"You can't ask this of me, Rehou. You can't. You have no ide-"

"You swore! You swore to me, Yulaan!" Rehou'Sihnai cried, tears seeming to well at the corners of her eyes now.

Yulaan's ears dropped back slightly as he became even more distraught. This entire ordeal had started some time ago. Rehou had given assistance to Yulaan back then, when he had been in dire need, and in repayment, he would have given her anything. Since that time, they had become close.... And now that promise was coming back to haunt him.

Rehou wanted children. His children. Though it wasn't that part of the request that had bothered him. It was what would happen if he actually agreed. There was a reason why there were only seven of his kindred in the entire world.

"I know, Rehou. And I would not deny you. But you are not listening. Even if I could give you children, with the blessing of the gods, the strength and power they would be born with would rival my own, but they would not have the wisdom to wield it. It would kill them all. You cannot ask me to do that, to them or to you!"

Rehou's expression twisted in fear for a moment. The thought of that was almost too much to bear. "Then.... What if.... What if there was another way?"

"What are you talking about....?"

It was only days later that Yulaan found himself being dragged through Star City, and then to the Abstract Destiny. It was certainly a culture shock, this form of high technology. Though not nearly as much as when Rehou had told him her idea.

She had explained quickly what it was that the Abstract Destiny was involved in, but Yulaan had not been convinced. Even this method, if he could force himself to call it that, would endanger any children he fathered. Then she sprung the next part on him. These children didn't have to be from just the two of them. Rehou had thought that if, essentially, Yulaan were not the only father, then their children would be safe.

Before he could even sort out a reply, she'd given him the names of those she'd found to 'assist', so to speak. Yulaan could only smile at that point. And they were following now - Talterianak, his own dragon, and Tenshaku, Teri's...well...beloved. Ironically, the two of them had already been thinking of making their way to the Destiny, and Rehou had apparently made their day.

"You think they'll end up with a bit of your wings, Ten'?" Talterianak commented off to the side, fluffing and folding his ash-dusted golden feathers.

"Maybe. Though I think Fluffy over there will be a bigger player, eh?" Tenshaku smiled, with a head-nod towards Yulaan. Though the Kirin had assumed his Guardian form for this part of the trip, both Ten' and Talt' knew exactly what his Beast form looked like....

"I think this is it." Rehou stopped at last, and turned to look at Yulaan. "Are you ready to meet him?"

"I don't think I'll ever be, but I doubt that will stop you?"

Rehou just smiled, and Yulaan sighed, knocking briefly on the door before heading inside. "Doctor Schroeder?"