Thar Shaddin

Cai shook her head. "On the contrary, I have saved myself possibly half an hour of physical investigation, and can make my visit as direct and brief as possible. One stop in the guest room to collect my belongings. A second stop to collect a satchel from another room, and a final stop to collect Wenli's paperwork and place them in the satchel. I was also able to determine the absence of any Yaoguai, meaning I can move with confident speed through the building rather than at a cautious place."

Efficiency and expedience had always been Cai's mantra, and a little physical discomfort to achieve that was a price worth paying. Cai loosened her shoulders as the first hint of the headache to come formed as a burgeoning pressure near the base of her skull. "The less time I physically spend in that house, the better. The smell of the place will only get worse until it is properly cleaned, and I do not envy the villagers the task ahead of them. Is there anything else you noticed, Piao Bai, before I head there in person?" The little dragon's senses had been proven reliable thus far, in Cai's estimation, so it was worth asking.

"Not that I can recall." Piao Bai's wending path took him toward the bed. He peered under it and found nothing of interest, just more dust. Piao Bai sneezed. Along with dust, more of the little Shenqi floated out, violently disturbed from their rest by the blow of his breath.

Piao Bai sat back on his haunches. Perhaps he should try to start the fire. His body bent almost in half as he turned around and moved toward the fire grate.

"I'll just wait for you here, shall I?"

Cai smiled slightly "It is cold out there. You will be more comfortable here, I think. This will not take me long." Especially as Cai had no intention of dawdling.

The Jinyiwei strode out of the modest little house without further preamble, wishing to get the task done with. Her ribs stung in the cold, her head was starting to pulse as the headache made a home for itself.

Cai's swift pace returned her to Guo's house in a matter of a few minutes. The stench as she opened the door was much worse now that she had spent some time breathing the sweeter mountain air. The thick overtones of iron and decay had already permeated the building.

By the time Cai had finished collecting Wenli's journal and paperwork, she was about ready for another shower, just from the smell of the place.

When Cai came back into the house, she almost resembled a travelling doctor or merchant, laden with travel pack, satchel, ladle, walking staff, and the military-issue metallic rain hat which could also serve as a wok in a pinch.

Cai set her load down and commented "One step closer to rest."

Piao Bai watched Cai leave before he approached the fire box. He eyed the wood and kindling. If his gaze had any magic to it, the fire would be roaring. But, it did not, and so the wood and kindling looked back at him mockingly. First, the dragon concentrated, inhaled deeply and exhaled mightly. Nothing. Piao Bai wrinkled his nose at fire box. He tried again. Nothing. He stuck out his tongue and walked away. He suddenly turned on his heel and rushed the box with a great exhale. Nothing.

Piao Bai sat on his haunches in defeat, resting his front paws on the edge of the grate. Pulling out a piece of kindling, he twirled it before looking at it forlornly. He heaved a great sigh and must to his surprise, the piece of kindling was alight.

VICTORY!

Piao Bai almost, almost danced but realized if he did something wrong he'd be stuck in a cold room, waiting for Cai to return. Gingerly and carefully, the dragon held the lit piece of kindling to first one piece, then another. Soon, the fire was crackling merrily. Feeling quite pleased with himself, he closed the grate and jumped onto the bed. Dust lifted and floated, causing Piao Bai to sneeze once more. The dragon sniffled miserably.

The bed was a simple, ball-foot bed, placed above the flue of the kang-bed stove, with a standard futon and pillows. Hooking the edge of the blanket with his claws, Piao Bai, burrowed underneath. Thankfully, no dust was found. Successfully burrowed, he turned in a circle counter-clockwise a few times before settling. His snout stuck out of the edge and his chin rested upon the pillow. By the time Cai returned, his spot on the bed was toasty and the kang bed-stove was working.

When Cai return, she spoke, jerking Piao Bai was a doze. The bedding lifted, one corner poking straight up. Piao Bai craned his neck and rested his chin on the blanket.

"Come rest, the bed is warm."

