A Mother's Love [TASK]

[Gong]

Huang Shi



Why can't I breath without you?~


Xinye, Outskirts-

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Taking a gaze out the window was a near harsh fate for a woman who has nothing to embrace, no longer is the love so deep that it tangles the stomach and tears at every woman that attempts to get the husband's favour. Resentment was now where the heart once was, but there seems a strange reasurance that something will return. To the Lady Huang each breath had become increasingly difficult to make, pulling on each lung as if there was nothing left within; the energy had become dry and the emptiness a mere husk of a former self. As the skies turned blue there was no justice to know that the son she had left behind was safe, nor could she tell the future of whether the husband and wife's bond would return to its former glory. The maids had sent no notification of their leave, as ordered, of Xiangyang and the worry grew with each day; that...that perhaps something ill had befallen them. What of Zhan?.. Lady Huang knew that if anything had happened to her beloved son that Zhuge would return, with scorn in his eyes and hatred growing reflecting her own self hatred if anything had happened.

The tears were inevitable and a comfort that the young woman could only devour wach night, the body being drained of liquid as the moon rose and shone down upon the earth. How could she have left her son behind? Looking away from the window, the haunted Huang staggered to the table that had many scrolls upon it. In the event of this loss she would go over the many scripts of old, allowing the mind to lose itself in a realm that was not of their own...where the little Zhan was tucked safely within her arms, or sleeping in a small cot having dreams of animals only a child could imagine. Flying through the skies and taking a small taste of the clouds, while on the back of a friendly dragon that would become a life-long companion and guardian....how she could not breath with her family present, even the absence of Zhuge was becoming a burden too hard to bare. Though she hated the man, the husband's role could not be replaced and once taken away the nights were lonely; a feeling that could do more damage than any blade to the body.

There was nothing for her here, the day she crossed the great river on her own was the mistake and remaining in Xiangyang something the Lady Huang should have done. Close to her home, her heart, her family and most importantly her son. Tracing the air for something to take old of, the young woman guided her way through the small abode and to the outside world. A reality that was not worth living without the pleasantries of those familiar things, the eyes merely saw foreign substances that she could not recognise. No father to comfort, no aunty to take solace with and no husband who's kindness could always make the sun rise from a storm filled day. Now, what did she have? Emptiness and regret. "...Zhan?.." It was not, the small wimper of a voice had been reduced by the distance between the mother and son. Any small child could be him, the bundle of happiness whose fate was set to sore to the Heavens. Reaching left and right, the Lady Huang noticed familiar faces before her and could not tell that the mind was taking her into a world of dreams. Searching Xinye for the family her heart missed, which the eyes desired to see once again.

"...Zhan?..."

[Gong]

The wind lifted, the feeling of the locals distancing themselves from her became too intense, as if the fires of the Nether Realm were consuming the skin. Twisting and turning the mind could not make sense of the situation the Lady Huang found herself in, without a husband and without the light which she seeked to grasp once again. The pain was becoming unbearable, something she could not fathom as the feet guided their way towards the gates of the city; wishing for a simple exit from the hell that she had created for herself. White robes taking flight as the skies became grey, as if the ghostly spirit thrashed through the streets sending passersby stagger back in wonderment. "..Zhan?.." All the words that she had learnt, the high standard of education that she had recieved failed and all that could form within her lips was the name of her child. As if all sanity had left the senses, the eyes searched the crowds, the streets, the trees and even the clouds to the whereabouts of the missing son. It could no longer comprehend that Lady Huang had believed the plan to leave Zhan behind for the two maids to bring at a later date would suffice, hoping to secure a comfortable and stable nest for the child to be transfered into...

