in the warm bed… until a rooster started to crow, Big D’s voice echoing across the hills.

I stared at my son with a gimlet eye as his eyes snapped open.

There was one thing that was funny in the mornings.

As the rooster crowed, a tiny voice rose up with it. Not one of pain, or hunger, but just a little squeal as my son decided the best thing to imitate in the morning was a rooster.

I snorted as I stared at the baby beside me, trying his best to pop a cock-a-doodle-do. Meimei, her eyes open, heaved a similar sigh, fond exasperation on her face.

“Of all things…” she muttered as she planted a kiss on his forehead. “At least he has strong lungs.”

“Little’ D here does have quite the pipes, doesn't he?” I joked.

Little D. Xiao De. A pun in another language, because Xiao Didi meant little brother—what Tigu had taken to calling our son.

I paused. Well, it was kinda awkward to just refer to my son as “baby” all the time. Milk names, or “name before your official name” were sometimes given to children to drive away evil spirits.

My grin spread across my face. If he ever figured it out some time in the future, my son would be so pissed at me. Or he would never learn and figure his nickname just came from his “strong uncle”... and really, it did.

“I know that smile, husband.” My wife deadpanned. “What are you thinking?”

I told her and explained it. Most wives, I think, would be offended that you wanted to make your kid’s nickname an inside, kind of rude, joke.

Meimei’s cheeks puffed out, and then she started cackling.

“Oh? Little De, you yell so much!” my wife scolded him affectionately. The baby giggled.

And that's how my son got his nickname. It brought a smile to my face every time I said it.

============================

Bi De held out his wing, a feather tracing the character for strength before amethyst eyes. Amethyst eyes that held a spark of interest and intelligence within them as they followed the red feather.

The eyes were watching, trying to understand. Not quite able to articulate anything yet, but there was no mistaking what it was.

Bi De smiled all the same.

“He likes you.” Bi De’s Great Master said, smiling at them both. “I think it’s the colours that draw his eye. You are a handsome devil.”

Bi De shook his head with amusement. Indeed, his plumage was something he took great pride in. Feathers the colour of fire, with a jade green tail, and wings with sapphire blue decorating the top of them. They shone in the light and were coveted by all who laid eyes upon them.

“Little De has a good eye then.” Bi De declared pompously. His Great Master’s smile widened, and Bi De felt himself flush. For his Great Master to give his own son a protective name after Bi De, it was most flattering. It showed in how much regard his Lord held his first disciple, that Bi De’s name would be the bane of evil spirits for his own son—even if none would dare to inch close to the babe in Fa Ram.

Bi De… found himself caring for the babe more than he thought he would… and not just because his milk name was given in Bi De’s honour. His Great Master had made it very plain to the disciples that nothing related to the child was their duty… only their responsibility if they accepted. If they did not wish to change the soiled cloth, then they did not have to. Bi De had learned, just in case, but so far he had not had to perform that task.

“He sure does. He’s got his momma’s peepers.” His Great Master declared, looking fondly at the child, before turning to Bi De. “And you’re calmer around him now. You were a bit on edge for a couple of days there.” His voice was conversational, and concerned.

Bi De nodded. Or course, his Lord had noticed his apprehension… but that was now dust in the wind. Bi De’s concerns had been laid to rest. The Spark in the amethyst eyes.

“I was worried that he may be like the ones that I have sired, dull and without presence, but... I suppose humans do not work like that in the first place.” Bi De said conversationally. “But it was obviously folly.

His Great Master paused, the smile on his face falling.

“Oh….” he suddenly whispered, looking stricken. “Bi De…” He trailed off, compassion and pain clear in his voice. Bi De hopped from beside the babe to his Master, to look him in the eye, and reassure him.

“I believe I have come to a sort of peace with it, Master. Or if not peace, understanding.” He hadn’t mated with the hens in a while. Ever since he got back home, really. “It was base instinct that drove me, like Tigu’s dislike of Ri Zu. Thoughts of what was “right” that I had not questioned. A man sires many children, and takes the worthy to continue his name. I did as my instincts commanded… and well, nothing happened.”

His Great Master grimaced, as his hand came up to rest on Bi De’s head. He was silent, for a moment, as his fingers worked.

“...no father should have to go through that.”

Bi De leaned into the touch. “I have meditated long upon this. This Bi De supposes he is an anomaly. In my journeys, I have not met another chicken with a Spark. Nor another fox like Basi Bu Shi, nor multiple wolves, nor rabbits.. Only Pi Pa and Chun Ke are the exceptions, but they are like Yin and Yang, so make some sort of sense. We were either born with exceptional talent… or there is some other factor at play. Spirit Beasts, like the Blaze Bears, all seem to have some innate sense of self, while we… we all are different. And so there are two choices. Seek to better understand it, or wait for the heavens to smile upon you.” His Master chewed his lip, his eyes focused completely on Bi De. The rooster did not like his Master, obviously feeling distress over Bi De’s revelations.

“I have decided to forgo that, for the moment. If I am to be a father, I must be as skilled as yourself… and to do that, I must do a lot of study. Perhaps, it shall be attained through the use of some sort of transformation. Perhaps, I shall never sire children, and like the Gramps of your tale, take in an heir. But that is for the future…”

His Master nodded, as he considered Bi De’s words.

“Then… what do you want to do in the future? I know that you said that you wanted to protect Fa Ram, but…”

Bi De considered the words.

The journey he had gone on, venturing all around the Azure Hills, had been satisfying. Going forth into the unknown, learning, and meeting the others who lived there. Learning their customs and seeing their special dances had been enjoyable.

And then coming home, and telling all of the places he had been was satisfying in its own way as well.

“I want to better understand myself. There are two parts; one that yearns to go out into the world, to explore, and learn more about it, and the other, that wishes to stay here and defend, to protect, and watch over this wonderful place, and see it grow. If I can, I should like to do both. A wanderer, and protector. After all, I must live up to the sign you made, no?”

His Master's mood lightened, and he snorted. “Yeah. the whole world will know to Respect the Rooster.” They lapsed into silence, for a moment. “... that was a bit heavier than I thought it would be.” His Master admitted. “But thanks for telling me. We’ll figure things out… together, if you’ll have us.”

Bi De bowed his head, once more humbled by his Master’s support. His Lord glanced to where Little De had become distracted by motes of light, and then held out his arm.

Bi De hopped onto his Master’s shoulder as the man set out into the yard. The yard where the grass was going green and the first flowers were racing to open.

Out into the beautiful sun, just like old times.

Bi De opened his beak and hailed his home;

“You tell ‘em Bi De.” his Master replied. Another little cry joined Bi De, and both of them smiled as the warm wind of spring ghosted over the hills.