Tatsu groaned as he opened his eyes, finding himself lying on rocky ground surrounded by a thick, cold fog. Last thing he remembered was having a meeting with Kamui, Felicia, Flora, and the knight Silas.

According to Kamui, their father had ordered her along with Xander and Elise to travel to the nation Mokushu to meet with it's leader to finalize a proposed alliance, while Camilla and Leo were being sent to Izumo to negotiate with the neutral nation. Felicia than reported on the events that had transpired in Fort Steiger before asking to be excused, still shaken from what she had had to do. Flora had followed Felicia to comfort her sister, while Kamui and Silas had to leave so as to prepare for their mission, Lilith using her powers to wake them up.

Shortly after they left, Tatsu began to feel a strange exhaustion, and passed out shortly after lying in the bed Lilith provided for him.

And now he was here. Picking himself up, he was pleased to discover that where ever he was, he wasn't "awake". Trying to look through the fog, he could make out what he assumed were large cliffs, meaning he was in some kind of a valley. Taking a few tentative steps forward, Tatsu held out his hands so he could feel his way through the fog.

"~Awake I see little dragon.~" A melodic voice said, large but soothing.

Tatsu took a step back, looking around to find the source of the voice. "Who's there!?" He called.

"~Someone who has waited such a long time to meet you.~" The voice sang. "~Here, let me show myself.~"

Tatsu raised an eyebrow, looking around in confusion only to be pushed back by a large gust of wind. Once his vision cleared, his eyes widened as the fog began encircling him at a rapid pace. Pretty soon the fog began to dissipate, revealing a VERY large creature hiding inside of it.

Tatsu could only stare wide eyed at the creature, awe struck by the majesty it radiated as it encircled him and looked down at him. The creature had the body of a snake, a green coloring to it's scales. Strangely though, it was also covered in blue feathers with red tips, running along it's body from the tip of it's tail to the base of it's neck where it encircled it's head like a mane. Two large wings, like those of a bird, rose up to lift the creature as it stared down at Tatsu with the eyes of a snake.

The strangest thing of all though was that despite the creature's immense size, large enough it could encircle a building, Tatsu felt an aura of gentleness from the creature, a strange sense of kinship that promised him that no harm would come to him in the creature's presence.

"W-What...what are you?" Tatsu muttered.

"~I am the Singing Wind, the Melodious Serpent.~" The creature said, it's large mouth barely moving. "~I am the God of Music, and the Dragon of Wind. I am Quetzochitl, and I am here to sing with you on your path Tatsu.~"

Tatsu's eyes widened. "How...how do you know my name?" He asked.

The creature...Quetzochitl tilted it's head. "~Little dragon, there is very little of you we do not know. But it is not my place to tell you the answers which you seek, nor do I hold the time.~"

Tatsu stared in confusion. "Than what are you here for!?" He called.

"~To be but a lyric in your song.~" Quetzochitl responded. "~Listen well, for I have not long left. You must journey to the land of Izumo, lest a sour note darkens a joyous tune. It is there you will than be pointed to the Illuminating Light.~"

"Izumo? Illuminating Light? What do you mean?" Tatsu asked, only for the fog to begin creeping back in.

"~Just a little mystery. My time draws near, and there is another I must sing to.~" Quetzochitl said, an amused glint in it's eye. "~Just know little dragon you have no idea how large of a fish you are in the pond you live in. When you awaken, you must meet with Fuga. Tell him that the song of the wind blows most gentle.~"

"When I...awaken?" Tatsu asked.

Quetzochitl nodded, his body fully covered by fog. "~I bring a gift, one from a sister who wishes you to know her name, but asks that you keep it only in your heart.~"

Tatsu could only stare in confusion. "A...sister?" He asked.

Quetzochitl nodded again before bringing his giant head to look down at Tatsu. "~Skathi, Dragon of Ice and Goddess of Health.~" He than breathed a frosty breath over Tatsu, the fog moving into envelop Tatsu before it was all he could see and breathe.

"What...what is this!?" Tatsu called, the cold enveloping his bones.