Cai glanced over to Piao Bai. "Ah, the bed is yours, Piao Bai. There are certain requirements which must be fulfilled to ensure I am recovered enough for travel. And the bed does not factor into any of those" Cai continued her earlier efforts of removing the bamboo matting away from an area of dirt floor, using a small straw broom to smooth the ground and brush the excess into the corner against the wall.

They were interrupted by a knock and the arrival of Shun with a steaming wicker container. Shun stood at the door, reluctant to enter the house itself. "Esteemed Lady, we have prepared our village's specialty for your breakfast, wild bird dumplings." Cai thanked Shun as she took the basket politely with both hands "Thank you Shun. From here on out, until I have finished my two days of meditation, it would be safest for this house to be avoided. Upon completion of my task, I shall arise in great need of food and water. My guardian spirit, Piao Bai, will alert you when the time comes. From then on, all my attention shall be on the task of assessing the level of compensation available to Yunshan. Please ensure that food and water is brought to Piao Bai in the morning, at midday, and before night falls. It is imperative that his strength is maintained while I meditate, and I shall take that into account during my assessment. I thank your village for its hospitality. Please go and pass on my thanks to those who prepared this meal."

It was a courteous way to shoo the man off, and Cai closed the door after Shun left. "Before I begin my healing sleep, are there any questions on your mind, Piao Bai? I shall be unresponsive for two days, so now may be the best time for any pressing concerns you might have." Cai opened the wicker container and removed two large dumplings for herself. The other four she left for Piao Bai, setting the container on the bed.

"As it suits you, Cai." Piao Bai watched Cai, wondering why she was sweeping dirt. In his home, all the floors were made of lacquered wood or tile. A knock on the door preceded Shun's appearance. The dumplings smelled a tad bland, but food was food and it'd already been AGES since he'd broken his fast. Piao Bai leaned to the side and studied Shun. His features were rounder than Cai's in many ways. She was the one who was different.

When Cai placed the dumpling basket on the bed, Piao Bai moved toward the basket and snagged one. He finished one before Cai was even done speaking. He had been correct. The dumplings were steamed, chewy, and bland. Yet another thing he would have to suffer in this place.

Questions? Actually, he had a few.

"Why are you trying to sweep dirt from a dirt floor? Why are the town's people's features round and yours are not? Do your physical attributes apply to all Jinyiwei? Do you suppose I will regain my full size after some time? And, can you open the door to return me home?"

Piao Bai snagged another dumpling by stabbing it with his claws. Lifting it, he took a bite.

Cai slowly and methodically ate the dumplings while Piao Bai let forth a swift torrent of questions. The typical curiosity of a foreigner ...or a child. Cai placed her water flask next to the spot she had picked out for the purposes of resting and sat crosslegged upon the ground, letting the bare flesh of her legs make contact with the dirt.

It is a requirement of my healing. To become attuned with the restorative energies of the natural world, I must be in direct contact with the earth or that which grows from it. Cai ensured she was comfortable, and began the slow process of relaxing her muscles I am of mixed heritage. I am told my elven ancestry shows strongly in my features. Few share my physical attributes, and my appearance is considered unorthodox by most standards. Not to the Emperor, though. Her beloved Emperor did not judge on appearance, but on the merits of a person's very essence. Knowledge of that gave Cai the inner wherewithal to completely disdain the criticisms whispered behind fans in the halls of the Sānshěng Liùbù.

Perhaps the most difficult questions were the little dragon's last two. "I do not know, Piao Bai. Perhaps the Emperor would understand it better. Any within the borders of Tian Xia may apply to speak directly to the Emperor, though the waiting list for such an audience is long. A visit to the imperial capital of Yulongjing might be something you should consider, despite that. As for the opening of a stable door to where you arrived from? No. Even if the knowledge was available, it is taboo. The material plane and astral plane must remain separate, lest calamity be wrought upon the empire. The Emperor's decree on that subject is well known. Cai could sympathise with the little dragon. She had met the occasional foreigner marooned in port cities, completely out of their depth in a place they did not understand. She was not certain any of them survived the predation of the criminal class. Cai's bandaged ribs chose that moment to complain, however, reminding her of more pressing and immediate concerns.