As a leave in a brisk breeze, the jet hair took to dance with the gusts and the eyes darted from direction to direction in hopes to see the innocent visage of Zhan. Where was the husband to take her hand and escort her from this madness? The Lady Huang became angered by the absence, the promises that Zhuge had made to her were being tarnished..no, they were being thrown assunder, crushed against the Mountains of dispair and simply allowed to bleed until their remnences vanished; no proof of their existence, no evidence that he would ever truly understand her heart. Yet, there was always something present in the Lady Huang, knowing too well that without Zhuge she would be nothing..she could not breath without a single embrace, or even a simple glance could send the butterflies to flutter in the delicate heart. "..Zhan?.." To the gates she found herself, holding to the cold bricks that made the archway to the outside world..the very path Lady Huang took to leave the past behind and yet, now, that was all she desired. To return to the previous life was desired and would no longer be satisfied by the state she had placed herself in. However, something came from the air that serged from the outside and filled the heart with an ache too hard to ignore. The feeling of a near presence that was recognisable, only to those who knew it too well... "....Zhan?.." Gasp escaped, as the air was hurled from the young woman as the hopeful eyes could feel the nearing heart of her only son..where the maids completing the journey she requested of them?..

The feet advanced with no care of the body's safety, if any decided to go after her the Lady Huang would simply order them away and claim them bandits. As the wind became the obstacle before her, the veil was torn from its clasps and flew into the air leaving the
beauty to shine from its enforced cave. Finally the outer-coat that Huang Shi enjoyed so much was thrown to the ground, for it was halting the legs to run faster. The white-robed woman was as if a spirit had escaped the Nether Realm, searching for the loved ones they had left behind..a haunting scene bursting from the gates of Xinye, a pale figure with black hair dancing with the winds; all hair pins ripped from their position. "..Zhan!..." The feeling was closening, could it truly be that the Heavens had finally placed favour upon this feeble wreck and put the only being she adored back into her embrace. To hear the childish laughter of her son.. Yet, a figure blurred infront of her, surely not a maid but of a man's physique. The eyes could not make it out but continued to advance straight, the heart beating as a war drum knowingly sending herself into the pit of war; sacrificing her entirity simply to hold her Zhan once again... "...Zhan?!...." Deep within something spoke up, the young woman's heart fluttered and put hopes that Zhuge had returned, searching with their son to view the beauty of his wife..... Disappointed when seeing a dirt ridden solider stumbling before her, like the dagger within the heart the legs gave in and halted to the ground feeling that all hopes had been dashed..

"Furen?.... Furen!.... Furen!" A familiar sound, eyes rose to observe the figure through strands of black hair and the mind already knew that this very matted mess was a former guard of her father's employ. Why had he rushed so far from the main unit, had the maids come under trouble and what of Zhan?!.. Tearing from the ground the Lady Huang was hurled by the winds at the weakening soldier, who crumbled beneath the frustration of the body. "Furen! I beg of you, send help.. I come from the carriage, bandits are up ahead!" As if the winds had turned to ice, the peach-coloured cheeks drained of blood and formed to white..the snow could have seemed dull in comparison. Eyes watered and shone with a redness most crazed, the fingers digging into the leather that the escort wore trying to scramble at the weapon her wielded. "Furen... What are you doing?..." It was futile, the will of a mother was too strong and the beating heart would not allow the feet to return to Xinye incase the child was harmed. Who ever wished harm to the small Zhan would no doubt feel the wrath of all mothers that had ever loved their child, it was too late and the sword was unsheathed...the battle drums took their beating and the army began to advance..

"Furen, no!" The Lady Huang advanced further into the wilderness that would reach the great river, a view to the homeland she knew she shouldn't have left. The bandits would be close and the terror that the maids would feel could leave Zhan to neglect, his safety paramount and his survival most important. As the hand gripped the hilt of the sword tightly, the young woman allowed the spirits of her martial ancestors to take flight; only knowing basic martial arts, she would be the sole being to take on the barbarians.. Swiftly the escort moved to the fore, not to make chase but to gain the alarm of incoming bandits that were in the surrounding area; not to mention that the Lady Huang had advanced on her own.

