Author's Note: If you haven't done so yet you should read the first part of this series called Through the Glass. Otherwise, welcome to the interlude of my werewolf series. I hope to explain more about the dragonborn and explore more of Kaida's world and the supernatural creatures in it. Up until now I've only written in weres, with a passing mention of vampires. The new creatures introduced are a combination of myth and imagination.

Title: Turbulence

I rubbed my eyes and yawned as I stood on the upper deck of the ferry between Naha, Okinawa and Zamami Island. My flight from Chicago to Tokyo had taken a long thirteen hours then a three hour layover before continuing to Okinawa. All together I'd been in transit nineteen hours. Then I'd taken a bus to my cousin's house and refused to leave until she'd admitted she knew of the dragonborn but no details. Then she'd told me to go to our grandmother's who was supposedly one of the dragonborn.

Hence why I was headed from 40 degree weather to 70 degree weather. It was nice, don't get me wrong, but the human body was not made for such huge leaps in temperature. Add that to the jet lag and by this point my temper and my reasoning were operating well below normal levels. I wasn't quite sure what day it was since I had traveled over the International Date Line. I knew it was close to Christmas because the flight between Tokyo and Naha had been full to capacity with holiday travelers heading south for warmer weather.

I was so tired and out of it that the guilt of Zaven's death had almost been buried. Almost. Every time my eyes tried to close so I could doze off, a montage of memories would storm through my mind. Zaven's face when we first met, us talking as we laid next to a sleeping Gabriel, the way his eyes lit up and he would give a little half-smile when we did something funny, his wolf form lying on the ground, Gabriel's expression as he knelt beside him, my hands covered in dark red blood.

My eyes popped back open again as the ship bumped against the dock, jolting me so I nearly fell over. I shook my head and headed toward the exit with my suitcase rolling along behind me. Around me I heard a mix of mainland Japanese and Okinawan Japanese, which were nearly unique from each other. Thanks to summers with my grandmother I could understand enough of the Okinawan dialect to get around.

This came in handy when I rented a taxi to my grandmother's house on the other side of town. It took about ten minutes then I was standing in front of a two story red roofed house with a little dragon figure on top. The house was made of sturdy wood that was discolored by years of typhoons and sea water blown by the wind. I could almost taste the salt on my tongue and I smiled faintly at the memories of snorkeling and cooking sea food on the beach minutes after catching it.

I slid open the door into a small entryway for shoes and coats to be shed. I sat my shoes neatly beside a few other pairs and opened the second door into the house itself. No one on the island locked their doors, most people don't even close their doors. I left my suitcase beside the door and stepped onto the tatami mats. “O-baa-san?” I called, looking around the traditional home that hadn't changed since before I'd been born.

I noticed some new pictures on the television center and stepped over to look at them. I was awing over my new second cousin when a man said, “Hello?” from behind me. I shrieked in surprise and threw the photo into the air over my shoulder. The man stepped forward and caught it easily raising a brow at me.

“Who are you?” I asked, looking around for my grandmother. Had this man broken in? Was she tied up in a closet somewhere? I narrowed my eyes and watched him suspiciously.

He smiled and bowed. “Higa Tatsuya, nice to meet you.”

My good manners kicked in and I bowed, keeping my eyes on him. “Adair Kaida. Where's my o-baa-san?” Okay, not so polite.

He was going to answer but stopped when o-baa-san entered the room. My eyes grew wide then I smiled and bowed. “O-baa-san, I was worried.”

“Kaida-chan, what are you doing here?”

I glanced at Tatsuya then pulled the dragonborn book out of my messenger bag. “Do you know what this is?” I asked her, holding it out in both hands.

Her eyes took in the book then she sighed and shared a look with the man. “Let's have a seat,” she said. “I'll get some tea.”

Tatsuya and I knelt at the low table on squared cushions, waiting in silence until o-baa-san returned with a tray holding a green tea pot and three cups. She sat the tray down then took her seat and poured each glass, placing a small dark brown sweet on each saucer. “Thank you,” I said when she sat the cup in front of me.

I was used to the slowness of getting around to talking due to observing politeness and manners, but Tatsuya look restless and in a hurry even as he thanked her. I knew she was watching me like a hawk, so I made sure I didn't make any mistakes in the tea ceremony. Picking up the cup I studied the artwork on it then turned the bowl so the art was facing the others and took a sip. I placed the cup back on the saucer and picked up the sweet, taking a small bite then replacing it as well.

Tatsuya watched me carefully then copied my motions. Satisfied with our restraint, o-baa-san began. “I have the same book, Kaida-chan. I am also of dragon blood. Higa-san, this is my granddaughter. Kaida-chan, Tatsuya is a kitsune who has come to ask me for knowledge.”

My eyes shot to Tatsuya who looked like he wanted to either strangle o-baa-san, smack his head on the table, or both. “Oshiro-sama, surely that was unnecessary.”

I knew what was going to happen even before the sentence was finished. O-baa-san had grabbed a newspaper and with surprising speed had bopped him on top of the head with it. “Don't question your elders,” she ordered.

