Yara and Yulan were already at the shaman's when Anh returned.

"What happened to you?!" She exclaimed rubbing Anh's face. Anh winced as she did so near his eye. He could feel the swelling above his eyebrow where he had knocked his head with Tieze Senior's.

What happened! Lu Yu demanded.

Anh cleared his throat. "I, uhm. I bumped into Tieze Senior."

Yulan scoffed. "Told you he'd kill you."

Lao stifled a laugh. "Daddy kicked your ass?"

"I'm still standing, aren't I?" Anh said flatly.

Lao shrugged. "Welcome to the club."

"What club?"

"The 'You Messed Around With My Daughter And Now I Have to Kick your Ass Club.'"

Yara and Anh exchanged glances, both with the same thought on their minds. Only Lu Yu was brave enough to ask what everyone was thinking. Do I even want to know which lady this was?

Lao smirked and went back to focusing on an unrolled scroll between him and the dragons. Yara sat Anh down and rubbed his cheek with a wet cloth. Her rouse to come here under the guise of needing medical care had worked. Her cheek had been freshly cleaned, spare for the minor yellowing at the stitches.

"I'm sorry he hurt you." Yara said as she dabbed the cloth on his eyebrow. A cheeky grin grew over her face. "We're practically twins now."

Anh winked at her. The moment between them caused Yulan to dry retch. "Give it a rest." He said with his arms crossed. He was sat in the corner of the room, as far from the dragons as possible. From his demeanour, anyone would have thought it was he who was cut by a dragon the night before.

Lu Yu, Anh said. The purple dragon looked up from the scroll. Something incredible happened just now.

What was it?

When Tieze Senior and I were fighting, I created this kind of… shield around me. With qi. He shook his head, accidentally knocking Yara's hand from his face. I've never done that before.

Danzi lifted his great head from the scroll and turned to Lu Yu. He's already gaining new skills.

Lu Yu wiggled and made a happy chime. Gao Zi could do that too!

What else could Gao Zi do with his qi?

He was exceptional at using his qi to lift and throw heavy boulders.

Anh's shoulder slumped. That's it?

Lao interjected. Hey, with your toothpicks and broomsticks, the little extra push should be real handy.

Anh rolled his eyes. Lao had a point there, though Anh was hoping for something a little more exciting.

"What are you talking about?" Yara asked, looking between Anh and the dragons.

"Dragon Keeping skills." Anh said explaining that each pair developed unique skills. For Anh, that meant developing new traits with Lu Yu.

"Will your Second Sight change?" She asked.

Anh bit his lip. "I think it is already…"

"To what?"

"I used to know who was nearby at all times, even if I didn't know the person myself. But today I haven't been able to do that at all…"

Lu Yu thought on this for a while. Gao Zi was a good heart reader.

That would explain why Anh was able to read Yulan and Yara much more deeply this evening. There was an inkling of grief there, too. It was not an exceptional skill, but he would miss the quirks of what being Hei Lei's Dragon Keeper came with. Even if it was as mediocre as knowing who was around.

Anh must have looked downcast as Yara placed a finger under his chin. "You'll learn." She said leaning her forehead on his. "You'll learn, and grow and adapt."

Anh couldn't help himself. He leaned in and placed a small kiss on her lips. In the corner of the room Yulan groaned, causing Yara to break the kiss and giggle. After the tumultuous emotions of the past two days it brought Anh great joy just to have this little moment with Yara – even at the expense of Yulan's distaste. He brought a hand to her cheek and kissed her again with a heart full of joy.

The moment was broken when the door slid open. The shaman who Anh knew as something of a prude, gasped and brought a hand to his chest. "What is this?" He demanded. He turned to Anh and the dragons. "What business do you have with this girl? She is to be wed tomorrow."

Anh rose and began fumbling out all sorts of excuses. Lu Yu and Lao Longzi hurriedly rolled up the scroll they were studying. If the shaman caught wind of their escape, their plan could well be foiled! Yulan then stepped in. "She's not marrying that Chu jerk."

"You don't have a say in this, boy." The shaman said.

"I'm her brother!"

Anh's heart raced the exchange between himself, Yulan and the shaman unfolded. He and Yulan argued that the Chu and Qin dance on a fine line and Yara couldn't possibly live with them when Yara suddenly stepped forward, interrupting their argument.

"Enough!" Yara's voice rang out, commanding attention from everyone in the room – including the dragons. "I appreciate your concern. But it is time to acknowledge that the choice of whom I marry should rest solely with me – and no one else."

