Feng the dragon soared across the sky. Below him laid a sea of emerald grass. Ahead of him, great peaks challenged the heavens. He flew just to fly. The wind on his face reason enough to soar. The freedom, a sweetener. He enjoyed the sun on his back when he flew in the day, and the presence of the moon when he drifted in the night. When he flew, all things became weightless, his worries, his hardships, he could forget them all in the sky.
He had been flying since the early morning, after he finished his morning chores. When he began his flight, the sun barely began to rise. Now, while not at its full height, the sun made itself known. Feng could feel small prickles of warmth tickle his back. He sighed and turned back. Feng needed to help his father work on the farm. Those chores could not finish themselves, no matter how hard he wished they could. So, he made the journey home and left the grass and mountains behind him. Well, he could see the grass a bit longer, the Hare Plains stretched far. The green ocean nearly reached his home. It ended right before the hills began, which his village sat upon.
Thirty minutes later he arrived home. He took his time flying back, his father usually woke up late. That was the thing about dragons, heat didn’t bother them as much. Feng could work under the summer sun for as long as he wanted to, that was a lie. It was more like as much as his father needed him to. Farmwork just didn’t interest him, who liked back breaking work? Not him. After his internal grumble, Feng shrank to his other form, the one that couldn’t fly, but one that could sweep and clean inside the house. His home was a home like any other home that could be found in any other farming village, wooden walls, and a thatch roof. Small windows faced the front and an old and beaten wooden door followed along in the center. A pig pen was attached to the side of his home, a chicken coop sat behind, and next to the coop was a barn where the cows mooed. Feng’s family grew wheat, and in a nearby field stalks of it shone under the sun. The time for harvest was near. Feng dreaded his work filled future. The next couple of months were going to be busy ones. Hopefully, his flying time wouldn’t shorten too much.
In Feng’s dragon form his scales were blue and his belly was yellow. Antlers adorned the top of his head and unlike the famous paintings of dragons he had seen before, he had no beard, he wasn’t old enough yet, at least that’s what his father told him. But beards aside, he looked like a dragon. Long whiskers sprouted out the side of his face. Yellow eyes, and a black mane collared his neck. His body was long like a snake’s, but unlike a snake’s, he had four muscled limbs with sharp claws.
In his other form, black hair covered his head and blue eyes replaced yellow ones. His teeth were blunter too, besides his canines, while still not as sharp, they were sharp. A squat body and long legs, compared to his torso, replaced his dragon body. He looked like one of the monkey tribe, except hairless, besides his head, armpits, and other areas that were a bit more personal. Feng’s mighty claws became soft hands, his whiskers disappeared, and his scales transformed into pale skin. The only thing that would let somebody know that he was a dragon was a dragon mark on his shoulder. It was long, black, and serpentine. The mark reached down to Feng’s waist. The design consisted of black eyes, black teeth, and black claws. In Feng’s opinion, it was a nice design, symmetrical and simple while still being aesthetic.
Feng walked to the door of his house and before he could open it, it swung open. The door nearly planted into his face. It would have if Feng had not sidestepped out of the way in time. It whiffed past his face, and Feng’s father appeared in the center of the doorway.
His father was a large man. He was bald, and his shoulders were broad. A black goatee, blue eyes, and a strong jaw. His head nearly bumped the top of the door frame as he walked out of it. Feng’s father dressed in simple farmer’s clothing, a tan tunic, and brown pants.
“Ready for work?” Feng’s father said.
Feng nodded his head. “Always.”
Feng’s father looked at Feng, skepticism shone in his eye. “Sure, you are. Did you make sure to do your chores before you went off flying?”
“Yes, I fed the cows, pigs, and chickens. Then I swept the storehouse and the kitchen. I also checked the grain and rice bags, no tears, and no rats.” Feng said.
“Well of course, rats would have scurried off at the first sight of you, they’re cowards. But if the bags are fine, I’m happy. I’ll have to reward Mei later.” Feng’s father rubbed his chin, probably thinking of a reward to give. Mei was the family cat, before her, one or two bags would get torn into every week. Since she arrived, zero, and it wasn’t like she had just arrived on the farm, it had been at least four months. She was a good cat.
Feng’s father continued his cat present deliberations for a few more moments and snapped back, ready to hand out orders. “We’re going to work hard today. There’s a lot to do.” Feng’s father always said that, but it was true, there always was a lot to do. But as soon as the words left Feng’s father’s mouth the big man’s stomach rumbled. “How about we see what your mother has cooking up first?”
