The Lost Dragon

By Marty Chan

Chapter 12

The animal control officer held onto a tree trunk as the water rushed past him, threatening to drive him into the rapid river below.

Kyle clung to the man’s leg and howled, “Help us!”

Across the field, the man’s partner and the rest of the joggers ran to help. Zhu thrashed on the ground, trying to shake the snare from her tail. Finally, she flung the pole off and screeched.

The female officer drew a tranquillizer pistol from her holster. The water continued to flow from the clouds. The raging river roared as Kyle gripped the man’s pant leg. Zhu was the only one who could save them.

I raised my hands. “Calm down!” I said. “She’s not going to hurt anyone.”

The joggers glared at Zhu.

“What are you waiting for?” the man screamed. “Save us!”

The officer aimed her pistol at my friend.

I stepped in front. “You can’t shoot.”

“That monster is dangerous,” she said.

“No, she’s a dragon and she can help us if you back away.”

Kyle shrieked, “I’m losing my grip!”

“Do something!” the animal control officer pleaded. “We can’t hang on any longer.”

His partner lowered the pistol. “Save them.”

I turned to Zhu. “Help Kyle.”

She jetted toward the river and flew past the tree. She lifted her rooster claws as Kyle and the man slipped off and fell toward the river. She caught them both in her giant rooster claws.

The crowd cheered.

“I told you she’s not dangerous,” I explained. “We’re just trying to get her home.”

Zhu set the pair on the ground near the gazebo. The joggers rushed to Kyle and the officer. They stared at Zhu’s giant green body. A few even petted her emerald skin.

I ran to the stone lion and rubbed the ball in the statue’s mouth. “I wish Zhu could go home,” I said.

The clouds broke apart and a brilliant rainbow shone down from the sky, lighting up Zhu. She glanced up and broke into a huge grin. “The way home!”

I joined everyone standing around her. Kyle fished out the baggie of chewy worms and handed it to her. “So you can remember us.”

She smiled. “I will miss you both.”

“I hope you’ll come back to visit our world, Zhu.”

The aroma of jasmine tea wafted up my nose.

“Or you could come to mine. What did your grandfather say, again? A new thing might be the start of my next adventure.”

I beamed. “Goodbye, Zhu.”

“Until we meet again.”

She flew up, her jade body curling around the rainbow like a streamer. The adults gasped as Zhu disappeared.

I turned to Kyle. “Want to make another wish?”

“I could use some more chewy worms.”

-The End-

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