"~Be careful Tatsu.~" Quetzochitl's voice called. "~Our strength is not what it once was. This is all the help we can give right now.~"

"Wait! I still don't understand!" Tatsu called out.

"~I wish I had more time.~" Quetzochitl's voice said sadly, slowly beginning to fade. He said something else, but his voice was so soft that Tatsu couldn't make out what he said, The next thing he knew, his vision went white before going dark.

...

Hinoka ran into her mother's room, the little four year old excited to be able to see her Mother. Her mother had been cooped up in her room ever since Sakura had been born due to poor health, but after what felt like an eternity to the girl she had been told by her father she could go visit her mother. Apparently there was someone her father wanted them to meet, though Hinoka had barely heard that part before her little feet carried her through the palace.

"Mommy!" The girl cried as she ran up to the futon where her mother lied, a bright smile on her face mirrored by that of the woman across from her.

"Little Noka." Her mother said softly. "Have you come all this way to visit me?"

"Uh huh!" Hinoka said before noticing the bundle in her mother's arms.

Raising an eyebrow, Hinoka looked down at the bundle only to find a pair of orange eyes staring back at her. The color stood out in bright contrast to the pale skin, and Hinoka couldn't help but stare at them. After a moment, Hinoka looked up to her mother in confusion.

"Mama?" She asked. "Who is this?"

Her mother giggled. "This is little Tatsu. He's the son of Lady Mikoto there."

Hinoka looked over to see a woman with long, dark hair giving a small smile at the girl, another bundle held in her arms. Hinoka quickly recognized the woman from the small meeting they had had a few days earlier, and instinctively the shy girl hid behind her mother who only giggled at the action. The sound was also mirrored by the dark haired woman who looked over at Hinoka's mother.

"She's shy." The woman said.

Her mother smiled before looking at Hinoka. "No need to be shy Noka dear. Why don't you come say hi to Tatsu, hm?" her mother than lightly shook the bundle, causing a small cooing sound.

Hinoka was torn between her childlike fear and curiosity, only for curiosity to eventually win. Slightly leaning out, Hinoka again looked down at the orange robs in the bundle, this time also noticing the pretty dark blue color of the baby's hair. Hinoka also heard a strange, raspy sound coming from the infant, causing her to look at her mother in confusion.

"What's wrong with him Mother?" She asked.

Her mother gave a strange smile. "Little Tatsu and Mother have much in common. Both of us here are a little sick at the moment is all."

"What!?" Hinoka exclaimed, eyes widening. "But..but you're going to get better...right?"

Her mother giggled, leaning down to nuzzle Hinoka hair with her nose. "Of course we are little Noka. Everyone gets sick every once in a while, just right now it's mine and Tatsu's turn. Hey...do you want to hold him?"

"Huh?" Hinoka asked in surprise. She had held both Takumi and Sakura already a few times, but she had never before held a baby that wasn't one of her siblings.

Her mother looked over the the dark haired woman. "That is, if it's okay with you Lady Mikoto?"

The woman smiled and gave a nod. "Of course. She can also hold Kamui over here if she wants to." She than slightly lifted her own bundle, a more energetic coo coming from the bundle.

Her mother looked at Hinoka. "Well Hinoka?"

Hinoka gave a nervous gulp before nodding, firmly planting herself down into a sitting position. Ryoma had told her she should always sit down when holding Takumi or Sakura so as not to fall or drop them, and while Hinoka didn't know why he thought she would do something like that she still obeyed her older brother. Once she was comfortable, Hinoka held out her arms to her mother, a strange excitement building in her chest as she realized she was considered old enough to responsibly hold a baby other than her siblings.

Her mother carefully placed the bundle in Hinoka's arms. Almost immediately Hinoka noticed how light Tatsu was compared to Takumi and Sakura, which was weird considering he was wrapped in even more blankets than the other two normally were. There also seemed to be dark splotches on the blanket around Tatsu's face. Before Hinoka could investigate further however, Tatsu gave a loud cry as before slightly shuffling around.

