Yenay knew the moment she saw the three of them together, Anshi, Han, and Sya Mu, that she was witnessing something exceedingly rare. 

 A soul group, partners in the making.

Not just soul-mating, but the full joining of three souls. Two was the usual pairing. Three was almost unheard of. Filaments of pure energy were gingerly feeling their way, finding it impossible to live without one another. And they, themselves, were unaware of the immensity of the pull that was drawing them in. It was still in its infancy, tottering on uncertain legs, but it was there and it was so powerful it made Yenay dizzy. 

At first. Yenay thought it was Anshi that had caused the pull. Then she wondered if it was because of the persistent faith and loyalty of Minister Han. Was it his continuous care and self-sacrifice that had protected and saved the young boy, even as a child himself? No one witnessing it could help but be impressed by a lifetime so single-mindedly devoted to another

But then there was the dark horse in the race, the peaceful, complete acceptance of each of the others that was unique to Lan Sya Mu. Her love for two very different men in very different ways, was so powerful, that it had drawn the affection of both men.  Her love and loyalty to them was readily apparent.

Perhaps it did not matter. Perhaps it was meant to interchange, and the atom that was THEM shifted constantly in support of the one who needed it most.

Currently,  Anshi was the unaware nucleus of the young and fragile atom that was trying to form, Vulnerable and striving to find himself, he was capable of immense things in this life. However, that fragility left him open to assault from without. The other ones, more independent, hovered around him like electrons, trying to hold his power together until it evolved and controlled itself. None of the three could succeed easily by themselves. But together? Spiritually, emotionally, soulfully, it was dazzling to watch.

Physically? Only the two men had fully united on that front, so far.  Sya Mu and Anshi intended to marry and have children, and Yenay was certain that the union would be a happy one. Sya Mu loved both men in extremely unique ways, and the bonding seemed unbreakable between any of them. Yenay, Mother of the Heart to Anshi, decided to set that matter aside. It was absolutely none of her business, and she would accept what was right for them. 

Yeneay spent most of her time tending to Gon Chono's condition and getting to renew her relationship with Davaajav as well. Gon Chono had been a teen when she last saw him, and their relationship was well remembered by them both. 

Davaajav had only been ten at the time of the Killing Night. Even though he had survived with the help of their Mother's Sect to protect and educate him, he had to start from scratch. He had only had five formative years of being tutored by his mother about her tribe and their cultivation, based around the relationship between Earth and Sky. He despaired early on, agonizing over the fates of his loved ones. Only total submersion in his own cultivation saved him, making him determined to use it to locate whomever still lived. His Uncle had been an admirable teacher, however, his decision to shelter the boy by study instead of allowing him to use it for his search, had bred a child who went quietly rogue to get his own answers. Smart, gifted, and driven, he had left on his own and found his brothers at last. 

Chinua had also been drastically affected. His injuries that were causing his eyes to fail led him to embrace his isolation. Yet he still sent out feelers in the way of the Preaching Monks who had taken him in and healed him as best they could. He was the only one who stayed close to the site of the massacre and had kept in touch with Uncle Maral who had also searched wherever his caravan moved to.  Chinua would never leave his monastery and his bottomless quest for knowledge. It was the only peace and safety he had known since that night when he was 13 and lost everything. He was content with his isolation, now that he knew his remaining brothers were safe. He lived a secular life and he embraced it.

Yenay loved them all. For two years she had cooked their meals, bandaged their wounds, taught them her military skills, told them tales of her and Qinyang, the Brothers Lan and the Wild Childe Wei Ying, and how they all grew up together. The hardship they endured and the happiness they found. 

She fought and nearly died for them And now, they were blessed at having found one another again. Now her focus was on the damaged Gon Chono.

She approached Anshi with an idea as they sat at afternoon tea. 

"I would like to bring the others for a short visit. I think if your two families reunite and get to know one another, Gon Chono would meet others who have had similar experiences that caused extreme damage yet have lived full lives despite it. It may help him."

Anshi spoke quietly. "I think it should be discreetly done. A reason other than anything negative...Would you have any objection to doing a wedding at that time? We need to get those two brats married. A'Qiang is spending too much time in the bathhouse, and Xiao Mian's fanning and soulful sighs are driving all of us to distraction."

Yenay choked on her tea as she laughed. "I will write to The Fathers, Qinyang and Lan XiChen. We will see what they think. But yes, the Passionate Pathos between those two really are reaching intolerable proportions."

"Talking about the lovelorn?" Sya Mu came in trailed by  Han. She had been showing him around the camp and caught the end of the conversation. Anshi smiled up at the two of them as they entered.

"Yes, we were thinking of asking others from Cloud Recesses to visit. First, so that Gon Chono can have more here to talk to about his captivity. People not too close to him, and who might encourage him to be frank and open up more. And to finally get those two kids married off."

Yenay was covertly watching as the three chatted about the plan. She was even more certain that her analysis was right. The nucleus needed his electrons to bind and strengthen him. And they needed him to nuture, protect and love. 

This partnership bore watching.