Sethryn Caege

Dragon’s Child

With my jaws parted in pleasure, I scented using my dark divaricated tongue to taste the wind. I banked towards the ocean, gliding across the bamboo forest and towards the scent of seabirds. Increasing my speed, I used my eyes, instead of simply scenting to enjoy the caress of wind. Concentrating, I felt the familiar sensation of my eyes adjusting, a light tingle, a slight pressure- from the effort of seeing the heat signatures of the world around me. The black night erupted into deep blues and luminous purples, with faint orange pinpricks for stars. As soon as I looked up in the direction of seabird, I saw bright orange forms heading slowly towards the coast. My tongue licked eagerly at the air. Just a little closer I waited until the glow of bright orange was just above me. Then I arched upwards, rending the air with membranous wings, curving my serpentine body and snatching three seabirds in one motion, quenching a small portion of my thirst. I took my time returning inland from out over the ocean. Angling into a smooth descent, I began to glide above the bamboo and tropical trees once more. It was bad form to fly openly on a night so well lit by moonlight, and I was relieved to be back above the labyrinth of mountains that was my home.