The shaman's expression twisted with disapproval, but Yara refused to back down as she continued. "I understand the significance this alliance has for Tinkling Village, but I cannot allow my life to be dictated by others anymore. I deserve the right to make my own decisions, especially when it comes to matters of the heart."

She then turned to the shaman, ready to face the opposition. "I'm sorry my brother and I used you tonight to meet with Anh. But I implore you to consider the value of individual agency. I don't want to live at the hands of stranger. I believe in my heart that Anh and I are meant to be together."

The shaman's stern expression softened ever so slightly as he regarded Yara. "I cannot change this fact overnight, Yana – "

"Yara."

"-Yara. I acknowledge the truth in your words – but you're here now, and I am liable to the fact of the matter. I cannot let you leave here unwed with a bastard and a dragon."

Anh seethed through his nose ready to blast the old man with qi bolt. But the next words out of Yara's mouth floored him. "What if you marry me and Anh here?"

The whole room, man and dragon alike, turned to Yara. Anh's mouth hung wide open as she turned to him and smiled. "Let's marry now." She turned to the shaman. "You can do that. Right?"

The shaman bore his eyes intensely at the pair. "I can't." He said flatly. "Not without a familial dignity."

Yulan stepped forward. "I can witness on behalf of Yara."

"Thank you." Yara whispered. Anh could see in her heart for the first time that after all these years, and despite the petty sibling rivalry their parents inflicted upon them – she and her brother did deeply love one another.

"That's all good and well." The shaman huffed. "But Yu Anh here is a bastard. I cannot marry you without a familial dignity for his part."

"I can do it." Lao Longzi said standing.

Anh nearly lost his footing! "Lao – "

"I spent many years with Anh's father Yu Feng. And many more with his chosen father, my brother, Huan Gao Zi." Lao as he towered over the tiny shaman. "I can bear his witness."

The Huan's the Yu's share a common ancestor. Danzi concurred, not that the shaman would have understood. Both lines stem from the first Dragon Keeper from millennia ago.

Lu Yu nodded. The same blood runs through you both – however thin it is now.

Anh's eyes grew misty, but he wasn't going to give Lao Longzi a reason to heckle him. He swallowed the lump that formed his in throat. "Thank you." He bowed. He then added in dragonspeech, For everything.

Don't screw this up, toothpick. Lao said flatly.

With a grateful smile, Anh looked to the shaman. "What say you?"

The shaman's leg was jerking. Anh could see in his heart – he was moved, yes. But he was scared. "The quicker you marry us – the quicker we can leave and you can move on like this never happened." He said.

The shaman exhaled heavily through his nose. Anh feared the vibration would cause his nose to crumble. He walked to the front door and placed a lock over it. He then drew the curtain and beckoned the party. "Come – we need to hurry."

Anh squeezed Yara's hand and together they followed the shaman through the hall of his infirmary. The shaman muttered under his breath about tradition and Qin values, but it seemed he was settled to help them so be it they leave immediately. "You'll cause me a hernia." He said shaking his head.

He led the party into a courtyard to the back of his property. Anh had never been here before, and it seemed neither had Yara. They both gasped when they saw the weeping mulberry tree that cascaded by the wall.

"What?" The shaman huffed as he hurriedly ushered Yulan to the whereabouts of the tea and teacups. "Have you never seen a mulberry tree before?"

"It's a sign." Yara said softly as she and Anh stood beneath the tree. Anh couldn't deny the possibility of fate playing a part in this either. After all their years of talking about silk and mulberry trees – now they would wed under one.

The shaman beckoned them to sit as Lu Yu pushed a small table between them with her nose. "We are skipping a great deal of traditional rites here." He grumbled as Yulan placed the tea and cups on the low table. He took a seat to Yara's right. To Anh's left sat Lao Longzi. Danzi and Lu Yu sat behind them and it dawned on Anh now that it was really happening – he and Yara were getting married. Yara's eyes met Anh's, and they exchanged a nervous smile as a hush fell over the courtyard

The shaman cleared his throat, his voice resonating with authority as he outlined the marriage rites to take place. "This ceremony is to solemnise the marriage of Tieze Yara and Yu Anh, who will express their gratitude and…" He fumbled. The next words were meant to be 'respect to their parents and elders,' but that didn't exactly fit their situation. "…respect to their… familial companions."

Yulan, then reached out and poured tea into the cup placed before Yara and Anh. The steam curled upwards. It smelled of pomegranate blossom. It made Anh's heart ache – it was Hei Lei's favourite sweet.

