Sleeping Dragon forcing

friend is too humble a title. a romantic concept for anyone besides qiao. her green gaze drank kairos in. 

many friends walked this earth. many more slept below it.

he was her blood-tithe. qiao was familiar with the strange brothership birthed from war. it transcended blood and went deeper; the survivors chased that feeling the rest of their (short) lives.

stormchaser. my disciple. she motioned for the scowling boy to step forward. he had been tremendously useful to her all these months. when -- or if, if qiao had her way -- she died, he would be the last of her line. to carry the legacy of the overworld.

a pity such responsibility came down on the shoulders of a boy.

qiao thought of her to-lang, which she'd left near their encampment with the quills. the to-lang had been frustratingly silent about this matter -- but perhaps this was the true reason the sigil-bones told her to go to the coast. and here she was, thinking it was because she'd found that sick mother!

a shame you've lost your eye. i could have found good use in it. qiao remarked, turning her attention back to her familiar. we are here on special errand. are you returning then, to akashingo?