And I won't be denied by you, the animal inside of you

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All his life, Huaisang has been meant for the dragon.

He had been raised to be a sacrifice, always protected and pampered, and all the more so because he was the illegitimate second son of the sect leader. Spoiled thoroughly in preparation of his fate, Huaisang took every advantage of it, taking lessons in art and dance and neglecting his lessons in swordplay and history. Even though the sacrifice was meant to die for the god, his people knew that a sacrifice was meant to be the very best of their people, and that meant that the sacrifices had every opportunity to master skills and learn literature.

Whimsical as Huaisang was, he often snuck out and slipped into the nearby forests, stalking birds for days and then bringing home the captured beauties or their eggs and raising them. It pleased him to have a room full of caged lovely things, since he was also a caged lovely thing.

Even though it was only a week before he was fated to be given to the dragon, Huaisang slipped out with a bag over his shoulder. It would take one day to get to the dragon's mountain on foot, and one day back. He'd sleep in a tree and that would be fine. All he wanted was to see the dragon before his fate. He couldn't bear to wait any longer. He'd already waited so many years.

All of his clothing made him look lovely and vulnerable, so he looked as usual like a bodhisattva in flowing fabric and silver jewelry. He moved quietly, even though it was difficult to impossible for him to be inconspicuous in the forest.