Shinlo sighed and said “I believe so. She wasn’t there so I can’t be sure what happened. But…what remains I found of ghe temple that ash used to live at…some kind of great evil was there…” his eyes glowed softly in the darkness and he said “I am the wandering White Snake…but that evil…I’d know it if I felt it again. And I don’t want the same fate to fall on my dear Asteria…so I’m staying around”

Ash smiled weakly and curled around him, closing her eyes and seeming to pass out.