XiaoJiJi the Shengxiao

175 of 183
XiaoJiJi
100% Happy
Owner
crayons
Stolen
1 Feb 2017
Hatched
28 Apr 2018
22,762 +1
Views
2,253 +2
Clicks
2,278
Feeds
Recent Feeders
Pot Luck

I tumbled onto the ground and emitted an involuntary squeak while a wonderfully warm, soft tongue licked off the gooey layer of slime. Other warm, furry things squirmed around me, squealing, and I could only distinguish blurry brown figures in the blinding light. My belly growled, and I scrambled towards the source of warmth and the aroma of rich milk, attempting unsuccessfully to push away the snouts of what I then sensed to be my siblings. Gradually the four dogs around me came into focus, and, despite them smelling and feeling just like me, I was disappointed about their presence. I wanted my mother all to myself.
I grew. Slowly. Definitely not as quickly as my bigger and stronger siblings. It seemed my luck was out and I was the runt. One day, I was trying feebly to shoulder my way through to suckle when suddenly the path in front of me opened up. My brother had been snatched up, up away into the air, followed by my sister, and then, one by one, the rest of my siblings. Triumphant that all the milk was mine at last, I wagged my tail furiously as I clambered to drink the warm milk. I managed a single long satisfying pull on my mother’s teat before, out of the blue, a large hand scooped me up and took me away from my mother. I saw a look of longing sadness in her wet eyes and she growled menacingly before the rough hand squished me into a cold plastic carrier and slammed the wiry cage door closed. My mother whimpered softly behind the metal bars as my siblings and I were carried away.
There was darkness, a bumping motion and the unmistakable smell of fear and ammonia. When we saw light again, through the bars of the carrier, we could see a large warehouse and rows and rows of cages, stacked on top of each other. It was very noisy, with other dogs in surrounding cages barking and howling all around us. One of these cages was to be our home for the next few weeks. We were crammed together in extreme fear and hunger. A man checked on us once in a week, and when he went past with his pen and notepad, he would mutter, “Labrador Retriever pups, doin’ good...” and continue on. Soon, however, our fur became sticky and wet with drool, matted with stool and urine.
One dark night, I dreamed I was being lifted by a warm hand and was flying, and when I woke up, I found myself clean and soft, my tangled fur groomed straight, my long nails trimmed, with a couple of other pups like me in a roomy, padded enclosure. There were three walls and a glass window that looked out onto the street. All day, we could see happy humans strolling past contentedly. Occasionally, they would stop and look at us, making smiley faces and tapping the glass. I had my own food bowl, water bowl, and a lot of toys. Even though I knew I was in a better place, I still paced back and forth anxiously, hoping to be as free as the humans outside.
There was a nice lady called Victoria, who owned the place. She fed me and took me outside to “do my business” and play every day. Thanks to her scrumptious food full of good fatty meat and nutrients, I felt I was finally starting to bulk up and put on weight. I felt confident that if I ever saw my brothers or sisters again they wouldn’t call me a runt nor be able to push me out of the way anymore.
Victoria’s own dog, a male Collie called Max, always chatted with me about how luxurious living a life as a pet was: “It’s paradise! You get your own soft, fluffy bed in a nice, cosy house, unlimited water, food and treats like steak - my absolute favourite - and you get your own bones and toys, and when they pet you it feels amazing! They stroke your head, rub your belly… You even get to go out to the park for walks, to play fetch, where you can socialise with other chosen dogs!” the collie yapped. “You’re going to love it!” I closed my eyes and imagined myself living as a pet. I was looking forward to this heaven.
I was, however, beginning to give up hope that I would get rescued. When families came in to observe us, I always chased my tail and let out yips, hoping that it would catch their attention. Some picked me up and cuddled me for a little while, but it was always another dog that got taken away, and they never seemed interested enough to bring me home with them. Max reassured me that I would be fine, “It’s just pot luck who gets chosen. Don’t worry. Some puppies get chosen right away, some have to wait. Don’t worry. Eventually, everyone gets taken out. Relax. It’s just pot luck.” he repeated.