"For now, though, I must rest. Behave yourself for the next two days. Try to avoid setting any buildings on fire. A joke, mostly, given the unusual amount of stone construction in Yunshan. Cai breathed out, then breathed in, drawing qi throughout her body and playing it through the elaborate tattoo on her back. The qi flowed around the inked pattern, spreading through the chrysanthemums and the willow tree, then filled the pool. Finally, it converged in the centrepiece image of Cai herself, and the tattooed Jinyiwei fell asleep. The natural qi of the earth flowed through Cai constantly, like a stream through a mountain, and the woman's features lost the harsh edges and lines Piao Bai was most familiar with. Temporarily separated from pain and discomfort, and attuned to the material plane alone, Cai rested in a dreamless state of peace as her body began the slow process of healing.

For once, Piao Bai was wholly focused on Cai, listening to her words. Perhaps it was the chill in the morning air that made him more amenable.

"I go where you go, Wenshen Cai." Piao Bai spoke, but Cai had already drifted off into her healing sleep. If sitting upright on a dirt floor was something one could consider sleeping, that is. Even as she drew upon the Qi, he could feel it. They were bound together. How odd that she did not feel it, too. They were definitely poorly matched. A proper arrangement always found a partner whose energies complimented the other and blended easily. Though, under the circumstances, he couldn't really complain (though he would). The sense of vigor and life that filled his body proved that the impulsive bonding was a boon, at least for him initially.

He would explore, but carefully. He had already seen that his current size was a detriment. Piao Bai settled in the covers, nose and eyes peeking out, to watch Cai. He supposed she was alright as mixed breeds went. He'd never met one, but there was always time for a first.

Piao Bai stretched out a paw, holding it in front of him. His family could all change form to a more humanoid one. Perhaps he was old enough to learn how? Certainly, being of equal size with his pair-bond and others would make things easier. The idea filled Piao Bai with unease. Leaving his natural form was not preferred, but then again, he was significantly smaller than his natural form. So, perhaps that argument was moot.

Letting his paw fall back down to the bedding, he tucked it under him and resumed looking at Cai. If he were stronger, he would extend his energy to her to help her heal. At least then, he wouldn't be left alone for two whole days...

Cai drifted in an endless expanse of warm terracotta, insensate and unaware of her surroundings.

Externally, with each passing hour, a flush of health returned to Cai's features. The qi circulating through her flushed out the infection which had threatened to gain traction. Her body fought off the burgeoning symptoms of shock.

Beneath her bandages the claw marks began to scab over while the lacerated flesh started to knit back together. Through it all, Cai slept on.

Piao Bai watched Cai. She didn't move. He stood up, stretched, and circled under the covers. He settled once more and stared at Cai. She hadn't moved. Piao Bai rolled onto his back and looked at Cai from that perspective. No difference. He flipped back to his stomach and flicked his tail. This inactivity while he was awake left him to think on things he preferred not to consider. But, clearing his mind meant sitting here... was BORING. BORING was BAD.

Finally giving in to the boredom, Piao Bai slipped from the bed and circled around Cai. Arcane energy pulsed and throbbed around and through her. Interesting... When others did such things at home, one did not see the energies as they did here. At home, one had to concentrate to view the aura surrounding others. Here, some did not have an aura and some did.

Was it possible he could change forms here, where he could not at home? Piao Bai slipped from the room, carefully sliding the door closed once again.

He would not attempt to shift forms in the same room as Cai. He did not want his testing to affect whatever she was doing. If he did, the time for her to heal may take longer. If that happened, he'd be on his own longer. Bleh. Her company was preferable to none.

