Chinese Touch

Chapter 7-Chased

Hey everyone! If you haven't given up on this book, you are so awesome. As is, so awesome I can't even begin to describe. I'm going to force myself to write both this book, and my other story, at the same time.

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I fastened the necklace around my neck and walked down the street. I ducked into an old, empty building and changed into my new clothes. Then I ran back into the forest and searched for Ai. He walked out from behind a tree, chewing on something.

"What are you eating?" I asked as I walked along beside him.

"Cooked rabbit. Want some?"

"Um... No, thanks." I was fixing my bun when Ai stopped. He sniffed the air and growled. "Ai, what's wrong?"

"I smell guards and... Dragon."

"So that's how Huang got here so quickly. He has a dragon!" I hadn't realised just how loudly I'd yelled until I heard a guard crying out for the others to follow him. Ai looked at me, and then we ran.

Ailong broke from the path, running through the trees. I heard a deep growling from behind me and ran faster. Luckily, the dress was easy to run in, and it wasn't long enough to trip over.

Guards ran out over the path ahead of me, and I gasped loudly. They turned in my direction, but I had pressed myself against a tree, so they didn't see me. The sun was beginning to set.

'Ai, we just have to make it until sunset! They won't be able to find us in the dark!' I could practically see him nodding in my head. He met up with me about ten seconds later and I jumped onto his back without hesitation. Keeping my head down, I clung tightly to his scales and smiled as I felt the breeze ruffle my hair. There was a shout behind me and I turned to see the guards running down the track.

"Leave us alone, I'll never come with you!" Then I lowered my voice and whispered to Ai. "Forget sunset. Get ahead of them a little and take off."

"Oy! You get back here or I'll shoot your dragon!" A chill ran down my spine.

"Ai, stop!"

"No. I have to make sure you're safe."

"Ai, please. He'll kill you! Please." I was pleading. I turned around to see the guards raising their bows. "Don't shoot, don't shoot! Please, Ai." He didn't stop. "I didn't want to do this." I gritted my teeth and threw myself from Ai's back. I screamed in pain as I rolled over the gravel, but aside from that I was unharmed. Ai skidded to a halt and started running back towards me.

"No, Ai! Please. Go, live your life. I won't let you give up your life for me." He stopped again and looked me right in the eyes.

"I'll find you, Ming. I'll find you and save you."

'Be safe.'

"Grab the girl." The rough-voiced guard called. Two others walked up and grabbed my wrists. "And get the dragon too."

"No! You said you'd leave him alone!"

"I said we wouldn't kill him. I didn't say anything about taking him."

"No! Leave him alone, he didn't do anything!" I struggled to break the grip the guards had on my wrists, but they just tightened their hold.

"Stop being difficult." The guard said.

"Qiang, should we..."

"Yes," said the rough-voiced guard; Qiang.

"Ming, look out!" That was the last thing I heard before a wooden bat came down on the back of my head,mand I fell into darkness.