Now what? Mei-Li asked. Stepping away from the tree under which they had appeared, she studied the various members of the band curiously. I don't know any of these people, Sankira. Will you introduce me?

Well, I would do, little sister, Sankira replied. If I knew any of them. He glanced sideways at her and smiled inwardly at the expression of shock that suddenly transformed her features.

"What?!" Mei-Li exclaimed. Immediately, she realized she had spoken out loud and bit her lower lip. She was always so charming when she did that. Turning wide eyes on her brother, she said, You joined a quest without knowing anyone involved?

Sankira chuckled. Why not? It sounded like a lot of fun. At least, the way Monkey God described it.

Mei-Li turned her gaze to the river where the apparent leader of their band was sitting on a rock. I've never met Monkey God before, she mused.

You've never met a lot of gods before, Sankira pointed out. Well, there are so many, and you don't get out much, little sister... unless it's to follow me around. Mei-Li's next thought equated to sticking her tongue out at him, which only made Sankira laugh. We'll meet everyone eventually.

Where are we going?

"For the moment," Sankira said, guiding her down the sloping bank to the river's edge. "We're going to get a drink. I'm thirsty. Shimmering takes a lot out of a person."

"I meant, where is this quest taking us?"

"I knew what you meant," Sankira replied placidly.

"But you're not going to ans—you don't know that either?!"

"Does it matter as long as we have a good, rousing adventure?" Sankira asked with a laugh. He squatted down next to the river bank and scooped water into his hand bending to taste its cool freshness. A deep rumble of thunder in the distance caused him to pause with the second sip only halfway to his mouth. Sounds like your mother has discovered your absence, Mei-Li. I hope you're happy, he sighed. She already hates me.

When he got no response, Sankira squinted up at his sister, raising one hand to shield his eyes from the sun. Mei-Li? You look upset," he said, alarmed by her change of expression. He rose and took both her hands in his. Are you sensing something to come? It's not too late to turn back, you know.

No, no. It's nothing. Nothing to be concerned about...yet.

Sankira could see her read the skepticism in his eyes. He wasn't mollified by her denial and she knew it. Still, he accepted it for the moment. Little choice, really. She had a maddening habit of keeping her secrets to herself until she was ready to give them out. He only hoped that this time she wouldn't be so worried about appearing timorous that she waited too long.

For no other reason than to change the subject, he turned to survey their companions. "Well, now. Let's see who we have. Our guide Monkey God—"

"I wonder if Father knows him?"

Sometimes Sankira had trouble deciding when she was joking and when she was not. "Father knows everyone," he pointed out. "So, what do you think? He's obviously a more than competent guide. We shouldn't get lost ... at least I should hope not. And from the tune he's singing, it seems we shall be entertained. I've always heard he has a wonderful sense of humor."

"What about the magician?" Mei-Li asked following the Babylonian's every move with her eyes.

"Which? The one called Kadin or ... the very lovely one called Des? Ouch," he said without any real feeling behind the word. Mei-Li's tiny slap on his arm had been an expected reaction. They had spent enough time together in the last few decades that he had discovered where quite a number of her pressure points were. He only hoped she hadn't learned as many of his. "Well, no matter. They both seem quite gifted. Opening that portal was no simple trick."

"No, but the artist that painted it was— well, she was ... a true artist," Mei-Li said admiringly.

"Mm-m-m," Sankira agreed absently watching as Yi Han moved to sit beside Kitsune. "Yi Han seems to be an artist, if you ask me—with a sword. As does Shuai Tiao with the jiao. And then we have have our samurai. Did you see him just stand there while that demon rode as though to trample him? Very impressive. Hm-m-m, Minamoto Yorihito...I'm almost certain I've heard that name before. Anyway, he's much better with the katana than I am."

You handle your sword as well as anyone here, Mei-Li replied in such an off-hand manner Sankira wasn't sure whether to look for hidden meanings in her words or not. She dropped her eyes to the ground as he looked at her, but said nothing more.

Unaccountably pleased by the remark, he controlled a smile and turned back to the river, busying himself by scooping water into a tiny cup that seemed to simply appear in his hand. Mei-Li would be angry with herself later. Thank you, sister, he replied sincerely, handing her the cup. He daren't say anything more or she would become irritated with him—and Mei-Li's irritation was usually expensive for the irritant. "A healer, a shapeshifter," he went on, trying to put her back at ease, "a geisha with hidden talents, one dog and a yak. Oh, and a rather young man with a very large sack. We seem to be well supplied. Who am I missing? Wasn't there another member of the quest at the waystation?

You were busy at the time, but I think she went through the portal before it was properly aligned. I fear we've lost her ... for the moment, at least.

Ah, I see. Well, I leave it to you sister. Which do you prefer: to meet the others of our company now or after the next band of demons attacks?