Feng ate earlier in the morning after his chores, but after a couple of hours flying, he was hungry. “Sounds good to me.” Feng said.
Feng’s father nodded his head, and the pair entered their home. They walked towards the kitchen and Feng’s mouth began to water. The scent of frying meat and eggs coated the air. His mother, the wonderful woman responsible for the smells, stood over the stovetop with her black hair tied up into a bun. She wore a black apron, spotless but beaten, a testament to use and love.
“It’s almost ready, boys. Why don’t you two go set the table?” Feng’s mother said.
Feng and his father nodded their heads and did as requested. After setting out a couple of plates, spoons, and forks, the two sat down, ready to eat. Feng’s stomach growled like a dragon’s roar, his father’s was even louder, but they waited patiently. A few moments, food appeared, greasy bacon, Fried eggs, and fluffy rice. Feng and his father devoured the food in front of them.
“Slow down, the food isn’t going anywhere. Or maybe not, it seems to be filling your bellies pretty well.” Feng’s mother smiled. She had brown eyes and a soft smile. She showed that smile often, much to the joy of everybody in the village. She showed it as Feng and his father ate, as they sent crumbs of rice, bacon, and eggs flying. That smile warmed Feng, his spirit always lifted when he saw it. It made him feel loved. Like the world was better around her, like the only world worth living was around her. She worked hard every day to keep the house clean and keep her boys fed. When the farm needed help, she rolled up her sleeves and toiled in the fields right along with her son and her husband. She was the hardest worker and the lynchpin of the family. Without her, Feng and his father would be lost.
“Much to do today?” Feng’s mother said. “Need the help of the great Yue?” She flexed her biceps. “If you two crawl and beg then I might consider it.” She laughed, Feng and his father smiled in return. She was always like this. A good-natured person that made life a little less drab.
“No, the great mistress has no need to dirty her beautiful hands today. For I, Hu, and my dirty peasant boy Feng shall be enough. I just hope that my disgusting little child provides some form of twisted entertainment for you, my lady.” Feng’s father said.
Dirty little peasant boy? “Yes, my lady, I do hope this little peasant boy self and his idiot father can work this land you have given us well. But, my lady, I have heard words of treachery from my father.”
Feng’s father looked confused. “Oh, and what great words of treachery would that be, my dear, Feng.” The mighty mistress said.
“My detestable father has placed his lecherous eyes on another. When he confided in me, I nearly splat blood.”
“I don’t know what he’s talki-” Feng’s father began to say.
Feng cut off his father before he could ruin Feng’s plans. “His eyes have fallen on Mei, the sultry cat Mei. He dared say that blasted creature was the most beautiful woman in the land! I almost cut his head off there, my lady. But I reserve judgment to you, mighty Yue.”
“Hmm, as much it pains the mighty me to say this, I must agree with your father. Mei the cat has no equal. Not even I can match her sublime beauty.” Feng’s mother said, crestfallen.
“How can this be!? Has that cat seduced you too, my lady!?” Feng feigned shock. Right as he was about to break down crying, a meow entered the room, and he turned around. In front of Feng, a silver cat licked her paws. Her yellow eyes stared into Feng’s, her soft face so adorable and cuddly. “She’s trying to seduce me too! And I think it’s working!” Feng covered his eyes and screamed.
“Yes, Mei, show him your beauty. Shut that dirty boy up. How dare he go against his father; he shall suffer a thousand deaths for the transgression!” Feng’s father laughed at Feng’s cowering form.
After a few more screams and cries, Feng kneeled to Mei. “I have seen the truth, my dear cat, your beauty cannot be compared. Forgive this unworthy servant.” Feng bowed his head to his cat.
Feng’s mother clapped her hands. “Now, now, enough playing around, boys. Get to work.”
With a jump, Feng was on his feet next to his father. Both straightened their backs and saluted their matriarch. “Yes ma’am!” And with that, they were off to the fields.
The next few hours consisted of farm work and sweat drippings. Farmwork should be nothing to a dragon, but dragons ruled the skies, not the earth. Feng and his father worked until the sun fell and an hour or two after that. Exhaustion hit Feng at the end of it all; he wanted nothing but to sleep. As he walked his way up the steps of his home, eyes drooping, a voice called out to him. Feng turned around and a girl about the same age as him looked back at him. Her Golden irises lit up the darkness. She had red hair that stretched down and flickered above her waist, the wind was playful tonight. She smiled and under the moonlight it captivated Feng. Nothing could blemish that smile, not even the plain farmer’s garb she wore, no, the clothing made her smile brighter, like a wild gem.
