Meeting Grandfather on the Snowy Mountain
The night was deep and quiet.
“Cyaow… cyu.”
I grabbed the end of the wooden stick with my mouth and gave it a gentle bite.
Crack.
“Cyu…?”
Wait a second.
The resistance that shot up from my jaw was way more than I expected.
Even dry wood should snap or leave marks on teeth, but this thing had zero scratches.
What kind of wood is tougher than the Earth Dragon’s bone?
My pride took a serious hit—my teeth, which crush the Earth Dragon’s bone without blinking, couldn’t even leave a mark.
“Cyaang!”
Alright, time for a real test!
I bared my eyes wide and clamped down with every ounce of the strength I used to eat meat.
Crunch-crunch… bang!
“Cyaaargh?!”
Ouch! This thing is insanely hard!
I howled and spat the stick out onto the floor.
My gums stung like I’d had every tooth pulled.
I couldn’t stand the idea of losing my teeth and having to deal with that again.
“Cyaang!”
Come on, you cheeky stick—you win, or I win! Let’s settle this!
I puffed my chest and wrapped sacred energy around my front paws, then slammed the stick down with all my might.
Thud!
A dull explosion rang out, and the floor of the princess’s palace shuddered with a heavy boom.
“Eek… cyu.”
Ah, my poor paws are killing me…
As the dust settled, the wooden stick sat there untouched, not a single scratch, perfectly intact on top of the cat tower.
“Cyuung.”
Not happening. No matter how hard I try, it’ll just hurt my paws more. I’ll be exposed, so I’m not doing it.
My interest died the second the stick stopped reacting after all my chewing and hitting.
Without even a reaction, this isn’t fun anymore. It’s like shouting at a wall.
“Cyu.”
I was so offended my nose snorted hard, and I whipped my head away.
Then, whether Kailian and Haetae were watching or not, I dragged the Earth Dragon’s bone I’d been keeping at my side over to my front paws with a swipe.
Swish, bump.
“Cyuung…”
Alright, behave and just lick the bone quietly.
I started gnawing and licking the Earth Dragon’s bone to soothe my wounded pride.
Deep into the night.
“Cyuuwuu…”
I’m sleepy… maybe because I was so excited today, I’m even more tired than usual…
I yawned so wide my jaws felt ready to split, then stood up from my spot and grabbed the hard, cheeky wooden stick that had been rolling around the floor with my teeth.
No matter what, it’s a treasure from the palace’s treasure vault that Grandpa gave me. I can’t just leave it lying around anywhere—I have to keep it somewhere safe, even if I can’t chew and play with it right now.
Tap-tap.
I clamped the stick in my mouth and lightly climbed the cat tower.
In my most treasured fourth-floor penthouse, under the super-soft pillow, I carefully wedged the wooden stick away.
“Cyuung.”
If I hide it here, no one will steal it.
I tapped the hidden stick with my front paw to double-check, then finally relaxed and jumped down from the tower to head back to the bed.
In Kailian’s arms on the bed, I hugged Lumia tightly and fell asleep.
Whiiiing—
“Cyu?”
I opened my eyes again in that painfully familiar and comforting place.
Cold, sharp wind brushing my nose, soft snow cushioning my paws.
I snapped my eyes open wide.
An endless expanse of snow-covered mountain stretched before me, beautiful and pure.
It had been so long since I could visit Grandpa’s realm.
“Cyaang!”
Grandpa! Are you there? I’m here!
I wagged my tail excitedly at the thought of seeing him, then bounded around the snowy mountain with joyful leaps.
I circled familiar spots, sniffing for Grandpa’s scent, and called out to him earnestly.
“Cyu! Cyaang!”
Grandpa! Where are you, Grandpa! I’m here!
This place is the best because of Grandpa and Mom.
If I were alone, this would just be a cold snowy mountain.
“Cyuuw…!”
Grandpa!!
[Oh, here you are, little one. You’ve been through quite a lot, haven’t you.]
I shouted at the top of my lungs toward the blizzard, and from beyond the snowstorm came a voice that echoed like thunder across the mountains—huge, majestic, and so familiar.
It was Grandpa’s warm and sturdy voice.
“Cyuung!”
Grandpa, you were there?
I dashed full speed across the snowy field toward the voice.
The raging blizzard cleared, revealing the entrance to a colossal ice cave.
And right in front of it stood Grandpa, the size of a small mountain, smiling down at me.
“Cyuung!”
Grandpa!
In one leap I ran to him and threw my entire body into his massive, fluffy front paw.
