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The two disappeared princesses were very concerning, to say the least.

Especially to Yue, who sometimes felt as if she were their step-mother, especially in the absence of Mei, their true birth mother! Who else would mourn their loss, not only for what it meant to the Dynasty, but for the spirit that ran through all things? Their disappearance was an offense to all things beautiful and whole.

The Emperor, certainly, had already dispatched search parties for the wayward girls… but the Empress, she prayed — often, and with a fervency she had not felt in recent years aside from her fertility concerns. She asked the Crystal Dragon that he may guide both Fen and Lian home – all of those from Tianlong who were now lost, Yuezhuo and Rihe included – and asked the Crane to watch them and keep them safe in their travels.

Yue was quite convinced, after Layre and Yuezhuo had both traveled home from the great battle, that most others were out there, lost and aimless. It made sense to figure that the wayward Princess had gotten lost, as they were relatively sheltered within the Dynasty for their entire lives. There has not been much navigation necessary.

Then, all at once, her prayers had been answered! A call emanated from the farthest reach of the Grace, and Yue could do nothing but immediately identify it as Lian. It was her beautiful voice! Such a wonderful thing! Immediately, the Empress pitched into a full gallop.

When she laid her eyes on the beautiful young shewolf, Yue was ecstatic. Princess! she called out with glee, losing any sense of priority in her rush to embrace Lian. Oh, princess Lian, how fortune shines down upon us!

At least one of two daughters was at home safe, and now that half of Shenlei could relax. Now, more than ever, the Empress was fully convinced that it was only a matter of time before Fen, too, made it back to her place in Tianlong.

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