Sakura meets the caravan leader, Koji, & a young Tabotan Monk.

"Koji-San?" Sakura asks the caravan leader. "Is that you?"

For a moment, Sakura & the aging Oriental human, Koji Chinn, stare at one another, before hugging each other tightly. According to guild lore, it had been five years since Sakura last saw Koji in The Dragon Continent, and ten years since Koji had made a trade with the people of Freeport. While Sakura has grown into a fine, young, adult Neko; Koji has aged significantly. Streaks of gray hair were creeping in, and there were a few new wrinkles in his face. His dark eyes were showing the effects of 65 years of life on the mortal plane--55 of those years on the road. Somehow, Koji found a traveling wife in the 60-year old Inawe, as well as their three children--25-year old Akane, 21-year old Aguri, & 16-year old Musashi.

"It has been so long since we last met in person, Koji-San." Sakura tells the caravan leader. "We are fortunate that we arrived, as we did."

"These Prydaen Pirates may've destroyed some of our goods, Sakura-Chan," Koji tells her, "but that is part of traveling the trade roads, of course, and you & your guild managed to preserve the most precious cargo we have--our lives."

"Another minute of delay, and it could've been alot worse." Sakura tells Koji. "Is your family alright? Are any of your guards & staff hurt?"

"Some of them are hurt, but no deaths, so far." Koji responds. "These pirates were sloppy enough for us to take up a defensive position. Perhaps that gave you & your escort time to rescue us."

"All the more reason we managed to get here on time." Sakura nods.

Together with Sashya, Sakura starts to assess the injured & wounded, while the rest of the guild help the other make any necessary repairs to the caravan wagons, & to check on their giant oxen. With Deraxle's help, Sashya made some splints, to tend to any broken limbs, & allow for natural healing. Magic did the rest, either fully healing the wounded, or alleviating enough of the pain the person was suffering to make them as comfortable as possible. That's when Sakura finds someone buried in the rubble of a destroyed wagon.

From the looks of the destroyed wagon, it appeared as if one of the Prydaen grabbed the person, and hurled it right into the said wagon. Miraculously, Sakura finds the person still alive...barely. She calls for Sashya, then starts the painstaking process of removing the rubble from the person. As she did that, she finds the person to be more than just any man from The Dragon Continent. The man, as it turns out from the tattoo markings & robes, is a Tabotan Monk. Sakura knew enough of their kind to know how tough it can be to fight one, much less kill one. Perhaps a surprise or flanking attack got the better of him, but any truth would have to wait. Sakura does a visual inspection of his injuries and wounds. There were plenty of deep cuts from the wood splinters, and she could sense the signs of broken bones, including several broken ribs. Those broken ribs had to be making breathing difficult for the man, so Sakura used her shaman magic to mend those ribs first. Almost immediately, she felt him breathe easier, but she knew he was still in danger. Sashya worked on his wounds next, healing the wounds that weren't too deep, leaving just the deep wound in his left side. Fortunately, it didn't rupture his spleen, but both Sakura & Sashya knew he could still lose too much blood, or get a serious infection, before they made it to Sheba. Therefore, they carefully cleaned the wound, which made the monk wince in pain, then dress it carefully. Then they carefully got him to his feet, before Deraxle got him up on the airship.

"Sakura," Cesar tells her as he came over, "the caravan is as good & ready as we can make it. I want you to stay with Koji & his crew. Janissa & Jasmine will stay with you on the ground. We'll provide escort with the airship, until we reach Sheba."

"Understood, m'lord." Sakura replies. "It will let me catch up on life stories with Koji-San. In the meantime, see what you can learn of the Tabotan Monk you brought up onto the airship...if you can, of course."