Hinoka almost began to panic at the sudden motion, worried she had somehow done something wrong only for Mikoto's surprised gasp to draw her attention. "Oh my, he likes you Hinoka."

Hinoka's eyes widened. "Huh? Me?" She asked in amazement.

Mikoto nodded with a smile. "Why, just listen to how happy he sounds!"

Hinoka blinked before looking down at Tatsu, seeing the smile on the baby's face. For some reason, the sight made Hinoka feel very happy, and she clutched the bundle tighter to her, giving a big smile down at the baby in her arms.

...

Hinoka groaned as she opened her eyes, wincing at the stinging pain that assaulted her eyes. Squinting her eyes to look at the window, she saw the barest hint of light, meaning she'd only gotten a few hours of sleep at most. Lifting herself out of bed, she did a quick stretch and felt a satisfying pop in her back. Rolling her shoulders, Hinoka reflected on the dream she'd just had, a memory she hadn't though about in some time. She didn't know it at the time, but that was her first time meeting her other little brother.

After that first meeting, not a day went by where she didn't go to see Tatsu. Contrary to what she said, neither her mother or Tatsu ever really got better, and there were several days even after her mother's death Hinoka and the rest of their family feared Tatsu would follow. But somehow something even worse happened, Nohr taking both Tatsu and Kamui away, filling their heads with lies and causing them to forget about their true heritage. It was only by the Dawn Dragon's grace that the two had returned. That, or a curse of the Dusk Dragon.

Queen Mikoto was dead, Kamui taken again by Nohr, war on the horizon, and Tatsu...

Hinoka shook her head. She had pondered these events enough. Quickly getting out of bed, she walked over to a bedside dresser that had a wash basin on top and splashed some water over her face. Water was scarce when they had arrived, and Hinoka didn't want to use what little was left on a bath when it could be put to better use. She'd just have to hope for a stream on the way to the Wind Tribe.

Once she put on her armor and boots, she quietly exited her room and made her way down the hall. Just before she'd laid down to rest, she along with Yukimaru had discussed what the next move should be, especially with reports of Takumi and Ryoma's disappearance. They eventually decided on Hinoka leading a small force to relocate Tatsu to the Wind Tribe before Hinoka would than investigate Takumi's last known location at the border of Izumo. Yukimaru would make a trip to the Capitol before returning with supplies to outfit Steiger to make it a more defensible location in case of another assault.

Hinoka wasn't supposed to be up for another hour or two, but now that she was there was nothing wrong with getting an early start to things. First place to stop would be the makeshift stables where her pegasus was being kept, make sure he was taken care of. Afterwards she'd have to get her own things packed and stored on the wagon. But first there was one stop she had to make, a normal part of her daily routine and all the more important now after the events of the previous night.

Giving the door a light knock, Hinoka quietly opened the door to Tatsu's room. "Tatsu?" She quietly called. "Good morning."

There wasn't any response, though not that Hinoka was expecting one. She had stopped by more to just revel in the fact that she had been able to keep her promise. The Nohrians had come, come to take Tatsu away from Hoshido again. But they had been able to stop the Nohrians, and there was no reason to think they wouldn't be able to do it again. And once she found Takumi and Ryoma, it would only be a matter of time til they found Kamui and brought her home.

"We had quite the busy night last night." Hinoka said to herself as she walked over to the wash basin near Tatsu, wringing out the rag so she could soak it in fresh water. Once the rag was damp, she walked over to begin wiping his forehead. "Felicia is reall amazing, you should have-"

Hinoka nearly dropped the rag in shock when she looked down at Tatsu's face and saw two familiar, beautifully orange orbs looking back at her, and tears welled in her eyes when she heard the soft, raspy voice that followed.

"Hi...noka?" Tatsu asked.

...

And now Tatsu is awake again, but what will come of that is another matter for later. Next chapter we will be returning to Kamui and her own journey. I decided to make this chapter a bit more short and simple to help get it out faster, and to also tease the involvement of other characters that will show up later in this story. Quetzochitl and Skathi are only the beginning.

As much as I would like to say more though, I have to go to work. Have a Happy Halloween everyone! And hope you like the new title.

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