“Liu, aren’t you supposed to be helping your father run the inn? What would he think about his precious daughter meeting a man this late at night. Especially under a beautiful moon like tonight’s.” Feng pointed at the moon above. It burned a soft blue and seemed closer than ever. The full moon shone so bright that Feng could see as if it was day.
“A man? Where? Here? I don’t see any man. All I see is a little boy who thinks he’s one.” Liu said.
“Think!? I’m eighteen! I’m a man.” Feng puffed his chest out and he hoped she could see the muscles there.
“So, I’m eighteen too. Does that make me a man?”
“Well, that’s just ridiculous. You’re a girl, of course you can’t be a man.”
“A girl!? I’m a woman. A beautiful, delicate woman that has decided to grace a young boar with her presence. And if I wanted to be a man, I could do that too. You’re mother’s the manliest one out your bunch.” Liu said. Feng guessed that she had a point there. His mother was the man of the house.
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“I am not a boar. I’m a dragon!”
“Quiet, Feng! People are sleeping!” Feng’s father yelled out from inside the house.
Feng’s voice got lower and continued on, “what does a little pussycat like you want with this dragon?”
“Pussycat? You must want to die tonight.” Liu smiled. Her gaze bored into Feng’s, and he flinched. She cracked a wider smile and flashed her canines, knowing that she got him. It wasn’t like Feng feared her, maybe a little bit, maybe a lot, but she was terrifying. He remembered a time she destroyed a boulder with a punch, not a small boulder either. It disintegrated on impact, not a speck of dust remained. So, in an effort to keep his face, Feng tried his best to keep on her good side.
She got closer to Feng. She smelled like orchid petals in a spring breeze. Her lips were full and pink. Her eyes swam with mischief. A beautiful tigress hunting under the moonlight and Feng was the prey. That wasn’t a problem with him, he thought it might do him good to be devoured. His heartbeat fast, and loud, too loud, loud enough to be embarrassing. “So, what’s up, Liu?” Feng chocked out.
Liu stopped her charming and terrifying smile. “Not much. I just wanted to hang out with my friend.”
A sliver of excitement grew in Feng’s chest. He hadn’t hung out with Liu for a long while. A long while being two days. Liu was one of his closest friends. They had been friends since childhood, a pair of rascals. She also made a good flying partner. Even if she couldn’t fly, she was a tiger after all, not a dragon. But the time she spent talking to him on his back made the easy-going wind just a bit more exciting and a lot less lonely. Feng loved flying, but that isolation got to him sometimes.
“What do you want to do? You want to fly?” Feng hoped that’s what she wanted because that’s what he wanted to do. Since Liu’s arrival it seemed like the fatigue that set into Feng’s body from the day of work lessened and the chance to fly with her made it almost disappear completely.
“Fly!? Let’s do it. Where are we flying too? To the Misty Mountains, the Hare Plains, the Cragged Mines, oh, how about the Emerald River?” Liu’s excitement stripped away the last of Feng’s fatigue. Her expression and spirit seemed to Feng an early rising of the sun.
“I don’t know. Why don’t we just fly and see? Let’s just float in the wind.” Feng said.
“That’s not an answer. But since you’re not giving one, I guess this young mistress will have to decide.” Young mistress? She sure thought highly of herself, but Feng kept quiet in fear of his safety. Liu rubbed her chin in deep concentration like the fate of the universe hung on her decision. She kept at it for a minute, and her eyes popped open, but she shook her head and closed her eyes again. This process continued again, and again for a few more minutes, until it finally stopped. “Why don’t we just go to all of them? I can’t decide, all of them sound fun.”
“All of them?! Are you crazy!? I have to get up early tomorrow. The pigs and cows aren’t going to feed themselves.” Feng said.
“Of course, they’re not going to feed themselves. You’re going to feed them, idiot, after we come back.” Liu said.
“After we come back? What do you mean? I have to sleep.”
“Not tonight you aren’t. We’re going to see everything. The night’s too nice not to. Imagine the Hare Plains under this moonlight, the blues mixing with the greens, and the glitter of the moon dancing through the wind-swept grass. Or the Misty Mountains’ mist clearing from the wind and star light. Wouldn’t it be great?” Liu said. She almost convinced Feng, almost. Ultimately, Feng’s desire for a decent night’s rest won out.
