Serali twisted in midair in a corkscrew turn, Kethro close behind her, as they winged their way east toward the city of Barona. After spending nearly a month with her family and new husband, Serali had decided to visit Janus and give him the good news. It had been well over a year since she had last seen him, though she was sure nothing had changed in that time. Janus had been around forever and would be around forever.

The air was crisp and clear as they soared over a sea of trees in flaming fall colors. A few clouds dotted a brilliant blue sky, and a light breeze made flying just that much easier. Chasing each other, playing tag in mid-air, the two newlywed dragons flew towards a rising sun. Serali had never felt so good. After long years of feeling out of place, different, even unwanted, she now belonged completely and utterly, even if it was just to one person. It was wonderful. Looping and rolling exuberantly, she doubled back and chased Kethro's tail. They cavorted across the sky like a pair of hatchlings just learning how to fly.

As the day lengthened and they fled from the setting sun, Serali started looking for a place to land for the night. A bluff stood out above the irregular fire tinted carpet of trees not far ahead. Serali headed for it with Kethro following close behind. They spent and uneventful night in a cave at the base of the bluff and continued on in the morning.

They repeated that pattern, making their leisurely way along. After several days, Serali wasn't counting, they arrived. They both shifted into human form before approaching the city, since causing a panic wasn't a nice thing to do.

Janus greeted the pair with enthusiasm when they knocked on his door.

"Serali! I hadn't expected to see you again so soon!"

"More than a year is 'soon' to you?"

"Well, you're a journeyman now. Generally journeymen journey! And they don't usually return to their masters until they've reached the level to be tested for master themselves. But who's this?" He glanced curiously at Kethro. Then he shook his head. "Let's have our introductions inside." He motioned them both through the door.

Seated in comfortable chairs in the front parlor, they continued their conversation.

"Janus, this is Kethro, Kethro, Janus." Then she grinned. "We were married just last week."

"A pleasant surprise!" He rose and shook Kethro's hand. Then he turned to Serali with a slight frown. "But what about…" he hunted for the right way to say it. "What about the problem you had before? Does he know…?"

Serali laughed. "Yes he knows! He's a dragon himself."

Janus looked a bit startled. Then he chuckled. "I don't know why that surprises me. I suppose it's just because I watched you grow up as a human child and even though I know better, I still tend to think of you as human. I should know by now that you're something quite different, but it tends to not stick."

Serali was suddenly serious. "Humans and dragons aren't so different. There's so much animosity between them for no good reason at all." She shook her head. "I of all people should know that the two races can get along. They're just so used to the way things are now, nobody wants to change it." Then she sighed. "But I didn't come here to bother you about that. You of all people aren't guilty of racial prejudice."

Janus smiled. "No, I of all people am not!"