Desperate Fans

Claudius leads Lan Zhan onward, amused to think this may be the only time he'll ever have to slow his pace to accommodate him. He enjoys it, in truth, the ambling gait of a parent with a toddler in tow, though Lan Zhan's steps are smoother than most toddlers'. It makes him notice parts of the path he'd come to rush past, after learning the fastest way through the woods without tripping over roots and tree trunks at every turn. On occasion, he gently lifts Lan Zhan over an obstacle, or points out the growing pattern of lichen on a rock. He names more trees for Lan Zhan, turning strangers into friends, until the trees give way to thicketed bamboo. "Dost know this one?" he asks, a playful light in his eyes.