Note: please comment on how the 'transitions' affect the story

The bell dangling from the door jingled as Lao Shi entered. It was a small restaurant but pleasant. He hid his chuckled. Just a few years ago he would have scoffed at its country feel but he didn't really mind those things anymore. Guess he wasn't quite the hothead like he was. He wondered how Fu actually felt about the lack of city life around here. He was probably happy about getting away from his debts.

He tried to focus. He didn't see Chang anywhere. Perhaps she had changed as much as he supposed he had. With the incident in Hong Kong with the Dark Dragon, Susan unexpectedly coming along . . . memories of yesterday flooded his mind. The way some of the young Kludde were hunted down - the Kludde didn't keep order in the pack that way. And yet, when he had interrupted one of the fights where several of the coup members had ganged up on an adolescent pup something didn't feel right. The things they had said unnerved him as they had encircled them in a tight circle, singing low and openly threatening taunts, snapping at their legs and tails. Fangs bared, long and slim, clacking against each other. He could remember the pup trembling as it hid under his form as he had tried to catch his breath. By then he had already fought off others that had attacked the hum-

"Lao Shi! Over here!"

His attention was called over to a booth. He couldn't see the occupant's face but the voice was familiar. Passing a bubbly waitress, her arms carrying a heavy tray of streaming plates, he took a seat in the booth opposite of the young woman. He could clearly remember that smirk when he first met her that night in Hong Kong. "Chang." He smiled back.

"It's been a long time."

"Indeed." He paused. "When I got your letter I was curious. What brings you to the mainland?"

"You," she took a sip of her tea.

He hid his surprised reaction. "Oh?"

"For several years now you have been staying out of the limelight. That is not like you at all. You use to go to all the parties but I haven't heard once about anyone seeing you at your old clubs haunts." Her smirk returned. "Avoiding reporters have got you a reputation for hiding something."

"Family matters." She calmly looked up at him. "I needed space to . . . figure things out. With my duties as the Chinese Dragon and these matters I have not had much free time." A smirk of his own crawled across his face. "I bet the ladies miss me."

"Oh, they do. They eat up any rumors they can get about you."

"I do not know if I should be flattered."

"It's a double edged sword," the tea cup barely scuffed on the table as she placed it down. "Your main territory was in Hong Kong. Tell me, why are you this far inland?"

"Business – professional and personal."

"Care to elaborate."

"There has been trouble brewing and I have been trying to find a way to settle it."

"Is that the professional or personal business?"

He paused. He didn't know if he should talk about the witness sightings here. Eventually he decided he would work up to it. He didn't necessarily have to involve Chang. "I assume you heard what happened to the Kludde pack camping in the ChengShi Pass yesterday."

There was a glint in her eyes. "Yes. News of the incident should be reaching the coastline by now."

"The coastline?"

"Like you said: trouble is brewing. The Peoples of the Magical World are getting edgy. Especially in the Eastern Sectors." She watched a frown spread across his face.

His gaze settled to the table. "Perhaps I am not doing enough to keep the peace."

"I'm sure you're doing the job to the best of your abilities."

He coyly glanced around, his decision made. If she agreed, he could really use Chang's backup. He just needed to make sure rumors didn't start and cause fears to get out of control. "In addition, I have intel that there is a possibility that the Clan is encroaching into the province," he whispered.

"You mean rumors."

"I mean witnesses to suspicious activities. Fu and I-"

"Oh, don't tell me that dog is still following you around." Chang's expression clearly displayed her dislike.

"He has proven himself many times to me since we first met him. I trust him to have my back."

"I know his type. How much of that trouble he has helped you with did he cause?"

He paused.

The next line was cut off as the waiter stopped at the table. "XianSheng (Sir), nin yao dian shen me (what would you like to order)?"

"Ah. Yi bei molihua cha (One cup of jasmine tea)."

"Shi."

They both watched as the woman waltzed away, a chirpy but jolly tune whistling from her beak.

Lao Shi returned his focus to Chang. "I trust him. That is all I need." There was a pause as Chang took a sip, seemingly absorbing this tidbit of information.

"And you are telling me this why?"

"I have a bad feeling."

"Oh?"

"It is as if something is stirring up both the Clan and certain species of the Peoples. Species with valuable traits."

Chang held her instinct to fidget. "You do not think it's . . . him, do you?"

"It cannot be. It shouldn't. He was taken down but then again no body was recovered from the bay."

"Then where does that leave us?"

"If anything happens I could use your help either as backup or-or . . . as a line to the Dragon Council."

"That bad?"

"Not necessarily but I do not want to take a chance when the Clan is apparently organizing for something."

"So-"

"Aiwen!" A satyrs abruptly swung open the door. "Aiwen! Get the whip. That darn bull has escaped." He teetered over the counter to peer into the back kitchen. The waitress urgently sat down her tray to join the arguing couple.

Chang noticed Lao Shi perk up at the word "bull." "Any trouble?"

"Likely. This region keeps khalkotauroi as livestock." He started getting up from the table. "We can't have that creature getting outside the village's outer bounds or it could be discovered by traveling humans. Let's see what we can do. We can pay as we offer our services."

Note: Friend: Yes, LS, drag her into the town's troubles. That won't end wrong at all.