The sun had begun to set as Kameko walked leisurely among one of the temple's many garden paths. Up ahead a koi pond full of orange, red, black, and white fish was where the path circled back toward the temple's main entrance.

Kameko sat down at the edge of the water, curling her legs underneath her to accommodate her sky blue kimono. As the sun sank lower in the sky, a silver glint in the pond caught her attention.

With a frown she stood and knelt beside the water, reaching out a foot or so and grasping the object. She sat back and examined it curiously. It was silver with golden swirls and a rough surface.

As she watched small cracks appeared then suddenly a small nose was poking out. She stared with wide eyes then saw the baby was stuck in the egg. Quickly she began pulling pieces of egg away until in her arms was a small dragon.

It was white with a silvery iridescent sheen to its scales. Its whiskers were a few inches long and it was long and lithe as were all Chinese dragons. The dragonling snuggled against Kameko's chest, its still soft claws resting lightly on her arms. "You are amazing but where are your relatives little one? No matter, I will watch over you and perhaps you will bring me good luck," said Kameko.

After a moment of thought she continued. "I will name you Daichi, for you will surely be a grand creature." The newly named Daichi yawned and pawed at a piece of Kameko's long black hair. Kameko laughed as she carried him back to her room in the temple, thankful that as the head priestess in training, she had a room to herself.

As days then weeks passed Kameko began to teach Daichi to speak and to avoid all other humans as the threats of violence between dragons and humans grew. One day, months later, as she passed a door in the hall she heard the word "Dragon". Immediately she stopped to listen.

"As people stop believing in dragons their need to consume livestock grows. You know that our belief in them is what had sustained them before," a voice she identified as Master Li's said.

"I know. I have heard that all the dragons are moving to Mount Xianglo to depart for another plane." Kameko heard this and gasped lightly, running down the hall in a flurry of skirts.

She burst into her room and her green eyes looked around frantically. When she spotted Daichi sitting beside a window she ran over and fell beside him, her arms clutching his neck.

Daichi, who now if he was human would be considered a teenager, looked at her with worry. "What's wrong Kameko?" he asked, wrapping a forepaw around her back.

"I thought you had gone!" she cried, burying her face against his flank.

"Why would you think that?"

Quickly she told him of the conversation she had overheard. He sat for a moment, pondering this. "Yes, I must go with my people," he said finally. Slowly Kameko nodded, reluctant to let him go but knowing she had to.

They spent the next week planning and preparing their journey. It was luck that Mt. Xianglo was just a few days walk from their province of Quiag. That morning the pair set off early, leaving even before the sun had risen.

"Are you glad to be seeing your family again?" Kameko asked as they ate breakfast in the forest.

He nodded, the sun making his scales appear golden. "Yes but I will miss you. I don't see why you can't stay."

She smiled but didn't reply, standing and brushing grass off her red skirt. The pair continued unharassed, for the people in this province had not yet brought arms against dragons. That night at the base of the mountain where they had settled, they sat near a small fire. Neither spoke but it was a comfortable silence, unbroken save for the crackling of the fire and the chirping of crickets.

They slept well that night and lounged around the next morning, trying futilely to avoid climbing the mountain. Finally at noon they started, stopping every hour so Kameko could rest.

Mt. Xianglo was a respectable height of 5,671 feet high and was heavily wooded. One path led to the top and it was in a state of disuse. It took until twilight to reach the gate at the top. They rested a few minutes until a shadow moved to the gate.

A slender black dragon watched them cautiously. "Who goes there?" it asked in a hissing voice, its forked tongue flicking out.

"I am Daichi and this is the one who raised me, Kameko," Daichi said, stepping forward.

The black one stopped as if listening to someone then withdrew a golden key and unlocked the gate. "Enter Daichi and Child of the Tortoise; follow the path to the grand tree. There you will find Tien Lung." The dragon disappeared into the shadows when finished speaking.

Kameko and Daichi exchanged a look before they went through the gate. Night had fallen and the trees cast ominous shadows in the moonlight. The pair walked close together, listening for any odd sounds.

After what seemed a lifetime of walking they reached the summit of Mt. Xianglo. Here there was a clearing with a view of all the land around the mountain. In the clearing there were three dragons. The first and largest was gold and sat on a throne. Kameko assumed this was Tien Lung. Next, was a smaller silver dragon that resembled Daichi. Finally was a red dragon with a staff.

"Welcome Kameko Xao," Tien Lung said.

Daichi and Kameko bowed respectfully. "Great dragon I have brought Daichi home." Suddenly the silver dragon on Tien Lung's right came forward and hugged Daichi.

"I have longed for the day to see you my son. A long year it has truly been," then Daichi's mother turned to Kameko, "and I thank you for saving my son." The dragon placed a paw upon Kameko then resumed her place, bringing Daichi with her.

Kameko faced Tien Lung alone now. The great dragon's ruby eyes stared into her own emerald ones. "Maybe he can see into my soul," Kameko thought, shifting nervously. Tien Lung blinked and the hypnotic spell was broken.

"In return for bringing us a lost child we will give you a gift," he said. Slowly he came off the throne towards her. He stopped just a few inches away from her. Their eyes met and Kameko was enraptured again. His forepaws rested a few millimeters from her temples. A warm feeling spread through her and grew until it felt as though a fire had been lit inside her.

Just as suddenly as it had came it disappeared. Kameko was shaking lightly as Tien Lung removed his paws. Then in one smooth motion he used a claw to cut a symbol on her forehead. Within seconds it had healed to a light scar.

"Until the day your body dies you will be mortal but with this mark your soul shall be dragon, as it is for all mortals who help us. Your unique gift is that of healing. You can help all but those who are lost back to health."

Kameko nodded and bowed. "Thank you, I am honored." She walked forward in front of Daichi. "I will never forget you. I am sad that you must go but I am grateful for the time we had." Barely contained tears sparkled in her eyes.

Daichi hugged her. "We will meet again," he said with a smile. Kameko nodded and turned, beginning the way back down the mountain.

For the rest of her life Kameko never forgot the dragons. She put her gift to use at the temple and as word spread people sought her out. At the age of 90 she died, but as Tien Lung had said she was reborn again as a dragon and as Daichi had promised they did meet again.