“I don’t think the Misty Mountains’ mist is going to clear from a little breeze, and there’s no way you’re convincing me to stay out that late. I have things I have to do.”
Liu sighed and let out a groan. “Fine. We’re going to the Misty Mountains then. We can see the Hare Plains on the way there.” Of course, she would choose the furthest option. But, if they were just passing over the plains and heading to the mountains, it shouldn’t take too long. A flight from the Misty Mountains back to Feng’s house only took about thirty minutes, when he flew quickly.
“Alright, let’s go then, step back.” Liu did as Feng asked and gave him space. He willed some of his Ki and he let it shape him. The power spread throughout his body and in a poof, a blue dragon appeared.
“Nice, should I transform too?” Liu asked.
“No, I can’t carry a fat tiger on my back. You would break my spine.” Feng said. When Liu became a tiger, her skin became a golden pelt that shined brighter than a campfire in the winter snow. Dark chocolate stripes ran along her fur, and she became massive. Bigger than the average tiger, the tigers that couldn’t transform, the ones that were simply beasts. Liu’s form stood neck and neck with a hearty, and tall ox. There was simply no way Feng could carry that behemoth on his back.
“Rude, a fair lady like me is lighter than a feather and more graceful than a falling leaf. I don’t know why you insist on making me mad tonight.” Liu said.
“Yeah, yeah, you liar, hop on already. I’m not going to wait for the fat tiger forever. I have things to do in the morning, remember?” Feng said.
Liu jumped onto Feng’s back and a sharp pain flowed down it, that woman must’ve transformed one of her legs and poked him. That fat tiger and her dirty claws, Feng would remember this night. “Ow!” Feng screamed.
“Quit calling me fat, you bastard. I’m strong, muscular, and beautiful, and those are the only things you should call me. That is if you don’t want another claw poking a hole in you. So, unless you’re some type of sick dragon freak that gets off to the pain, you better engrain this piece of advice onto your heart, don’t call the tigress Liu fat.” Liu poked Feng one more time and made her point clear.
“I was wrong. I was wrong! Please stop hurting your humble servant. How could I be so dumb to call the strong, muscular, and beautiful Liu fat!? I’m sorry, so please stop hurting me. I know the beautiful Liu has kindness in her heart. I ask for you to grace me with it, please!” Feng didn’t believe she had an ounce of kindness in her soul.
“Hmmm, I guess if you really are sorry, I’ll allow your disrespect to pass just this once, and only this once, don’t forget that.” Liu said.
“Yes, yes, of course, mistress. You are the most beautiful and kind woman in the world. Forgive me for implying otherwise.”
“Good.” Liu clawed Feng one more time.
Feng cried internally but didn’t say a thing. The threat of another claw silenced all complaints. He rose into the sky and hoped the stars would help temper Liu’s foul mood.
Wind glided through Feng’s scales and belly; the feeling never got old. Tasting the wind never got old either. Under the bright moon, he tasted sweet mountain flowers and clean river water among the breeze. The Sour River flowed below him into the Hare Plains. Its name came from the citrus trees that grew along its banks. As children, Feng and Liu often came down and tasted the fruits. Some made their faces scrunch up and others brought a cooling sweetness under the summer sun. Liu loved the sweet ones, but to be honest, Feng liked his a bit tart. They reminded him of Liu’s sour personality.
The Hare plains, like Liu said, danced in the breeze and shone silver, blue, and green under the moon and stars. This was not Feng’s first time seeing the dance, but no matter how often he saw it, the beauty of it still entranced him.
“Don’t you just want to stop and play in the grass here? I know I do.” Liu said.
“I don’t.” Feng said.
“You aren’t any fun.” Liu harrumphed.
“Yeah. That’s because I’m responsible.”
“No, you’re just a bore.” Feng didn’t say anything back. He lost himself in the flight.
Silence overtook the pair and Feng felt Liu lay down on his back. He made sure to fly in a gentle glide so as not to disturb her and maybe, because he wanted to spend more time over the dancing plains.
Grass eventually transformed into rock and a shiver ran down Feng’s spine as the gentle chill from before became sharper. They had arrived at the base of the Misty Mountains. Mist belted around the center of it and the peaks were covered in snow, even near the end of the summer months. Splotches of green trees dotted the base of the mountain, and white rushing water snaked down grey stone, through the trees, and into the plains.
