The Wings of Dreams

the ground. A slight tug on the reins brought it back to earth, where it was again once again given free rein. Unlike a horse, any kijuu worth its salt, even one the size and disposition of a donkey, had a knowledge of the Yellow Sea bred into its brain. That made all the difference in the world. They instinctually knew the best way to protect themselves from youma.
    The flapping of wings behind them made Shushou start. Gankyuu clamped his hand over her mouth and quieted her down. Perched on the saddle in front of him, she twisted her head, looked up at him, and nodded.
    The haku followed the contours of the land, soaring over the low-lying areas. This flying style was not in its nature and was exhausting even for a haku. But this was the best way to stifle the sound of its footsteps.
    Again came the flapping of wings, accompanied by menacing shrieks mingling high and low. Youchou were fighting each other over the prey.
    The haku flew along the path taken by Rikou and the suugu, until it darted between an outcropping of boulders and veered off on a separate course. Cutting through a wide-open field and diving low over a brush-covered basin, they plunged into a rocky forest.
    This is not good, Gankyuu said to himself.
    The haku was trying to make its way to safety, the same as Gankyuu. That’s why he’d wanted Rikou and Shushou to leave him behind. Except with Shushou with him, he couldn’t very well bring her there too.
    He had no choice but to pull back on the reins. Beneath the forest canopy, he calmed the balking haku and turned it in the opposite direction. Of course the haku was bewildered. The safe haven was right ahead and they were heading away from it. Gankyuu did his best to pacify the youjuu as they raced through the forest.
    The haku made a flying leap. Gankyuu pressed Shushou flat against the haku’s neck as the haku broke through the canopy into open sky. Beneath them, black shadows disturbed the branches.
    “There’s something down there.”
    “It can’t fly.”
    The purple sky was growing lighter along the horizon. Flying was the worse possible option at this point but they couldn’t set down now.
    “Lie down,” Gankyuu said, but he was too late.
    Shushou said softly, “Gankyuu—look—” She raised her arm. “Wait. There are lights down there!”
    She pointed. Beyond the forest, the dark shadows of the forest revealed the outlines of an encircling woods. The center of the woods rose up forming a small, double-crested mountain, the tops of which glimmered in the moonlight, bare as a monk’s head. A light glowed at its base.
    Not just one. There were at least three.
    The haku ignored her and flew away from the grove. Shushou grabbed the reins and tried to halt the haku.
    “Shushou!”
    “Wait! There are buildings!”
    Gankyuu clucked. “You’re imagining things.”
    “I’m not imagining things. There’s definitely—”
    The haku sailed through the skies. The buildings at the foot of the mountain disappeared from view, but not the points of lights.
    “You didn’t see anything.” When Shushou glanced over her shoulder at him, he added, “There was nothing there, okay?”
    “Why?”
    “Because if you insist that you did, I’m going to push you right off.”
    Shushou looked down despite herself. Here and there in the thinning forest, the tops of the slender trees shook back and forth. Something was tracking them along the ground. Even if they were safely alone, the fall alone would kill her.
    “Then go ahead and push.”
    “Shushou.”
    “Coming meekly to heel after only being warned of the consequences is the behavior of a barnyard animal. As long as you’re treating somebody like an animal, what difference does it make whether you push them off or toss them into the mouth of a youma?”
    No sooner had Shushou shouted back at him but something flickered across his field of view. The haku neighed, an octave lower than a horse.
    “What the—”
    Searching the indigo sky, he caught a glimpse of wings streaking through the air practically within arm’s reach.
    The haku dropped like a rock, faster than Shushou had time to scream. The forest canopy rose up beneath them. At the same time, a sound like a rusty metal hinge screeched above them.
    A raptor-like bird with two heads dove at the haku. Both mouths shrieked. The haku dodged to the side. The youchou cut through the air like an arrow, swooped around and rose toward them—only to meet the edge of Gankyuu’s