Helpless

Flying in the sky, Bailong stayed away from the back of Kaizen for a while. He tilted here, tilted there. Practiced going in circles. At Qinglong’s abrupt commands, he made unexpected turns. A few other beasts flew around him, giving sidelong looks, but none of them spoke to him.

When the night became quieter and beasts of the sky went to rest, it was time to practice over a larger area. The battalion he had seen yesterday wasn’t there today. Or maybe it was out of his sight. Since the air smelled clear, he landed by the front doors and walked through to the back.

“I will land on the roof. You come out.” In his days in Kaizen, the skies over the top of the hill had always been clear. The chances of encountering other beasts in the sky were close to none.

Qinglong felt excited at the prospect of doing something, anything. Flying at an upward angle came easier to him. He looked out for small fires, two lit hands. Nothing caught his eyes as he scouted the entire place.