The Stag and the Dragon
By galaxyrose
Fantasy · Romance
The forest of Eternia—invisible to the human eye—has been home to magical creatures from the beginning of time. Endless thickets of silver-barked trees encircle the forest’s life force—Moon Tear Lake. And guarding that lake for almost as long as the forest has been alive is Xīyán, the immortal, ever-youthful, white stag.
Xīyán knows that Eternia’s existence relies on him guarding the lake from evil creatures. So, when the dragon lord, Jié, falls into Moon Tear, mortally wounded and on the verge of death, Xīyán knows that he shouldn't interfere, and let nature take its course on the dying dragon. However, Xīyán—as his close friend and guardian, Húlí, always says—Has a heart that is too big for his own good. And sure enough, Xīyán nurses Jié back to health, and unbeknownst to Xīyán, as Jié heals, he develops a deep desire to possess both Xīyán’s heart and body.
So, several weeks after Jié is finally healed, he asks Xīyán to become his mate. Surprised, Touched, and heartbroken, Xīyán sadly declines Jié’s hand, noting how Eternia relies on him, and Jié leaves, heartbroken, and vows to never return. And he doesn't. However, their story is for from over…
One year later, Jié’s elder brother, zāi, has learned of Moon Tear Lake’s supposed powers—one drop from the lake, grants the drinker eternal life. And now, Zāi is on a mission to obtain the lake, no matter what, and he’s ready to end anything or anyone, who gets in his way.
Desperate to keep Xīyán, the man who saved him, safe, Jié offers to speak with Xīyá, hoping that the Stag will willingly hand over the lake to the dragon clan. Of course, Xīyán, happy to see Jié, but hurt when Jié states his true reason for returning, refuses, and desperately pleads with Jié, explaining that the lake is the Eternia forest’s life force.
However, Xīyán knows that Zāi will burn the entire forest if something isn't done. Not willing to let that happen, Xīyán offers the dragon clan something even better than the lake—his own silver blood. The blood that has kept him alive all this time. And, seeing no other option, Jié spirits Xīyán away to the dragon realm.
Once there, Xīyán is immediately forced to offer a taste of his blood to zāi, who, after drinking the small dose of Xīyán‘s blood, already feels more powerful, almost as if he’s imagining it. And that is actually what he’s doing— Xīyán hasn't told anyone, but, his blood is actually worthless to anyone but him. It just causes the one who drinks it, to see and feel their dreams.
While Zāi grows drunk on Xīyán‘s blood, Jié andnd Xīyán grow closer, realizing that their love for each other still Burns. And that’s when Jié notices that Xīyán is growing weaker. But it’s not just from the loss of blood; it turns out, that without Xīyán, Moon Tear Lake is being devoured by evil creatures, causing Eternia to die, which is causing Xīyán to die with Eternia.
Despite Jié’s desperate attempts to talk sense into Zāi, Zāi continues to refuse to let Xīyán go. However, Jié is determined to save and be with the man he loves, and ignoring Xīyán’s Pleas, he makes a daring escape, taking the dying Xīyán, back to Eternia, where he promises to save Xīyán, just as Xīyán saved him.
But Zāi isn't willing to let Xīyán and Jié go that easily. In a desperate and tragic fight for survival between Xīyán, Jié, and Zāi, Jié makes the agonizing choice to end Zāi, in order to save Xīyán and Eternia. After the fight, Jié saves Xīyán in an emotional and heart-wrenching scene, and the two decide to stay in Eternia and become mates, forever and always
Xīyán: white stag spirit. True form: white stag (human form: looks 20. Silver-white hair and deer antlers)
Jié: Dragon lord. True form: Black & gold dragon (human form: Looks late 20. Black hair, gold horns, and some black & gold scales on body/face).
Húlí: Fox spirit (male): True form: Fox (human form age: looks late 20. Red hair and fox ears). Xīyán’s overprotective guardian/friend. Jié often consults Húlí through telepathy, while Xīyán is held captive in the dragon realm. Húlí aids telepathically in Jié and Xīyán’s escape.
Zāi: Dragon supreme lord. Jié’s power-hungry elder brother. True form: green dragon (human form looks late 20. black hair and green horns and scales)