He pushed aside the wish for Hei Lei to be there as the shaman continued, "Yara and Anh, as you hold this cup, you are symbolically offering warmth to your loved ones, just as tea brings warmth when drunk. This act represents the joining of your…" again, a play on words. "…lives. And the blending of your pasts. And the creation of a shared future."

Yara reached for her cup with delicate hands and raised it to Lao Longzi. "Huan Lao Longzi. I offer this tea as a token of my deepest gratitude. Today, I join your family – your cluster, if you will - with an open heart and a promise to honour and cherish Yu Anh." She took a small sip from her cup then gave it to Lao Longzi. He sipped from the cup, then gave it back to her. She then gave it to Anh.

Anh paused as he searched for the right words. Looking into Yulan's eyes, he spoke with heartfelt gratitude, "Brother. I humbly present this tea to express my deepest appreciation to you for believing in me, your sister, and us as one. I promise to protect and cherish Yara, to create a home filled with love and warmth, and to honour her."

He took a sip to seal his vow. He passed the cup to Yulan and felt his heart skip a beat. It all stood now with Yulan, who could very well change his mind and end this union. But Yulan accepted the cup and drank before giving it back to Anh. Anh could see Yara's shoulder relax.

Finally, Anh and Yara turned towards each other, cupping their hands together, their eyes locked. Yara drank first. Then Anh drank from the cup, sealing their commitment.

It was done – they were now married.

They both breathed a sigh of relief and embraced one another. Lu Yu tinkled and skipped about – albeit, rather clumsily for the courtyard was small and she was, after all, a dragon. Danzi nudged Anh and purred a congratulations. Yulan then brought Yara to him in an embrace, and Lao awkwardly patted Anh's shoulder.

I never want to sit through a wedding again. He admitted.

Anh couldn't help but laugh. Thanks, Lao.

Lao then stood. "I hate to break the festivities – but we cannot linger any longer. We need to leave. Bong and Jiang await us."

Anh nodded and helped Yara up from the ground. She then turned to Yulan again and held him tightly.

"Where will you go?" He asked his sister.

Yara spoke to him with a shaky voice. "It's best you don't know for now." She cusped his face in her hands. "I will write to you when time has cast aside the troubles we face from father and the Chu this night."

Yulan nodded and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I understand." When she let go of him Yulan then hugged Anh in the awkward fashion men often do with a pat on the back. "Look after her."

"I will." Anh said.

Yara changed into clothes fit for travel. Anh quickly fitted Lu Yu with their packs as Lao and Danzi explained the plan. As Anh and Lu Yu were still getting used to flying together they would carry the packs. Lao and Danzi would fly Yara.

I'm sure that'll be interesting. Lao smirked.

Yara's flown before… Anh admitted. Lao groaned as it settled on him the extent their long friendship had actually been. Have we decided where we are going? Anh asked as he tied the last pack to Lu Yu. Earlier they had discussed between Laoyang to the east, or Chengdu to the south, to wait out the winter. It was why Lao, Lu Yu and Danzi had been studying a scroll earlier.

Chengdu. Danzi confirmed.

I suspect there are less Imperial Soldiers there. Lao added. We will still stand out with the dragons, but we have the protection of the mountains and the river there. Anyone who wants to accost the dragons would have to face several natural barriers to reach us.

Anh had stayed in Chengdu years ago when he first became a Dragon Keeper. He liked it. The climate was warm like his home country of Hmong – and better yet, the food was spicy!

How long will it take to fly there?

If we leave in the next hour? Lao calculated. We will arrive after by mid-morning tomorrow.

Perfect. Anh said as Yara returned in her travelling clothes. He held out his arm and she snuggled into his chest. "Are you ready?" He asked softly.

She nodded. "There's no turning back now."

The party left shortly after. The festivities were beginning to die down. Yara walked between Danzi and Lu Yu, their great bodies shrouding her. They made it to the orchards unbothered. Anh struggled to orientate himself without the help of his Second Sight, and was caught by surprise when they finally came across Bong and Jiang.

"There you are!" Bong said. At his feet was another pack, this one much smaller than the ones Anh had tied down to Lu Yu. Bong blinked when he saw Yara was with them. "You're going with them?"

"Anh and I are married now." Yara said.

Anh's cheeks flushed rouge as Bong's mouth dropped. "Oh!" Was all he could say.

Congratulations. Jiang said rubbing her head against Anh's shoulder. He tickled her under her chin.

Thank you. He said. Will you come with us?

Jiang shook her head sadly. She didn't need to explain herself – she wanted to stay with her mother, Gu Hong.

Bong took a deep breath. "This is it then?" He said with a wobbly chin.