Piao Bai moved in the central room, the one that led outside. The room was cooler than the bedroom, but not too much more as the sun had fully risen. He could hear people talking and going about their business. Cows lowed. Chickens clucked. Dogs barked. Good. Looking for the most open space, Piao Bai settled himself and began to concentrate. He had a template to reference, he had seen his brother shift to a humanoid form many times. Bietzya... no. Piao Bai needed to keep his head clear.

Piao Bai first started with envisioning the form of a human and imagined himself in that form. Two human arms, two human legs, standing upright... A tingling started in his extremities. A sense of excitement filled him. He could do this! Piao Bai's vision blurred and for the short space of a breath or three he lost sense of the world around him.

Piao Bai blinked. The world looked ... different and not just because his head was at a much higher place than before. He smiled and looked down at his hands, his body. He had done it! He was naked! He had hair! It fell in silky, thick, white strands around him. It was COLD!

A small meep of sound caught his attention and Piao Bai blinked again. The door to the outside was open. Well, that explained the cold... A village woman, tray in hand, was staring at him wide-eyed and gape-mouthed. When she had opened the door, there was golden light and the dragon familiar turned into a man unlike any she had seen before.

The man was tall, taller even than the Jinyiwei, and well-formed with strong, straight shoulders among other things. He was pale, paler than any villager who worked and toiled in the sun, only the upper class had fair skin like that. His hair was as white as snow and his eyes were as golden as the sun. On his right arm was a line-art tattoo of a dragon.

Had a member of the Emperor's family come to visit them? That Jinyiwei had not told them! Of course, she wouldn't, she had to protect the emperor and his family, but how unkind to not allow them to prepare a proper welcome and feast! The tray shook in the woman's hands, so she slowly lowered it to the ground, daring to keep her eyes upon the exalted, naked form of one of the royal family before ducking her head and lowering her eyes. This would be a story to tell in her old age.

Food! Excellent. Shifting forms had made Piao Bai ravenous. He stepped toward the woman and the tray and felt out of balance. He was used to walking on four legs, not two. This would take a moment or three to get used to. Piao Bai paused at the same time the woman let the tray fall the last few millimeters to the ground. He blinked a few more times. Was the woman frightened of him?

PIao Bai reached out his hand to the woman, who suddenly bowed to him with her head touching the floor. Hm... she treated him as the servants did at home. Now, this was more like it. Piao Bai opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was the chatter of his teeth. He was still naked and cold. Piao Bai wrapped his arms around himself and looked for a robe of some sort.

The woman risked a glance at Piao Bai and saw that he shivered. She gasped and put her hand up to her mouth. Of course! She backed out and slid the door closed.

The sound of the door sliding shut caught his attention, but not for long, once he realized the woman had left. There was nothing to do but return to the room in which Cai rested and retrieve the blanket from the bed. Then, he would scour the place for some kind of clothing. If he got any colder, he become a female!

Piao Bai stalked off to the bedroom, stumbling once or twice as he got used to his human body. He paused as he entered, to make sure Cai was still doing ... whatever it was she did.

Ooh! The room was so much warmer than anywhere else in the house! Piao Bai moved to step around Cai and tripped over his own feet. Piao Bai wheeled his arms and spun, working to avoid falling on the Jinyiwei. He managed to avoid her, but fell gracelessly to the floor and bounced his head on the bedframe. Ringing filled his ears. Turning, Piao Bai sat on his butt and sat, legs akimbo. Rubbing his head he felt a nasty knot on his forehead... a knot that twisted and turned?

Piao Bai's fingers drifted across his forehead to the other side, finding another twisty, turny knot. Using both hands he felt the knots. They weren't very big and poked out only a little from his hair. Did he still have his horns? Was that right? He did not remember Beitzya having horns. Piao Bai frowned. Did he make a mistake somewhere else, too? Was this why the woman was frightened of him?

Piao Bai reached for the blanket and pulled it around him, then lifted his hands to his face, feeling what he couldn't see. The shape of his face felt fine. So, too, did the shape of his lips. He twisted and turned, looking at the shape he had taken, using Cai as the model against which he judged himself - except, of course, where she was womanly and he was not. No, he seemed to be appropriately built.