Tatsuya clutched his head and complained. “What are you doing? You know who I am!”

O-baa-san bopped him again, anticipating his dodge to the right with uncanny precision. “Quiet!” she ordered.

I could sympathize. I'd been whacked countless times for rudeness, actual or perceived. “O-baa-san, is a kitsune different than a werefox?” I asked curiously.

Her attention shifted to me. “A werefox is a human who can become a fox. A kitsune is a fox who can become human.”

“Ahh.” I nodded in understanding. “May I ask why he came to you for knowledge?”

“As a dragonborn we are considered the keepers of mystical knowledge. Come,” O-baa-san ordered, standing with grace.

The two of us stood and followed her upstairs into a small room barely bigger than a linen closet. It was a tight fit and I ended up squashed between Tatsuya and a broom. O-baa-san had pulled a small ladder down from the roof and climbed up with ease. Tatsuya waved towards it, “Ladies first.”

I muttered under my breath in English but clambered up and emerged into a small crawlspace that I had never knew existed. It was filled to the brim with books crammed onto shelves in organized chaos. A small chair and table was somehow made to fit in a corner. O-baa-san walked over to a shelf and pulled out one of the books.

I followed her in shock. “Wha—what is this? I never knew this was here.”

She ignored me and addressed Tatsuya. “This book holds the knowledge you seek.” She flipped through it and stopped about halfway through, “The secret of killing a naga.”

Tatsuya stepped forward and made a movement to take the book. O-baa-san avoided him and flipped the book closed. “Kaida, you will accompany Tatsuya-kun to gather the ingredients.”

“Oshiro-sama, it would be better if I went alone. I can move faster that way.”

A folded up fan emerged and hit him up side the head before disappearing into a pocket just as quickly. “She will go with you.”

“What is a naga?” I interjected, looking between the two of them in confusion.

“Let's return to our tea.”

Back downstairs, o-baa-san sat the book on the table and slid it in front of me. Glancing over at her I opened the book to the same point she had and scanned the page. “Nagas are beings with the lower half of a snake and the upper half of a human being. Whatever wound is inflicted on them is inflicted threefold on their attacker unless a combination of herbs is introduced into their blood,” I read aloud.

“Tatsuya-kun's clan is being attacked by a naga. He came to me for the potion to negate their magical ability to reflect wounds onto their enemies. Read on,” o-baa-san said.

My gaze returned to the page. “The herbs needed for the mix are as follows: Gotu Kola, Red Hellebore, Wolfberry, Vanda Orchid, and Purple Reishi. See page 284 for the locations they can be found.”

Tatsuya had leaned over to stare at the book. “How can you read anything? The pages are blank!” he complained.

“Of course they aren't blank. Do you think I'm making this up?” I retorted.

“Stop squabbling. The book can only be read by the dragonborn. And if I wrote the information down for you it would be gibberish. That's why she must go with you.”

“O-baa-san, I need to find out about our heritage. I don't have time to go traveling. I feel bad about his clan, really, but I have my own problems,” I explained. A sudden pain on the top of my head had me groaning, “Ouch! That hurt!”

“Don't be rude. You will help him. Then we will talk of the dragonborn.”

“But—,” I started.

“Don't question your elders.”

I wanted to growl at her but the threat of being hit with the fan again stopped me. I was tired, confused, annoyed and all I really wanted to do was lay down and sleep the rest of the day away. But the adage no rest for the wicked was showing it's ugly head.

Tatsuya looked ready to leave now that he had the information and a guide to read the book for him. O-baa-san noticed his fidgeting and sighed before looking at me. “Here, take Tobi with you. He isn't a fighter but he's one of the best spies,” she said, digging in her apron pocket. She pulled out a dark brown lizard about as long as my middle finger and raised it to eye level. “Tobi, this is my granddaughter, Kaida. Obey her as you would me.”

I could have sworn the little thing bobbed it's head in assent before she held him out to me. I lined my palm up with hers and Tobi walked over and up my arm to settle on my shoulder, almost hidden in my hair. Why not? My life was already complicated and unbelievable enough. What would a sentient lizard hurt?

“He usually will stay in a pocket but if he comes out he'll get on your shoulder in your hair. Now you two go on. The last ferry for tonight doesn't leave for a few hours so go out and eat. Get to know each other,” O-baa-san said firmly, pushing us both out the door.

“But how do I communicate with a liz...ard?” I trailed off as the sliding door shut with a firm clack. Well, hell.

I sighed and turned toward Tatsuya who had an annoyed look on his face to match mine. “I know a good restaurant nearby. We may as well go get some food. O-baa-san has made up her mind and we won't get anything else from her.” I slid the book that held information on nagas into my bag then settled Tobi into one of the side pockets so he could watch from under the flap covering the opening. Though why I cared if he could see anything was beyond me. I was just going to chalk it up to insanity and leave it at that.

Tatsuya nodded in agreement. “Fine. I'll tell you more about the situation then.” He started off down the sidewalk.

“Hey wait! You're going the wrong way!” I yelled, running after him.

Translation Notes:

O-baa-san: Semi-formal way of addressing your grandmother