Chapter 49: The Pig-Bird’s Plight

My name is Pig-Bird.

“Pig, let’s go for a walk.”

“Bbi.”

I’m a pig.

I don’t know what kind of species a pig is, but Mama says I’m a pig, so I must be.

“Oh, my pig. You’ll eat all the berries at this rate. Should I plant more cloudmilk trees?”

I eat a lot. Mama says it’s because I’m a pig.

I want to stop, but I’m too hungry to quit.

I wish I could live without eating berries, like Mama.

“Finished? Come here, let’s wipe your mouth.”

“Bbi bbi.”

This creature is my Mama.

Kind, beautiful, amazing. She’s skilled, strong, and can do so much.

My Mama is the greatest being in the world.

“Your fur smells of sap. Time for another bath soon.”

This is our dimension. Mama is its god.

It’s smaller than where I was born, but it smells like Mama everywhere, so I love it here.

The land with many trees grows my favorite berries. The field of flowers has pretty butterflies. The pond sparkles with shiny fruit.

“Come on, let’s go inside. Be good today, okay?”

“Bbi bbi.”

The big building in the center is our nest, where Mama and I live.

Mama does many tasks there, and I protect her.

If I don’t, bad things could happen to her. I must guard her well.

“I need to work hard, earn causality. Gotta cover Pig’s food bill too…”

Lately, I have a worry.

I look different from Mama. She’s smaller, with no feathers.

Her long legs climb to the second floor easily, and her long wings wipe my face. I can’t reach my face with my wings. Mama’s amazing.

Her beak is short too.

“Bbi…”

Why do I look different? I’m her baby, so why am I so big with so many feathers?

No matter how I look, we don’t seem alike, and it makes me sad.

“Time for co-parenting…”

As Mama spoke, cats appeared.

She says they’re my friends, but… I’m scared of them.

Still, she told me to get along, so I will. I always listen to Mama.

“May I entrust the kittens again?” a voice asked.

“Welcome, Catsy,” Mama replied.

“Can I come in? Can I play?”

“Mrow.”

“Do you see me going in? I’m going in!”

Watching the cats, I realized something. Small cats and big cats look different too.

I followed them to a place in the nest with lots of pretty, small balls.

I asked the playing cats.

“Bbi bbi, bbi.”

“You’re asking if we’ll become like Catsy when we grow up? Obviously!” one said.

“Bbi bbi.”

“Why are we small? Because we’re still growing kittens, duh!”

“Mrow. When we grow, we’ll be cool adult cats like Catsy. No, I’ll be cooler.”

“Funny talk! Think you’ll be the ugliest here?”

“My name’s not Mrow! Why do you all call me that?!”

So that’s it! I look different because I’m not fully grown.

I’m still a baby, so I’m big with lots of feathers. When I grow up like Mama, I’ll be small, and my feathers will be gone.

I want to grow up fast. Then I can stay closer to Mama.

“Bbi bbi. Bbi bbi.”

“What? You want to be like the master when you grow up? That makes no sense…” one cat started, but another interrupted.

“Mrow. We don’t know how you’ll grow since we’re different species. Our dimension only has dream-cats, so we don’t know others.”

“Pfft, why’d you cover my mouth? Wanna fight?”

“Go away. Play on the cat wheel.”

“I was gonna do that anyway!”

A small cat rolled a round thing. I don’t get what’s fun about it.

“Bbi bbi bbi.”

“Catsy’s dimension gathers dreams, so… I might’ve seen something like you. A bird like you turning into the master in a dream… to eat—never mind. Why ask?”

“Bbi bbi.”

“You want to be like the master? What’s so great about that weak look?”

“Bbi bbi bbi!”

“Mrow! I’m not insulting your mom. You haven’t seen how weak she is. No sharp claws or teeth—that frail look’s not for me. Your current look is better. Shouldn’t you want to be like Thunderbird, who visits often?”

“Bbi bbi. Bbi bbi bbi.”

“Thunderbird’s a bird, and you’re a pig, so it’s different? What’s that mean? Ugh, I can’t talk with kids. Too low-level.”