[Gong]

Into the pit of the Nether Realm she had hurled herself, forgetting all else in the simple heart beat to save her son for a future that she did not know. Slavery of young children was becoming out of control, a shadow world of infant trade to the hierarchies they could not touch. As the eyes took upon the horizon the Lady Huang observed the over-turned carriage that were marked with the embelishments of the Huang clan, a carriage of her father's that was clear from attack; the bandits were small but still enough to overwhelm that of an escort. Rage filled the heart and serged a new found strength that she had never felt, the instinct of a mother had kicked in and soon the flames of her own wrath would burst outwards. "..Zhan!.." The cry of a child was resonating in the air, as the skies turned black complementing the anger that the Lady Huang felt. A storm was brewing, one which would heal the wounds that the earth was about to witness; but for those of this realm, wounds such as these would never be truly healed..

A maid hurled herself towards the lead who had claimed the small child for himself, too naive to know what his fate could be but old enough to know that what it was wrong. Tears streaming from him as the small hands reached out, trying to reach that of the friend he recognised. The eldest of the servants made for the fore, pushing away the minions that had encircled their carriage some time ago, the wheel had been caught by an arrow dosed in flames; the soldiers who had been employed for protection were of basic worth..those of elite were not saved for the daughters.. A soldier lay in the mud, the life burned away as the devastation ensued and simply crushed as a small ripe fruit underneath the wait of the large horse. "..You shall not get away with this!.." Some strength was behind the maid, fortunately for her the weight she had gained from working closely with the Lady Huang had given her a life of near luxury to gauge herself. Yet, she was still of a fragile frame and could not come close to match the prowess of the bandits that refused to let the child go. In a fury a sword was raised, swung from the back it tore at the peach robes throwing the body to the ground, as a dance it slashed to the ground and circled within the air to its climax; severing the neck with one easy movement. Screaming the other hide within the carriage for protection, to recollect and then gain any form of hand to play against the minions that were taking the victory. However, the mistake was already made.. "..Ling'er!!"

Too late, the phoenix had risen and the carriage was soon in flames from the previous attack, consuming all that was within. The silks were easy to burn and soon the horrorifying screams of the innocent being within had ceased, no more were her two close confidants..taken by these men who wished to accumolate wealth from the selling of a son. The body halted still and gazed upon the scene, water running from each eye in the hopes to find forgiveness for being so careless, believing that this idea to bring Zhan at a later time was the correct path. Slowly the bandits took formation, only a few had remained as the escort managed to take a small number with them; four in total survived the wreckage. The lead could sense the Lady Huang's heart, the mother had arrived to retrieve the son that they wished to take; but unbeknown to them, this young woman would not leave without her son..

Heart took to flutter, the phoenix was rising once again as the flames took everything of her past that she held dear, no longer able to joke and enjoy the company of Ling'er and Wan'er. Sword in hand, it rose to the skies and cut at the clouds with a fury no one could have foreseen from such a delicate looking flower. A hand was swurved to the ground, a small thrust back and one was made easy picking, the white gown becoming splattered with blood; soon the rain would come to attempt to halt the furthering of death. "..Let him go!.." To return a laugh was twisted and the young mother earged on to take the next victim into her grasp, the fire remained burning with every scream of the child. The small Zhan had seen the mother's face, the very presence as if an angel had come from the Heavens and embraced a recognisable warmth..the tiny arms reached for its love, but were retracked by the lead.

A dance came from the scene, the sword gliding through the air in hopes to make its target but would be overwhelmed at some point. From behind one took hold of the arms of Lady Huang, leaving the young mother kicking out towards the one that approached to use his own strength against her. A pure flower would not be tainted this day, though the dirt and blood was tainting the white silk it would not become a reality for the Lady Huang. Crying through strength she managed to swing her leg backwards into the her captive's groin, an easy maneveur when coming against a male. As the former clutched the ground, his own eyes watering and the Lead taking entertainment, it was to the other who allowed a fist to propell. It made contact with Lady Huang's face, an impact that was not seen and caused her to collapse into the ground. As if the Heaven's saw this feeble attempt of a loving mother to save the only being she cared for, the rain came down and cried into the earth for a figure to come and save. Visions appeared, the faithful husband and loving father in scenes of a life that would always remain in the yonder, now too far away to achieve..lost in a time that no one could remember....

