Nightfall was fast approaching in Silence Gorge. A small fire burned alone as the Elani left it to gather outside the cave where Old Synan and Jia were working with the new arrival.

Leif had left them earlier and as he now looked at the faces of his companions in the failing light he could tell they were all concerned. Mariko, however, looked thoroughly bored and would've probably fled ages ago if it hadn't had been for the constant watchful eye of Lachlan.

"Orsino, the fire. Stay with it please." Leif watched as Orsino went to watch over the blaze. He turned to young Kirin. "Go and have a peek," he said. "See what they're up to."

Kirin grinned and crept into the mouth of the cave. The boy glanced back over his shoulder and his eyes met Leif's. Leif gave him an encouraging nod and so Kirin coughed politely and took a step farther. "Ahem. Synan, sir, can I come in?"

Leif heard a quiet reply from the old man and Kirin relayed his words back to them. "He said yes. Gaeshi is well, fully recovered. We can go in!"

There was no hesitation, the Elani had been eager to find out what was going on from the moment Gaeshi had arrived. Even Orsino left his post by the fire, and Lachlan forced a reluctant Mariko to join them.

Leif entered last, stepping into the coolness of the cave. Everybody gathered around the lantern and he sat beside Jia.

"It is best you don't ask questions," Synan said. "Allow Gaeshi to speak. He is ready now."

They waited, all eyes upon the Sarkany. The boy lifted his gaze.

"My name is Gaeshi Sarkany of the Western Plain, a place not of your land. As you may or may not know, I am a dragon in human form. When I turn, I cannot control my actions, I... it's like I know what I'm doing but can't stop it. Some people think Sarkany are dangerous. Dragons are dangerous. Sarkany are not."

The boy paused in his tale and smiled at Jia, who he seemed fond of. He ran a hand through his thick black hair, then continued to stare at the flickering fire of the lantern.

"I can't remember much of my life," he said quietly, "my parents, my home. All I know is that I was born to travel to Silence Gorge. All I know is one name. Sorrel. I have to go to Sorrel, I thought she'd be here..." He frowned and muttered, "I thought she'd be here."

"She will return," Leif said, his voice quiet.

Gaeshi sighed. "I have to go to her. I was so tired, after the storm took me and the sea..." He shivered. "I thought she'd be here. So tired, but you helped me. Both of you." Gaeshi stopped again and smiled at Synan and Jia.

Leif leaned forwards. "Please," he said, "how did you get here?"

"I turned," Gaeshi said, shrugging. "Turned into the dragon. Had to. It was much quicker. Will have to again, to find her."

"She will come back here," Leif said again, stubbornly. "Can't you just wait here with us?"

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Gaeshi shook his head and smiled. "No, I have to go to her now. It'd be dangerous for me and you if I'd stay, though I thank you for your hospitality."

Mariko, uncomfortable with the Elani, spoke for the first time in front of them all. "Why's it dangerous?" she asked. It was a simple question but one Leif was very interested in too.

The boy smiled at them all. "The urge for me to go to Sorrel is strong. I will turn into a dragon to reach her and if I wait here, I might not be able to stop myself. If I turn in your company, none of you will be strong enough to control me. It's as simple as that." He looked at Mariko and smiled a thin-lipped smile. "And some of you might attract my attentions more than others."

Mariko narrowed her eyes and smiled back. "Are you threatening me?"

Leif cut short any further conversations between the two. "Then you must go to Sorrel. Though if you try to harm her..."

"Oh I'd never harm Sorrel!" said Gaeshi. "Even as a dragon I would never harm her. I was born to serve and protect Sorrel."

Lachlan leaned close to Leif and whispered, Cloud, in his ear to which he nodded before turning to Gaeshi once more. "There's another with Sorrel, called Little Cloud. Would you harm him?"

There was a stillness in the cave then and every Elani held their breath as they waited for the stranger's reply. All were hugely fond of Little Cloud.

Gaeshi hung his head and sighed. "I don't know." He looked up and gave a shrug. "Perhaps. Maybe. I don't know. If Sorrel were with him then maybe she could protect him." He shook his head. "You must let me go."

"You must not hurt Cloud," Leif said. The thought of releasing Gaeshi only for him to turn on the boy…

Gaeshi stared at him. "I'll listen to Sorrel."

Leif opened his mouth to issue a warning but Lachlan nodded and shot a glance at Mariko as he spoke to Gaeshi. "You are not our prisoner, you are free to go whenever you wish."

Leif realised he was right. Pushing down any misgivings, he stood and went to the mouth of the cave. It was dark outside now and stars dotted the night sky. He gazed upwards, thinking of his mother and wondering what she would do. Then he thought of his little sister and smiled. "Gaeshi Sarkany, come here."

Gaeshi glanced at the others before getting up and going to Leif's side.

Leif put his hand to the boy's shoulder and looked into those deep black eyes, seeing the stars reflected in them. "You would never harm Sorrel?"

Gaeshi shook his head once, firmly. "Never."

Leif sighed. "Then go. Go now. I have no doubt Sorrel will protect Little Cloud. She's closer to him than anyone else. Go before I change my mind."

Gaeshi nodded and walked out into the open before turning to look back at Leif and the others gathered at the cave entrance. "Stay inside," he warned. "Don't come out again tonight."

Leif understood and ushered the reluctant Elani back inside before going to Gaeshi for the final time. "Tell Sorrel I miss her."

Gaeshi smiled and then he held his arms wide and tilted his head back so he faced the stars. Leif quickly retired to the cave to watch from a safe distance as Gaeshi Sarkany disappeared in a shower of light.

He shielded his eyes and when he opened them again Silence Gorge was empty and still. Leif didn't chance a proper look outside in case the dragon was nearby, he turned and walked farther into the cave, where the others soon joined him. All of them were silent.

"Such a young boy," said Jia, shaking her head in wonderment. "And so much responsibility and power."

Old Synan touched her hand lightly and shook his head. "Our friend Gaeshi Sarkany is older than he looks. He is ready for whatever task he has with Sorrel. Ah, but it is late. Let us leave talk for the morning and sleep now."

Leif nodded in agreement and the rest of the Elani settled down quietly enough. With his back resting against the cave wall, he folded his arms and closed his eyes. Despite his worry, the day's training had exhausted him and soon, he slept.

Mariko was not one to lie down in peace with the Elani. She leaned back against the rock and half-closed her eyes. For a long while, Lachlan glared at her, even after the others had drifted off. But she waited.

After a while, she heard Lachlan's breathing deepen and she opened an eye. Her dagger was slowly beginning to fall from Leif's tired grasp and she sighed. The look on their faces would be to die for.