Blue Dragon

hard, left side first, winding myself.
    John raced up, crouched next to me and put his hand behind my head, lifting it. ‘Are you all right?’ he said. ‘Are you hurt?’
    ‘I’m fine, I’m fine,’ I said, trying to suck in enough air. ‘Nothing’s broken. Just had the wind knocked out of me.’
    ‘Thank the Heavens,’ he said, and took my hand in his. He smiled into my eyes and I realised. Too late. I opened my mouth and inhaled deeply, trying to get enough air in to shout at him. Too late.
    The great gaping dark vortex opened in front of me and I was sucked in. My ears were full of rushing wind and my eyes full of raging darkness.
    Something brilliantly blue and silver flashed and then everything went black.
    ‘This time she really will tear strips off you,’ Leo said, his voice full of amusement.
    ‘I know,’ John said.
    Damn. I couldn’t move.
    ‘She moved,’ Simone said.
    ‘Squeeze my hand if you can hear me,’ John said.
    I tried. I didn’t know if I did it.
    ‘She squeezed my hand, Daddy,’ Simone said.
    Okay. I tried the other one.
    ‘That’s me,’ John said.
    ‘Hold,’ the Dragon said. ‘Ah Wu, Simone, let go.’
    My hands were released and a warm breeze washed over me, making my hair flutter. I inhaled deeply, breathing in the sweet air. It filled me; my blood flowed back.
    ‘Whoa,’ Michael said softly.
    ‘She is extremely large, my Lord, are you sure she’s human?’ the Dragon said as the warm air flowed over me.
    ‘Fat chick,’ Leo said.
    Simone giggled.
    ‘You will keep,’ I croaked.
    ‘Michael, get her a drink of water,’ John said.
    ‘That’s the best I can do,’ the Dragon said, and the warm air stopped. ‘She will be weakened, but still able to complete the training, I think.’
    ‘You can open your eyes now,’ John said.
    I did. I was still on the training course, on the ground. All of them crouched next to me, concerned, except for Michael, who quickly appeared holding a water bottle.
    ‘Help me up,’ I said. Leo took my hand and gently raised me so that I was sitting. Michael handed me the bottle and I took a huge drink, then gasped a breath. ‘Thanks, Qing Long.’
    ‘You are welcome,’ the Dragon said, his turquoise eyes glowing.
    ‘You really are a stupid damn Turtle,’ I said. ‘Youhaven’t been able to touch me for more than a year now, and you completely forgot.’
    John didn’t say anything but his eyes were full of amusement. Simone giggled again.
    ‘Has Michael tried it yet?’ I said.
    ‘No,’ John said.
    ‘How long have I been out for?’
    ‘Only a few minutes.’
    ‘Good,’ I said. ‘Give me a couple of minutes while Michael tries. Then I want to have another go.’
    ‘You sure you’re up to it?’ John said.
    ‘What do you say, Qing Long?’ I said.
    ‘Let me look at you. Yes. Not a problem,’ the Dragon said. ‘Sit, drink some water, rest for a few minutes, watch Michael. Even better, I will get you an energy drink. If you get some carbohydrates into yourself you will be fine.’
    He nodded his huge blue and silver head and a bottle of sports drink appeared on the ground next to me.
    ‘Thanks,’ I said, grabbed the drink, twisted the lid off and took a swig.
    Michael, John and the Dragon went to the climbing walls together. Simone and Leo stayed with me.
    ‘What are you guys doing here?’ I said. ‘I thought you were having a swim, Simone.’
    ‘Leo won’t go in with me. It’s boring ,’ Simone said. ‘The pool’s too small. I want to go back out to the islands and feed the fish. And Leo won’t let me go to the kids centre and play there.’
    ‘They won’t let him stay and guard you,’ I said. ‘It’s not safe.’
    Simone crossed her little arms in front of her chest. ‘Humph.’
    ‘Don’t you want to stay and watch me and Michael learn to fly?’
    ‘No,’ she said, irritated. ‘I want to learn to fly too.’
    She concentrated on her father, arms still crossed over her chest. He turned to her, then a big grin spread across his face and he gestured with his head.
    Simone threw her arms up, whooped with delight, and charged over to him. He’s going to teach me to fly too! He says it won’t hurt my bones at all!
    ‘Great,’ I said. ‘Another thing she’ll be better at than me.’
    ‘One day she’ll probably be protecting you,’ Leo said.
    ‘Help me up,’ I said, putting my hand out. ‘I think one day she’ll probably be protecting both of us.’

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
    I t took Michael