The mud covered, hiding the purity from all to see, as the standing minion stood over and raised the leg to take revenge upon the Lady Huang's stomach. Thrown a little way into the air, to simply return to the ground in a mass; the sword not far from a grip. Smiling at the weak, the young mother turned to see the attack and soon made strength grab the hilt; to dance was to advance. Soon the blade glistened as the rain dripped from the sharpness, cleaning the foot that would soon make contact with her face. Tears streaming from all, the rain could not cleanse the earth to forget this happening. Now upon the floor an attempt to remove the sword from her grip was made, but it was a matter too late for the bandit whose neck became the home for the blade. "..I said....let him go!.." One could not help be impressed, but to think another, what would you assume from a mother refusing to allow her only child from being taken away from her. Two left, one of the Lead and the other a being whose anger could not be calmed; wishing to show the manly prowess upon the flower that used his 'strength' as a weakness.

A foot was thrusted and the lip broken, blood pouring as the rain from the Heavens..the storm was approaching and soon the earth would be taking its fill of the celestial waters. Rolled away the Lady Huang felt the wind leave her stomach, wishing to give up this fight and have them take her away with her son. But what of that life, to be an object of two men who would never allow the sun to touch her face. Slowly, as the two took pleasure, the figure of Lady Huang rose trying to steady upon the softening ground; sword still in hand, refusing to give up anything that would leave her defenceless.. Rushing forwards the sword was spun in a somewhat odd fashion that would seem quite amateurish, but nonetheless would still do some damage to the skin. Leather was cut and an arm severed, blood splattering to all angles with the blade's cut and tainting everything that it landed on. Tears of the earth resonated with the clap of thunder, the Heaven's anger was coming close however, they could not stop this fight. "..Zhan!.." As the man fell, the Lady Huang took the sword as an axe and brought it flashing down upon the back of the neck..ending the life of another being. Sadness would come, for directly taking a spirit away; after all, they were someone's husband, love, brother or even father. But, their future was set and they had to pay the price for trying to take away a life that belonged to someone else...

[Gong]

An impressed laugh splurted from the lips of the Lead, as the figure before him took chance to regain some form of breath; blood dripping from the cut lip, a bruised soreness appearing upon the cheek and stomach, blood and mud decorating the once pure-white silken robe. Sword gripped tight, small shaking of the burning fires that refused to be extinguished..one could not keep happiness when glancing upon such a scene, nor could a man of war deny that the strength the Lady Huang had within her would not surpass their own. "..Let him go.." Pleading was futile, but one that she could not help as the fragile flower remained hidden; mourning the loss of the employ...the loss of the two maids she held so dear....

The child was placed near the elder maid who had been made an easy victim, propped up against the still chest that once took the very child into embrace through teething. A small blade was revealed, the boute would commence and one would arrive the victor; if such a word could be used in this sense. Heavens continued to cry, the storm rising and the phoenix taking to the winds allowing all to burn with each touch. Soon the dance began as the brute strength was taken to the fore, the disadvantage was switched as the nimble nature evaded the slice. Yet, it could not see the mass that rose from the ground as the Lead made contact with his foot, hurling her close to the now extinguished carriage. It looked so helpless and the now worthless frame falling apart under the rains' touch. "..Argh!.." The fist was hurled and took directly, the face of the young mother was hit and caused her to turn to the right. Another clap, as the celestial mother's wept to see the frail figure of the Lady Huang being thrown onto the carriage wreck, the wet frame crumbling easily underneath her weight..not knowing how to take this situation into her own...

