19.iii Ripe Peach Mountain

~ Bodhi ~

“What the hell am I doing?”

It was the first time Bodhi had thought those words, let alone spoken them aloud in how many seasons, only the Great Sage would know.

Down in the cool, dark valley, the crickets were on full blast. It wouldn’t be long before the squeaking orchestra became background noise. Bodhi found some shallow water and knelt before it. They splashed their face a little, as if it would do any good to clear their head.

“What am I doing?” They repeated, this time looking up at the plum-toned sky. Ripe Peach Mountain blocked most of the view. Bodhi sighed and looked back down at the water and beyond at the stretch of valley. They went to shrug their robe off when they felt the attention of someone in the background.

It went against every instinct Bodhi had to not leap into a defensive position. Yet despite that hauntingly enlarged gaze and the ghostly stealth with which she approached them, Bodhi was certain that the spider spirit would not attack.

They swallowed before allowing their sleeve to slip. Then they threw a teasing smirk over their shoulder.

“Liking the view?”

Bodhi noticed that Anari had exchanged her festive garb for something more plain and sporty. Her cascade of braids swept her shoulders as she tilted her head, regarding Bodhi like one would a gnat.

Steeling themself, Bodhi let the robe slip further. “Come a little closer and I’ll show something you haven’t seen before.”

Though all of the spider’s attention was on them, nothing in her oversized pupils suggested that she was the least bit curious about Bodhi’s anatomy. She studied them for another beat before clicking her tongue in what might have been annoyance or dismissal before stalking off into the misty night.

Bodhi watched her leave, envious of her ability to move without disturbing the grass or even the moisture in the air it seemed.

Eventually, the monk went back to removing their clothes. They did not plan on staying much longer among spirits who clearly didn’t want them around. But they wanted to at least smell halfway decent before bidding farewell to the only spirit in the valley who had given them a chance.