The dragon landed. The cubs tumbled off his back, their fur windswept, their faces bright, their voices carrying across the courtyard.
"Again! Again! Can we go again?" Yòu Lín was bouncing.
Ruì Xuě was nodding, his usual quiet gone, his eyes still wide with wonder. "That was—that was—"
"The best thing ever!" Yòu Lín finished.
Cāng Jì shifted back to his human form. His hair was a disaster. His robes were rumpled. He looked like he had been dragged through several cloud banks and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.
He was still smiling when he saw the grandmothers.
The smile vanished.
"Gū Gū," he said. "Wēn Jìng. I can explain."
Gū Gū picked up her stick.
"You took them flying," she said.
"I was—they were—there was a situation."
"A situation."
"In the tunnels. They were running. From something. I needed to—"
"You took them flying."
Cāng Jì nodded reluctantly. "Yes."
"Without asking."
"I was going to ask! I was—"
"Without permission."
