Serali and Kehtro tried out many other forms after that. They flew as hawks, they swam as fish, they even ran with the herdbeasts once. But Kethro loved horse form, and so they raced as horses nearly as often now as they spoke together as dragons.

Summer on the Ocean of Grass was not quite as hot as it was at Land's End, but the heat was enough to make most of the dragons at dragon stone operate on a nocturnal schedule, sleeping through the hottest parts of the day. The grass turned from green to golden and Drevass called the dragons together to remind them of the danger of fire. Cherval and a group of the younger dragons decided to make a firebreak around dragon stone.

Serali and Kethro pitched in, helping to dig trenches and clear bare areas. The immense project kept them busy for nearly a month and by the time they were done the weather was beginning to show hints of fall. The days were still sweltering, but nights were getting colder.

As the weather changed Serali was thinking more and more of her family. She was twenty-three now and it had been a full year since she had seen them last. Much had changed since then, but she still missed them. She wondered if Dentol had a baby yet, and how Papa and Mama were faring with the inn.

At last she made up her mind to return to Land's End. One by one she told Kethro, Cherval, Trillor, Drevass, and Vulcnor that she was leaving. She assured them all she would return. Each of them wished her well and said goodbye, except for Kethro who took the news with an uncharacteristic silence.

She was packing her few possessions for the trip when a soft noise made her look up. Standing in the entrance to her chambers was a young man. He was as tall as she, with broad shoulders and an athletic build. He was dressed all in green, and his hair was jet black.

He spoke haltingly in the draconic language and his voice was surprisingly deep. "S-Serali, I… I need to t-t-talk to you. I'm n-not sure how to say what I want to say to you." As he spoke he gained confidence. "I've t-tried to show you every way I could, but I should have known you would not notice. That's all right, it's not your f-fault. I understand about how you were raised. I finally figured out a way to make you see me the way I want you to see me."

"Kethro?" Serali suddenly recognized her friend. But what did he mean?

"Yes. I guess you couldn't think of a dragon the way I think of you. I remember what you told me about Galen and so I thought maybe… But that doesn't matter. What matters is what I've come to say to you. Serali, I love you. I've tried showing you all the ways that a dragon would show you, but I guess that didn't work. And I was afraid that if I said anything you would laugh at me. But I can't just let you leave. I couldn't let you leave me and not tell you, so I decided to show you the only way I could. I love you. I'm not sure how humans do things, but I want to have you as my mate, to live with forever. I'll do anything you ask me to, go anywhere you want me to, be anything you need me to. Please, Serali. Even if you don't want to be my mate, just please don't leave me." His rush of words halted and he looked at her pleadingly, his expression fearful and hopeful at once.

Serali felt a kind of shock as what he had said sank into her. And she suddenly thought of Galen, and the time she'd spent with him. They had, in a way, done all the same things that she and Kethro had done, but because he was human, and in some ways she was human too, she had seen him as a love, as a possible husband. And Kethro... She had thought of him as a friend, as her best friend even, but he was so much more. She had been willing enough to leave him for a little while so that she could see her family, but when she thought of leaving him and never coming back... no. She couldn't do it. And her words to Galen, all those years ago, floated through her mind. "Someday I'll find some dashing young dragon..." And here he was, everything she could ever want in a partner, a mate, a husband, and she had almost overlooked him entirely, just because of the shape he wore.

Kethro's face fell as her silence stretched out. "It's all right if you don't..." he started, but she interrupted.

"But I do. I never thought about it, you're right that I'm still too used to looking human to think of a dragon like that, but I should have. I thought of you as my best friend, but you're so much more than that. I love you too, Kethro." The she smiled. "My Mama always wanted me to marry someone and raise a family like my brother has. I think that she'll like you."

His eyes lit up and he stepped towards her. "Does that mean that you, that we... that we can be mates?"

"Yes it does. I can't think of anything I'd want more, in fact. Though... I hope you don't mind going through a human-style wedding first. My parents would never forgive me for marrying without having them present."

"I said I would do anything you needed. I meant it. I love you so much all I want is to be with you, however I can be." He put his arms around her then, and hugged her hard.

"All I want is to be with you too." Serali hugged him back and then kissed him. Kethro went still for a moment, surprised, before kissing back a bit awkwardly. Dragons kiss, but it is entirely different when you don't really have lips. I could get used to being human, he thought. It certainly has its good points. But even if it didn't, I would do it all the same, to be with Serali.