Liu broke the period of silence, “what do you want to do, Feng? Want to go play in the woods? Or are we throwing snowballs at each other at the peak? Scratch that, why don’t we go explore the mist?”
“Wherever you want to go. You’re the adventurous one.” Feng didn’t particularly want to go into the mist or the cold mountain tops, but he didn’t particularly have a strong reason not to either. So, there was no way he was going to win an argument against Liu. He did as he always did, let her take the lead.
“You always do this. Making me choose. Making me the leader. I want to do what you want to do too, Feng.” Liu’s voice was uncharacteristically subdued. It made Feng feel uncomfortable. She was strong, she was fearless, she did as she wanted, that’s what drew him to her. Hearing her like this wasn’t right. But maybe, she wasn’t as strong as he thought, maybe she needed someone to lean on too.
Feng tried to laugh it off. “That isn’t like you, why don’t you just declare what you want like always? You know I’ll follow you. And I did choose, I chose to only go to one place tonight, not your crazy idea of hitting everything in one night.”
“When you say it like that, I guess I have no choice but to listen!” She sounded better, but Feng didn’t know how real that was. He ignored those thoughts, she simply had a moment of weakness, even strong people had those. There was nothing to worry about. “Then into the mist!” She screamed under the stars.
She picked the most dangerous option. That was more like her. See, you had nothing to worry about, Feng thought to himself. He raced towards the mist, pushing as hard as he could without sending Liu flying. Liu cried out in surprise and started laughing. Feng began to laugh too.
“Faster! Faster!” Liu cried out. The woman’s brain must’ve been rotting. Wasn’t she scared of falling off? Feng hadn’t heard of any flying tigers, and he was sure Liu wasn’t one either. But then an unpleasant thought crossed his mind, her claws. If she came close to falling off, then couldn’t she just dig her claws into him and hold on. With that new piece of information, Feng decided to ignore his friend and keep the same fast but slow enough not to get poked pace. “Why won’t you go faster? Are you a coward!?” Liu complained.
“I’m going as fast as I can.” Feng lied.
The air grew colder the closer Feng got to the mist, it felt like a winter breeze. Droplets of water began condensing on his scales as well.
“It’s cold.” Liu said. Always ready for a complaint she was.
“Still want to explore?” Feng dearly hoped she would say no.
“No, I can just transform once we land. My fur should keep me warm. I’m not a coward like you. When I do something, I finish it, dragon boy.” Liu said. Feng guessed she was right, even if it was cold, in his dragon form it felt more like a slight, unpleasant chill than a dangerous one, and Liu looked a lot more cold resistant than him when she became a furry tiger.
Feng flew through the mist and the land below him disappeared. They were in the thick of it now. Grey nothingness replaced the star riddled sky. Everything around him became the same grey mist. He couldn’t tell top from bottom, or anything from anything for that matter. Panic crawled into his throat, he looked back to where they entered, hoping to find a gap in the mist, but only grey dread greeted him.
“We need to get out of here. We’re going to get lost at this rate.” Feng’s heart wanted to leap out of his chest. He didn’t care what Liu was going to say next. He needed to get them out of there.
“No, we won’t get lost. Calm down, just keep going straight and we’ll get to the mountain, eventually. If we get lost, I’ll just jump off and find which way is down. So, don’t worry about it.” Liu said. How could she be calm? Feng could die from all the anxiety pumping in his body and she was talking about jumping off!? “Speed up too, it’s freezing in here. I should’ve brought a coat.” Liu’s nonchalant calmness helped Feng settle his nerves. He still wanted to throw up, but if he just followed Liu’s orders, they might get out okay, at least that’s what he felt.
“Isn’t me speeding up just going to get you colder?”
“Not if you’re fast. Just don’t go slamming into the mountain.”
Feng sped up, his anxiety not allowing him to say anything back to Liu. The droplets of water on him froze. He began to grow cold, really cold. If he was cold, then Liu must have been freezing. Feng’s mad dash paid off. He could see the mist ahead of him beginning to clear. But something was off about it. He saw a bright blue sky on the other side, no mountain or night sky. But Feng broke through the mist anyway, he needed to get out of there. When he emerged from the other side, the sun hit his eyes and blinded him.
“Where are we?” Feng said as his eyes began to adjust. White clouds, and an open sky. He looked down and a giant jungle sprawled for miles upon miles. Further in the distance he could see golden domes and spires that climbed up to the sky.
“I… I don’t know. This isn’t the mountain.” Liu said.
“No, it sure doesn’t look like it.” Feng said.