Sitting upright like this was a little odd, he thought, but the perspective isn't bad. Perhaps he should find clothing now. A wardrobe of sorts and a chest were in the room, so Piao Bai availed himself of the contents. Pants, a shirt, and socks were pulled on in short order. Unfortunately, his height meant a substantial amount of space existed between the end of the sleeves and his writsts as well as the end of the pants and his ankles. Too, the shirt would not tie closed, completely, leaving an expanse of his chest bare. This would not do at all. How was he supposed to go around outside when his skin showed to the elements? His stomach grumbled. The tray!

Piao Bai moved back to the central room and the tray of food. Another bowl of dumplings and water. He wanted tea. Taking up the bamboo bowl of dumplings, he explored the house. In this form, so many more things were accessible! Finally finding the kitchen area, he delved into cabinets until he found a tea pot.

"What are you looking at?" Piao Bai made a face at the little dust and soot creatures that stared at him, wide-eyed. With little puffs, the creatures disappeared. "Oh!" Piao Bai grinned. The sound had come from his mouth! The voice was rich, cultured, and masculine. Piao Bai laughed.

Blerp! A little spout of flame escaped his mouth, which only made him laugh harder. "Fantastic!" Standing, Piao Bai moved to the sink. He stared at the pump handle.

"Hey! Do you know how to work this?" This was asked of another little house spirit. The spirit bounced, rolled, and floated to the sink and jumped up and down on the handle.

"Oh. I move this?" The creature bounced up and down more ecstatically. "Thank you."

Piao Bai wrapped his fingers around the handle and began to move it. At first nothing happened. "Are you sure?" The creature bounced emphatically. "Alright." He kept at it, until finally a groaning sound came from the thing. Still working the pump, Piao Bai tilted his head and body to the side to peer at the end of the thing. A little hand poked out, followed by a little body with gigantic eyes. The thing fussed at Piao Bai until a flow of water washed it into the sink. Sputtering it shook its fist at him.

"BOO." Piao Bai bared his teeth at the creature. It paled and dove down the drain. Piao Bai chuckled. What fun this place was. Finally, the water ran clear and cold. Piao Bai shoved the pot under the water. A disgusted frown crossed his face when he realized how dirty the pot was. This world required him to do menial jobs. Piao Bai sighed. He would be glad to return home.

Now that the water flowed, he washed the pot and filled it with water. Next, to heat the pot...

After a few hit and misses, Piao Bai managed to make a decent tasting pot of tea.

"Finally!" He puttered around, eating the dumplings and poking through things in curiosity. The movements helped him gain more grace with his new form, which pleased him greatly. If he became comfortable enough with the form, he could play flute and dance. Piao Bai paused by a shelf and pulled out a book. It was bound with leather thongs and each page was smoothed wood. The calligraphy was graceful. Piao Bai was impressed.

He took the book back to his place by the small fire he'd built. Pillows had been placed as had the blanket, creating a comfortable nest. Tucking his feet under the blanket, Piao Bai lounged back and began to read. Less than ten minutes into the story, his eye lids drooped and he fell asleep. Who could resist a full belly, a warm fire, and pillows? Certainly not Long Piao Bai.

Hours later, the door slid softly open. The woman from earlier peered in and found Piao Bai sleeping. She gasped. He was SO BEAUTIFUL! Waving her hand, she beckoned the other women in. Soft footsteps moved around the room. Four pairs of dark eyes looked upon Piao Bái in wonder. Curious fingers reached out, paused, and reached out once more to touch the silky white hair on his head. A flutter of whispers resulted. String measured the size and width of his feet. The length of his leg, his arm, and estimated the breadth of his shoulders. A deft pair of hands banked the fire to keep the room warm. As softly as they had come, the women left, leaving Piao Bái snoozing contentedly.

