Harmony
Burning ash lashed at Sara from every direction. The wind howled like a wild thing, and lightning cracked continuously from the sky to split tree after tree.
Fang said he smelled a storm! A storm! This is a freaking hurricane!
She stumbled, barely able to see the road. Hands over her face, she forced another step against the pelting ash. They were in the low mountains, but she could not spy their slopes.
“Don’t know about you, Scales, but my tail’s getting a bit singed here!” Fang shouted behind her.
“We must find shelter!” Ishikawa shouted back. “The Pole of Fire stirs, and the wards here are weak! Too weak…”
Three bolts of lightning struck, each closer than the last, as though the storm sought them with thunderous hunger. The nearest caught a spark on stone and erupted into a fireball.
Ishikawa set his feet, breathed deep, and struck against the fire.
Ashen Scale and Fire met, and the Fire yielded.
“You know it’s a bad one when I’m glad Ishikawa is around,” Fang hissed to himself. Louder, he shouted, “Let’s find a cave before the next one comes my way! I’m too pretty for this nonsense!”
Sara took another hesitant step, and the rattled ground gave way. Her heel sank with it, and she slid towards a waiting gorge.
Her thoughts fled home. Did Mom and Dad miss her? Would they wonder where she went? How she…
Then a strong, silver-furred hand snatched her from the brink.
“Not to put a point on things,” Fang growled, “but you should watch where you’re going!”
Heart hammering, the girl nodded. She most certainly did not lean back against the shirtless Wolf.
“I see a cave!” hollered Ishikawa. “Hurry!”
The trio stumbled into the tiny cave to find a fire already crackling. A girl about Sara’s age kneeled next to the blaze, poking the sticks with a frown on her face. She wore a dirtied Izu uniform and no shoes. Given the thick, silver-blue scales coating her feet, she didn’t seem to need any!
Sara tried hard not to stare at the girl’s short, blue tail or sharp, sweeping horns, but she had never seen an Aloran so marked! What had Ishikawa said? Alorans believe they were born from the blood of the last dragon to land and die on Seln…
“Nasty storm, huh?” the girl asked. “Seems a strong one leaked through the wards.”
Sara glanced at Ishikawa and Fang for guidance, but they deferred, leaving her to speak! “Y-yeah, guess so. Sorry. Can we share?”
The girl smiled. “Nowhere else to go. Find a seat. Have any food?”
“We stocked up!” Sara smiled, opening her brand new travel pack to reveal rations: flatbeard, rice, sorghum, potatoes, and salted pork. Crossing the cave, she took the rock next to the girl. “See anything you like?”
As the duo discussed food, Ishikawa muttered to Fang, “Quite moon-blessed, isn’t she?”
Fang sniffed. “Guess so. She smells like the takoyaki stand just south of the Senbonzakura head shrine.”
“And that’s a Senbonzakura uniform,” Ishikawa agreed. “Seems she left in a hurry.”
“We don’t need another stray, Ishikawa.”
The Ashen Scale glanced again at the girl, noting her scaled feet; her tail and horns; and several other splashes of silver-blue scales across her cheeks and forearms. “May I ask your name, young lady?”
The girl glanced up. “…Tia is fine.”
“A common enough name. Your clan?”
Tia visibly squirmed. “Senbonzakura. Adoptive.”
Lost, Sara whispered, “Are the Senbonzakuras not dragon?”
“Children of the cunning Fox,” the girl explained, faintly puzzled. “Why?”
“Oh! I’m, uh, not from around here…”
Tia arched an eyebrow. “Your aura…could you be from…”
Ishikawa cleared his throat. “We should mind our manners.” He dusted what ash he could from his gi and dropped into a stiff bow. “May you honor us with your presence, Senbonzakura Tia.”
By pure habit, the girl leaped up. One foot set back on tiptoe, she curtsied in return. “May we dine together.”
Now Sara was completely lost. She glanced at Fang, seeking guidance.
“Going all formal?” The Wolf shrugged. “I’m Takahashi Takeshi if you care about clan names. If you’ve any sense, you’ll call me Fang. Nice to meet you, brat.”
Tia shifted her stance, feet closer, and offered a different flavor of curtsy for Fang.
“…and I’m Sara. Just Sara.”
Finally, Tia separated her feet and offered a warm dip for the strange girl.
Sara blinked, confusion written across her face. Why did each of them merit a different curtsy?
As usual, Ishikawa smoothed the way. “No need for the Seventh Sakura Petal Falling on my account, Lady Tia. Nor would Fang take umbrage at the Turn of Dusk Approaches.”
“Honestly, I’m flattered you think I’m important enough to snub,” the Wolf joked.
“And though Sara may not remember her clan, I assure you she does not require The Embracing Bough to protect her. She is stronger than she knows.”
Tia shrugged, relaxing her stance. “Fine. But if we’re going to be friends, don’t call me ‘Lady’ anything!”
“As you wish.”
Sara flushed. “Ignore these dopes. The storm’s only getting worse out there. Let’s eat something!”
Thus, the trio picked up another stray.