Fantasy and feelings...

Jiao Long

"Shi-di, we must return now, or Shi-fu will worry..."
"Yes, shi-jie..."

The sun was slowly sinking behind the great mountains and the sky was blue tinged with yellow and amber and grey. Oh how he wished he could stay out here longer! But she was right, Shi-fu would worry if they didn't come back on time. Grumbling, he picked himself up and followed her, dusting his clothes.

The river path soon came into view as the two got closer to their Shi-fu's house. The silence was rather peaceful. Just the sound of the flowing waters, their feet on the path, the occasional chirp from animals hidden and-

Groan...

A groan? The two of them stared at each other and then their gaze swept over their surroundings. They could see nothing.

"Shi-di, that could be something dangerous. Stay beside me and don't wander off." Her hand slid over her sword. He gripped his own dagger as he moved to her side.

Groan..

The sound came again. They were headed the same way the sound came from. They had no choice but to face it. Light feet treaded cautiously, using the trees to move undetected. The groan came again, this time louder. It was close. She held out an arm, blocking him from going ahead and began looking around. Her heart sounded like the drums played during festivals.

Just as she was about to give up, her eyes finally caught something.

"Shi-di, look over there!"

There, on the banks of the river was the source of all the groaning; a jiao long.

"A jiao! I'm going to see it!"

Before she could hold him back, he sprung out of the trees and inched closer to it. The jiao made no movement as he got closer and closer. She too stepped out of her hiding place, sticking to him should anything go wrong. The jiao didn't move at all, it only laid there groaning, making no effort to attack or escape.

"Shi-jie, something is wrong with it. It won't move."
"It is safer for us if it does not move, but yes, something is very wrong. Stay near me, let's go see. Run if it moves, do you understand me?"

The two finally made it to the jiao. Their hands went to its nose, gingerly leaving them there for it to smell. She remained there, while he moved to inspect the creature.

"It's hurt..."

The great creature had been hurt by something. It took small chunks of flesh from it. He had a small jar of healing ointment, carefully made by his master should he ever find himself injured. And yet, he decided to pull his jar out to help the injured jiao.

"Shi-di, don't do something foolish. You need to save some of it for yourself. Here, take some of mine too."

Taking her jar and his, he poured out some ointment and worked it into the wounds before covering them with some leaves.

"You'll heal. Thank you for not hurting us."

They took one last look at the jiao before hurrying back as it was almost dark. Their master warmly called out to them, admonishing them a little for being out so late before shooing them off for a meal.

The two of them were really excited to tell the other disciples about the jiao they saw, but the others didn't believe that they went to it and nursed its wounds.

"Yeah right, if you really did go near it, you would be missing your arm, or worse you would be missing."

And so it was dropped...

.............

"Master Shen, we come to you for refuge, please! Our daughters are being taken away by the General, anyone who doesn't obey gets sliced. Please, you're our only hope..."

The kindly master took the poor villagers in and his disciples began distributing food and blankets. The women, elderly and the children all stayed with the disciples while the men waited outside. It was only a matter of time...

"The General orders this, send the women out or we'll take them by force!"
"Leave, and tell your General he's nothing to me."

The soldiers charged the place. All the younger disciples were hidden away with the women, children and elderly while the rest of them fought. Oh how valiant they were! But the soldiers were soon overpowering them.

"Well you're a pretty girl. Once this is over, you're coming with me. I'll get a good price for you..."

She fought and managed to overpower him but she was knocked out by another soldier from behind.

"Shi-jie!!!"

He screamed as they dragged her unconscious body and tied it. The other disciples were also losing. Master Shen fought on but he had his hands full protecting the people and his disciples. It all seemed very bleak...

Until a loud crash sounded. Everyone ran to take cover as bricks came crashing down on them. Another crash and the roof of the main hall was gone. The creature landed heavily in the area, it's feet making earthquakes on the ground.

"Long..."

A dragon. Its eyes looked around before it caught sight of her, unconscious and with two soldiers near. Those two were sent flying with one swipe from the great creature. The sky turned dark and the air smelled wet. Soon the pitter patter of raindrops was felt as it settled down. Nobody dared approach it.

But it did approach her. The rain had stirred her and she fell as she slowly backed away from the great creature. He ran out of his hiding place to help her.

"Shi-jie!"
"No wait, come here! Don't hurt it, look!"

As the great creature lowered its head down into her hands, he saw what she did; scars all down its back. They stroked its head as it nuzzled into their hands. It looked very different from when they first found it injured on the banks. Now its body shone bright with vivid colours.

The jiao long now stood up and growled. Its gaze pierced the General's men. There was no winning against a great beast. They retreated in a fēn, screaming away. Everyone cheered and ran out to meet the great, benevolent jiao long that saved their lives. But one angry growl made them keep their distance.

It nodded to the two of them. They both bowed before it took to the skies once more, disappearing and taking the rain with it.

"Ah Lian! Ah Ming!"

Their shi-fu ran over to them, very surprised.

"How did you get the jiao long to help us? They eat people!"

"We found the jiao long hurt on the banks of the river many days ago. Shi-jie and I used some of our healing ointment to nurse it."

The old Master smiled as he ruffled their hair.

"This is why we must strive to do good. Good things come to those who do good. You could've left the jiao long there, it would be safer because jiao long devour humans. But you helped it. And now it has come solely to repay your kindness."

They never saw the jiao long again. But they knew, it will return for them if they ever needed help. And so it was....