The cat leapt to a high place I couldn’t reach, ending our talk.

“Hmm, fair lady, how have you been?” a voice asked.

I’m beautiful. I’m Mama’s baby, so of course I am.

This one calling me beautiful must know I’m her baby.

“Bbi bbi. Bbi.”

“How to grow fast? I don’t know why you ask, but… to grow and be with me…? No, too soon for that. Friends first…”

“Bbi.”

This is a weird god. Clearly not fully grown like me and the kittens, but doesn’t play with us.

He always looks at us with longing eyes, wanting to join.

Still, he likes cloudmilk berries like me, so he knows something.

“Bbi bbi.”

“You want to be like your mom? Your mother is the master? But…”

“Bbi bbi bbi.”

“Well, if you say so, I’ll believe it.”

“Here’s your warm cloudmilk, Blue Child,” Mama said.

“I’ll go get it.”

As Blue Child left, a playing kitten approached me.

“You know he’s not grown either, right?” the kitten said.

“Bbi.”

“Catsy said young ones like us love sweet, white drinks. So that god’s still a young one too, right?”

“Bbi. Bbi bbi.”

“Right? When he grows, won’t he look like the master? He already does.”

“Mrow. Wrong. He’s a god; the master’s not. They’re different. You’re closer to her—you’re a demi-god.”

This is a kind cat. I should be less scared of it.

“Why care so much about looking different? Even if you do, the master cherishes you. That’s why she cares for you daily. Catsy loves us but doesn’t dote like her.”

This cat’s super kind. She’s right—Mama cherishes me.

I’m definitely Mama’s favorite pig.

She lets only me into her room and sleep with her.

She made me clothes like hers.

That’s how it should be. Everything Mama does should be for me.

“Look, Pig. Not scary now, right? Same clothes as you—hat, ribbon, even fluff.”

Why are you coming from there?

That was my gift from Mama!

That ugly, long, scary creature stole Mama.

“Bbi…?”

Mama, am I not your favorite pig anymore? It’s not even a pig.

Then I realized—that ugly thing has no feathers, like Mama.

Maybe Mama likes it more because it’s featherless.

“Still scary? Should I try another outfit? I made more.”

“Bbi bbi!”

That’s unfair! Why give that ugly thing more gifts? I’m your baby!

“Uh-oh…?”

I’ve been with Mama longer. I love her most.

That ugly, long, scary, sharp-toothed thing stole my place.

Mama might kick me out. It might take my bed too.

“Pig?”

I’m so sad. I can’t live without Mama.

She gives it gifts. I can’t even go to the second floor freely.

Her room was mine.

“Oh no. I didn’t expect it to sulk,” I said.

Bernell, staring at the sulky pig-bird, spoke up.

“It’s upset about sharing your attention. Aileen, you used to sulk like that. When Charlotte and I joined the same academy, you locked yourself in your room for three days in protest.”

“I’m not Aileen. Ugh, this is tricky. I tried to ease things since Pig’s so scared of the snake, but it got worse.”

I watched the pig-bird, sobbing into its cushion, and pondered.

How did I cheer up Yijin when she sulked?

She wasn’t too fussy, usually calming down with time.

But sometimes, I’d buy snacks or toys.

“All we have is cloudmilk berries, and toys need causality. How do I fix this?”

“Leave it to me. Who do you think soothed you when you sulked?” Bernell said.

“You, I guess. But will Pig listen to you?”

Our pig… kind of ignores Bernell. Sometimes treats him like he’s not there.

In its eyes, I’m the only one who matters.

Bernell shrugged confidently and approached Pig.

“You love Aileen a lot. So do I.”

“Bbi.”

“I have a proper name—Kongyun.”

“Leave this to me and finish your rest.”

Bernell doing something nice? That’s new.

I decided to leave Pig to him and focus on my mind cultivation.

“See? Pig’s still not ready for you,” I said to the snake, opening the café door to shoo it out.

The snake, head drooped, slithered out slowly, looking dejected.