Squish.
“Cyuuwung… cyaang.”
I missed you so much, Grandpa! I wonder why it’s been so long since we last met…
I rubbed my cheeks against his front paw, pouring out all the longing and joy of not seeing him for so long.
Even in dreams, the warmth and comfort of my real family felt warmer than anything in the real world.
[Hahaha… kid. I missed you terribly too.]
Grandpa gently lifted his huge paw and stroked my head with tender affection.
“You’ve been doing well, haven’t you? Any injuries?
“Cyu! Cyu!”
Of course! I’ve been doing super well! My butlers are taking great care of me!
I rested my chin on Grandpa’s front paw and began spilling out all the exciting stories from these past days.
I wish Grandpa and Mom could know even a little bit more about me.
“Cyaang! Cyuuw!”
I beat all the knights with just this one paw! “Whoa… amazing. At your age you were already that strong? Just like my grandson.”
“Cyuuw…”
Grandpa’s praise made me tuck my ears back, shy and embarrassed, and I hid my head in his paw.
“Cyuung…”
It’s embarrassing to say it out loud…
I rubbed my front paw against his for a moment, then looked up and told him everything Kailian had scolded me for.
“Cyuung.”
No one got hurt, but Kailian got really mad and scolded me… she even banned snacks!
[Haha, that human child must have been terrified. Since she doesn’t understand our divine beasts well, that’s probably why. Understandable, I suppose.]
Grandpa carefully licked my head and gave me a big hug.
“Cyu…”
I can’t eat snacks either… but I need to eat snacks five times a day!
“Five times…? Five snacks a day?”
“Cya?”
Isn’t that about average?
Grandpa let out a thoughtful hum, then started muttering to himself.
“…I guess it does make sense to cut it down a little… She’s right about that kid…”
“Cyu?”
What are you mumbling about, Grandpa?
[Nothing important. So, anything else on your mind? You look like you have a lot to say.]
“Cyu.”
Oh, yeah. I also found a weird wooden stick in the palace treasure vault. Haetae said she felt a divine beast’s aura coming from it. Do you know anything, Grandpa?
“… Is it maybe a flute with a hole?”
“Cyuung…?”
Yes, it is!
Grandpa’s face turned serious for a moment, then he sighed softly and gently pressed my head.
His usual affection was there, but his worry for his mischievous grandson was even stronger.
“If you’ve already pulled it out, keep it safe… there will come a time when you need it again.”
“Cyu!”
Yes!
I told Grandpa about something else that had been bothering me.
“Cyu…”
Grandpa, but… can I not see Mom yet?
[……]
Grandpa’s face hardened at my words as he looked down at me.
Did I say something I shouldn’t have?
But the gentle grooming and warmth from back then still ached so much.
It had only been one year, yet every single night I still thought about it.
[…Sorry. Not yet…]
“Cyuung.”
It’s okay. Just stop if it’s too hard for you, Grandpa.
I cut off Grandpa’s words before he could finish, then lay on my back with my belly exposed against his front paw.
I still miss Mom, but I don’t want to break rules just to see her.
That would only make Grandpa more uncomfortable and Mom suffer even more.
“Cyu…”
Grandpa, does the bread I sent Mom eat it well?
I deliberately changed the subject.
I didn’t want to see Grandpa’s troubled face, and I wanted to hear his opinion on the bread I sent.
[Yes… thanks to you, she’s been eating it wonderfully. Your mother has been staring at the bread the whole day, wondering how to devour it.]
“Cyuung.”
It’s because I send it every day, saying to eat it deliciously…
[That’s the point, Blanc. Your mother misses you more than anyone. She loves you more than the entire world.]
“Cyuung.”
Hehe, I know!
Grandpa looked at me silently for a moment, then tapped my head a few times.
Because of the huge size difference, every tap sent my nose bumping into his front paw.
[Blanc, grow a little bigger. When you’re a bit bigger, you’ll be able to see your mother without dreaming. So eat well, grow strong, and don’t be sad.]
Grandpa licked my nose gently as he continued.
[Then you’ll be able to look her in the eyes with your own, and hug her in your arms. So cheer up, eat, and grow.]
I jumped up and down happily, cheering.
But with Grandpa’s mysterious promise still hanging in the air, the blizzard in the snowy mountain dream began to fade.
Time to return to reality had come.
As my body started dissolving into light, a strange silhouette flickered behind Grandpa’s back.
I didn’t need her to speak—I already knew it was my mother.
No other words were spoken.
“Cyuung!”
See you later!