"You wh---!" Though damp, it could still have a sturdy strength as the Mountains. In swift thinking the Lady Huang took hold of a piece of the frame and took to swing, fortunately the face of the Lead was close enough and contact was made. Whilst regaining composure, the young mother made the getaway and took to finding the sword that she had dropped. The earth had swallowed it, mud covering everything and making all seem as the same. Frantically the tears scratched for anything that could be used as a weapon, however, the foot had thrashed its route...the figure thrown from where the blade actually was. The small child becoming cold, the fear was setting in and causing the cries to echo through out; such shrills the Lady Huang would not be able to forget for a long time. "Zhan!"

As if lifeless, the body of the young mother could no longer carry on, the extremeties were pushed and the waters of Heaven were starting to extinguish the fires...turning them to mere embers that would soon lose the glow of life. "Argh!!" The heart was found, a delicate organ that has the strength to give life and take it away. The blade was small but long enough to cause such damage that it would destroy the soul, allowing the spirit to return to the Heavens and be judged upon the wheel. As the storm continued the flourish of cries from the small child could not be ignored and as the flickering candle was seemingly fading, it managed one last burst to bring an end to this day. The dagger was close and the mind still worked to see the glimmer, mud not hidden it fully from view. Swiftly the Lady Huang had turned and rushed the blade at the attacker, the Lead had become the final victim and soon all would end. As the large mass fell into the dirt, the breath could be taken and moments to compose were overthrone by the thoughts of Zhan..he had been saved and by the will of a young mother.. "...Zhan.." A wimper, tears falling from the hazel eyes as the smile of relief appeared upon the visage.

Taking the small child into her embrace, the warmth had reached and the infant's cries halted as the familiar returned. Heavens had opened and smiled upon the Lady Huang to have her son safely within her arms. But, it would not be forgotten, this day changing the mother's mind and never trusting the judgement to leave the child with other's supervision. Clutching tight the kneeling figure could not console the emotions, approaching came the former soldier who had managed to gain some local's attention. They had finally been told of why the haunted figure of the Lady Huang rushed through the city and pity been taken into their hearts, a small group appeared but too late. Seeing the state the tears of the women could relate, the husbands made their move to clear the wreckage and bury the bodies far from the city gates. Encircling the young mother, it was painful to see her...but, the beauty of the soft skin was viewable as the veil she usually wore had been torn from her face. White robes now a mixture of red and brown, the face complementing this as the lip had not reached the healing stage. Soon the bruises upon her face and stomach would appear, to show all what the young mother had placed herself through to save the life of her only child. No doubt a tale of such heroinism would appear, another rumour linked to the name of Lady Huang and one that in hopes would bring Zhuge back to her...

A mother's love could never faltor and one with a strength to overthrow even the mightiest of warriors. Never to underestimate nor question, the child taking most of her Heaven and all love bestowed for the developing of a healthy future. Rising from the earth the small group that appeared aided the Lady Huang, to take her back into the city of Xinye; silently ordering the bodies of her two maids to have the burial of elder sisters...for a small shrine to be made so that every month the sacrificial rituals could be made to their spirits.....

[Li Wang]

Derek's review: A great read, full of excellent roleplay and powerfully expressed emotion. 4.5 stars out of 5.

Rewards

Word of Huang Shi's dramatic fight with the bandits spreads after she reports it to an officer in Xin Ye. Some do not believe that a woman, even one such as Huang Shi, could possibly defeat four bandits singlehandedly without taking any serious wounds, but most do, and soon the legend of The Phoenix Mother and the Captive Hatchling, a heavily allegorized account of the event, is a folktale being told in every household throughout Xin Ye and the neighboring regions.
On the way back to Xin Ye, Huang Shi encounters a generous merchant who donates 20 gold to Huang so that she may feed herself and the young Zhuge Zhan and also purchase a salve for her cuts and bruises. After this is done, she finds she has 5 gold left over.

Huang Shi: +50 rep, +5 gold