She didn't take a horse. She didn't carry a banner. Instead, Xinying left the Capital City of Daiyu by the back lane after coming to a decision and didn't bother look behind her once.
Yaozu had stopped on the ridge where she had left him. He understood what her priority was when she told him to turn back with the boy, that the boy must be protected.
Even Shadow had paced three times in a tight circle, restless and protective before she caught his muzzle in both hands and pressed her forehead to his. "Guard what's mine," she'd said, quiet as frost. He whined once before giving a very human like nod, and returned to the road that led home.
And still, she kept walking forward.
Walking by herself gave Xinying more time than was probably healthy to spend inside her own head.