Then one day the door chimes rang, and a fat man thumped in. He smelt strange, but he seemed particularly interested in me. He picked me up, turned me over, rubbed my belly and even massaged my legs and paws with expert care. He said something to Victoria, gave her some paper, and then I was put in a kennel, and the man took me with him! Max was right!
After a trip in the back of a van, we arrived at an apartment. The man put me down, opened the kennel, scooped me up and he whispered, “Beautiful dog, beautiful dog.” Even though I could not understand his words, I wagged my tail so fast I feared it might have broken. He laid me back down gently inside the kennel, and I dozed off peacefully for the first time, calmed by the thought that I was going to be loved and taken care of at last.
When I woke up, I was out of the kennel and in a room with all sorts of other dogs. “Hi, I’m Lucky. I came just a couple of days ago.” a female Golden Retriever beside me yipped.
I chatted with Lucky for a while, about how I suffered and how I was looking forward to having a new life here. Lucky told me about how the man helps us find forever homes, how he takes a few well-behaved dogs to his private room, and how the lucky ones get picked and brought away by visitors. I listened, hoping that someday in the near future, I would be the chosen one.
Just then, the man opened the door, and after a short pause, he scooped up a group of Cocker Spaniels next to us. The six proud dogs shot us a smug look as they were brought out. I heard a few muffled squeals coming from the man’s private room, and felt a pang of jealousy.
The next day, the man came in again and scanned the room. I met his steady gaze. The next thing I knew, Lucky and I were picked up! There was a glimmer of excitement in Lucky’s eyes as we were carried out. “Time for your bath!” the man said in his strange language. I tipped my head to the side, unable to comprehend his message.
The man marched us towards swinging metal doors. He gave the doors a sharp shove with his foot and in one split second I took in the whole room.
I took in the lady in a white, stained coat who was tending a large steaming metal pot. I took in the stench of fear and cleaning products which could not quite mask another smell - that of boiled meat. I took in a pile of fur in the corner which was specked with dots of red. I took in a metal bar that was hung with, like so many large and gruesome fruit on a hellish tree, six brown hairless carcasses. I realised I was peeing all over myself.
The man was binding Lucky mouth with duct tape as she tried frantically to speak. I let out a petrified yelp as he pitched her to the woman who dropped Lucky straight into her metal pot. I watched helplessly, my eyes wide with terror, as she pushed Lucky down with a thick stick and placed a large wooden board over the top. There was a horrific high-pitched singing coming from the pot. The pot shook and the woman held the board down firmly. Lucky’s stifled cries of pain died away as the shaking subsided. Steam began to rise from the pot, filling the air with the smell of boiling meat and singeing fur.
The man leisurely scratched his belly where it protruded from his too-tight vest. He turned to face me, strode over, reached into the cage and grabbed me by the muzzle.
“Your turn.”



About Shengxiao Eggs

Shengxiao eggs have a rather sophisticated appearance about them. They are as fragile as they are beautiful.

About the Shengxiao Creature

An ancient species of landfowl, the Shengxiao was first domesticated thousands of years ago by an early Arkian civilization. The purpose of its introduction is presumed to have been in response to predators targeting livestock; underneath a Shengxiao's elegant exterior is a carefully-crafted muscular system capable of delivering powerful strikes with its razor-sharp spurs. The unsuspected offensive capacity of Shengxiao helps to dissuade the predators most commonly found patrolling farmlands.

Very strict regulations have been implemented on Shengxiao usage and breeding because of the sacred connotations associated with it. Not only is the slaughter and consumption of Shengxiao considered heavily taboo on the island, it is punishable by law.

Grand-scale festivals are held near the beginning of each new year as a means to pay tribute to the Shengxiao.