"None of that now." Lao said bringing his fist to Bong's shoulder. Bong snivelled and rubbed it.

"Here," Bong said placing the pack in Anh's hands. "This is for you." He opened the drawstring of the pack and withdrew two jars. Anh wasn't sure what he was looking at when Bong said, "It's the beef cheek pickle. I lied months back when I said Minh Huyn ate it. It was me – I stole it."

Anh bit his lip trying to stifle his laugh. Bong looked as guilty as Anh did the night before.

"I tried to place the blame on Minh Huyn, but really it was me and Jiang. You have to take it from us – we don't deserve it!"

Anh gently placed the pack on the ground and drew his buffoon of a cousin into a hug. It was so typical of Bong, but Anh was incredibly touched by the gesture. "You're such a princox." He said. "Cripes – I will miss you, cousin."

Bong wiped his nose on Anh's sleeve. "You too, Anh." He stuffed the jars into the pack. "Be careful with these!"

"I'll protect them with my life." Anh said.

Yara stared at the pair like they were madman.

Yara and Lao took off on Danzi, and Anh and Lu Yu followed. Bong and Jiang ascended and joined them for a short time before waving their last goodbyes and turning towards the Haven. Anh felt a small pang in his chest. Bong was his only family member by blood – he wondered if he would ever see him again.

The flight to Chengdu was brisk at first, but as dawn unfolded the air grew warmer. Below them, mountains of limestone lingered high into the sky, and a stunning azure river snaked between them. Anh looked over at Yara who was gaping at the scenes below her with wide eyes. He wasn't sure if she was scared or amazed!

By mid-morning the city of Chengdu rose from behind the bamboo forests and lush rice fields. They landed on the outskirts of the city in a quiet and green rice paddy. Farmers around them looked up from their fields and hurried to the dragons. Anh wasn't familiar with the language, but Lao managed to deduce where a nearby inn was so they could rest. Anh was exhausted, but Yara seemed wide awake after stretching her legs. A farmer brought them to an inn that was cheap, but Lao and the innkeeper struggled to communicate.

After a good 5 minutes the innkeeper gave Lao a key, which he promptly gave to Anh. Go on.

Anh frowned. Aren't you coming?

There's only one bed available. Lao said with a smirk.

Anh suddenly was very wide awake! His cheeks flushed as he fumbled with the key and attempted to hand it back to Lao. Lao was adamant, however. Go on. He said. You two can have the room tonight. The three of us can sleep at another inn nearby. Just be back here by dawn tomorrow so we can work out what to do next.

Anh felt like he had no air as he bent over double. He looked up at Yara who was toying with a painting on the wall. He then turned to Lao. Fine. He said. But listen – after tonight, I don't want anymore crap from you about… this!

Lao held his hands up defensively as he laughed. You have my word.

I mean it! Anh said. No more jokes about me being skinny and… you know… He crossed his arms in front of himself several times. Just, no more. Got it?

Lao winked as he turned and walked out of the inn. "Enjoy yourselves!"

Anh was left flabbergasted. Yara came up beside him. "Where is he going?"

Anh toyed with the key in his hands, not quite able to bring himself to look at her. "They, uhm." He gulped. "They're staying elsewhere tonight…"

Yara turned her head sharply. "Oh?" A grin grew over her face. "Good." She took his hand in hers and they went upstairs. Anh could feel the sweat in his palms, and knew that she knew that it was sweating and it wasn't because of the heat and – oh cripes! He thought.

The room was small – only just big enough for a mattress and a table. Anh closed the door behind them and leaned on the doorway as Yara looked around the small room.

"I've only stayed in an inn once." She said with a small laugh. She looked out the window – it wasn't sealed like the ones in Tinkling Village and she pointed out the fact to him. "Amazing! It must be because it's so warm here? That would explain why the sheets are so thin..."

Anh crossed his arms over his chest as he watched the woman he loved remove her scarf and ramble on about the peculiarities of Chengdu. He'd known her many years now – it was a nervous trait. Yara's nervous trait. It was also her excitable trait. Good grief, he wondered for a split second. Which was it now?!

Yara met his eyes and bit her lips. "Oh, I'm doing that thing again…" she said blushing. She and Anh both laughed softly. It was a laugh mixed with excitement and trepidation. Yara stepped over the mattress and stood in the doorway with Anh.

"Are you nervous?' She whispered, taking his hands in her own. Anh nodded, and Yara kissed his hands. "Let's be nervous together then."

Anh drew Yara into his arms and kissed her. It was just the two of them now. It was just the two of them, and Anh was determined now that there would be nothing to stand in their way from here on.