Something wet woke him. Piao Bái blinked. The room was not as sunny as it had been. Lifting his hand to his face, he found he’d drooled in his sleep.

“Oh. Augh. Eh!” Piao Bái wiped his hand on the trousers. Perhaps this form had a drawback. He frowned, then lifted the waist band of his pants to peer down. That was different. Perhaps more than one…

Someone cleared their throat and he jumped. The woman from earlier sat there, eyes down cast. Bowing, she spoke.

“Our Lord, forgive our ignorance. We were unaware the Jinyiwei traveled with such an august person such as yourself. If it pleasures Our Lord, we have made a changshan and additional garments. Please forgive the humble nature of the fabric. I am Mei Li.” Mei Li pushed a package toward Piao Bái.

“We also have a few bottles of rice wine to warm you against the evening’s chill.” Piao Bái had already sat up and moved to sit.

“Mei Li, I appreciate your kindness. I accept both with most gracious thanks.” Piao Bái bowed politely.

Mei Li bowed again. “Would Our Lord desire anything further?” Piao Bái thought for a moment. “A flute? Also, do you villagers ever gather together in the evenings?”

Mei Li looked surprised, but the look was hidden by her bow. “We do. Would Our Lord want to grace us with his presence?”

“I would, indeed.” Piao Bái smiled broadly.

The villagers had been glad to be rid of the mage and sad at the loss of the headman. The celebration honored a life and celebrated freedom. Many commented on how pleased they were that the Jinyiwei had come. A few of the men elbowed Piao Bai and made jokes about traveling with such a fearsome woman. "Enough to make the ol' eggs wither up, that one."

"Fearsome, indeed! If she wasn't, you wouldn't be celebrating now, would you? To Wenshen Cai!" Piao Bai would not hear of anyone bad-mouthing Cai (except for him, of course, but it was his right as a Familiar, right?) and so changed the subject. The villagers all cheered and lifted their cups. "Will Our Lord play another song?" A few of the women had been fawning over him, cheeks pinkened from the wine.

"As you wish, my beautiful flower." And so the merry-making continued until the early hours.

Two days later, Piao Bái lay beside the fire in the bedroom, back in the house with Cai. Sometime in the night, he had returned to his dragon form. He lay curled in the blue changshan the ladies had made for him, some coins, and the blanket from the bed. A few empty wine bottles were lined neatly beside the door. His paw was wrapped around a wooden flute. All in all, Piao Bai had enjoyed himself immensely.

Awareness came to Cai in the dawn. It arrived slowly at first, akin to the warm and gentle wash of the dawn sun on a sleeping woman's face. Then it slapped her rudely awake with two days' worth of thirst and hunger. It was hard-wired reflex which had her arm shoot out, hand grasping immediately the waiting flask of water, bringing the precious liquid to her lips. It was rigid discipline which permitted only a sip at first. Then another. Slowly Cai let the water begin its slow work of revitalising her.

With her thirst sated, the voice of hunger made its demands, so Cai reached into her travel pack and retrieved some dried fruit. A small while later, with the needs of her body somewhat ameliorated, Cai rose to her feet. The healing meditation had left her feeling limber and refreshed, thirst and hunger notwithstanding, and she was ready to face the hike back down the mountain. But first, there was the business of paperwork. And the little dragon.

It was early, and Piao Bai had not struck her as a morning dragon, so she glanced inside the bedroom. Aye, there he was. Cai stared down at the small figure, looking about as comfortable as a pet could get, and acknowledged that it was a cute look for a little dragon. Where the blue changshan and flute came from, Cai could guess readily enough. Why the handful of coins, though? It would bear investigation.

But first, she would greet the dawn in her normal fashion. Cai stepped outside, closing the door quietly behind her, then began the slow and graceful movements of the Longjiang style taolu. It was Cai's habit to practise the forms of her martial art for an hour while the rising sun warmed her.

