"Elder Sister," Renko said to Otohime, "I've been wondering. These little yokai seem to like us."

"I don't know about that," Otohime replied, "But at least they don't seem to mean us any harm."

Renko had started visiting her sister and her mother. Today, Rizantona reclined with her egg wrapped protectively in her barbed tail. Otohime, a picture-perfect Asian dragon nearly as large and ancient as Rizantona, curled up near her. Renko was smaller than her sister but ...