Morning light streamed in through the window, falling on Piao Bai's face. He turned in his sleep and stretched, allowing the early morning sleepiness to work its way from his system slowly. The flute rolled off the bedding and onto bare floor, not a far drop since he was already sleeping on the floor. Coins jingled. A slow smile curved his mouth. The villagers knew how to celebrate a good thing! What a pity Cai had not been there to enjoy it. Piao Bai chuckled. She was stiff, she'd probably just frown at everyone until everyone went away. No, no, better that she'd rested.

Piao Bai licked his lips and yawned, scratching at his belly. Food and water would be good. He lifted one paw up into the light. Ah, he'd shifted back in his sleep. Interesting. Perhaps retaining the form overnight required further practice. But first, he should take care of his only piece of clothing in the world. It wouldn't do to shift back someday and find himself naked once more. But, how would he convince Cai to bring flute and clothing? Certainly, he couldn't carry it in this form.

Mei Li had kindly given him a small pack and a bowl (wooden, he'd insisted, because the ceramic one she wanted to give him would just end up broken). Another small jug (both probably used for a child though he did not want to admit it) had also been provided. See? He had not been completely useless! First, he tied the coins together with string and tucked them in the pack with the bowl. The bottle was already filled and stoppered. He slung both on and moved around, testing their hindrance of him. They might slow him a little, but that was the risk, no?

Piao Bai suspected Cai would force him to carry his own things anyway, so why not make an effort? With the string tied at thighs, the thing stayed in place quite nicely. Now for the flute and the changshan. They would most defnitely not fit into his little rucksack. Well, maybe the flute, if he broke it down? Piao Bai removed the pack and pondered the flute. More weight, but worth it.

Then, he moved around the changshan, pulling it until it lay flat by carefully using teeth and paws. Once he had it laid out, he climbed upon the bed and stared at it. No, no matter how he folded it or rolled it, he would not be able to take it with him. A pity. Hm... what if he snuck the changshan into her pack before she noticed? Yes! If she was still sleeping he could move it easily. That sleep of hers kept her out of things like one of the dead. Creepy, really.

With renewed vigor, Piao Bai tightly folded the changshan. Humming to himself, he began the task of dragging it... Oh. No. That wouldn't work. It would get too dirty! Another square cloth was found, the changshan placed in it, then tied up, then dragged into the main room.

Now, where was that pack of hers? Ah! There. His forward progress was interrupted by the opening of the door. Mei Li had returned with breakfast.

"Ah, my Lord, are you hungry?" Piao Bai smiled and moved to her.

"Thank you, Mei Li. And, please, call me Piao Bai. Cai would not approve."

"As you wish, my Lord."

It must be the oddest thing to see a dragon use utensils, but use them he did. Now, that he'd paused, he realized Cai was not actually sleeping in the main room anymore. Hm.

"Have you seen Cai, Mei Li?" Piao Bai sipped the warm tea.

Cai was in the middle of performing the sequence of movements known as 'Dragon seeks the phoenix' when she felt some sense of activity from the little dragon tattoo on her arm. Mei Li's arrival shortly after was noticed, but Cai appreciated that the woman hadn't disturbed her exercises.

However, the village woman's willingness to simply open the door without first making her presence known seemed a bit strange. How free had Piao Bai been with granting them access to the house without the base courtesy of a knock? It raised even more questions surrounding the changshan, coins, and flute.

As she continued the present exercises, Cai focused on the flow of qi which linked her and Piao Bai through the tattoo. With her body healed, Cai could better sense the connection the tattoo represented. It would be interesting to see if the ability to converse with the dragon worked when they were separated.

As Cai sank gracefully into a low stance, shifting her weight and posture to change the direction of her next movements, she asked "Are you awake, Piao Bai? I saw one of the villagers enter the house without knocking."

Piao Bai jumped slightly, sloshing the tea over the lip of the cup. He'd felt the build up of Qi, but had never been on the receiving end.

Oh, ah. There she is. What an interesting sensation.

"Good morning, Cai. Is that an odd thing?"

Piao Bai settled himself and took another sip of tea.

"Will we be leaving this day?"