Never Normal [Chapter 11] The Penguin Dragon:
Kai and Shell had finally reached the top of the mountain.
Dead last.
"Kai," Shell asked as they were waiting in line, "Why can't you fly?"
Kai didn't answer, for he was desperately trying to catch his breath. The two had to sprint at top speeds across camp and up the mountain to reach the feeding grounds due to Kai's inability to fly; and Shell's argument that by the time they got there at a walking pace the dragon's would have decomposed by then.
"Kai. Answer me."
Although Shell seemed sweet, she was persistent. Almost as much as Kai.
Almost.
"Sorry. What was your question?"
"Why. Can't. You. Fly?"
"Uh, long story."
Shell flapped her wings and looked towards the long line ahead of them, "We have time."
Kai gulped slightly, and Shell instantly knew. At least, she thought she did anyway.
"You never learned, did you?"
Kai let out a sigh of relief, "No."
"I guess your mother never pushed you out of the nest then? What were you? A good egg?"
Kai dropped his head in sadness at the mention of his mother, "No. She just, didn't live long enough to push me.."
Shell's shoulders drooped as well, instantly regretting what she had said, "Oh... I'm so sorry.."
"It's fine."
Trying to get off topic, Kai asked, "So, what is at the end of this line?"
"A cliff."
"What?!"
"We dive down, and right below us is a huge herd of big, meaty cows and pigs and sheep and just about anything you could think of! It's like training too."
'Wherever I go there's always constant training. Can't a man get a break once in a while?' Kai thought.
"We have to open our wings before we hit the ground and scope out the best one to eat. We don't have to worry about sick or injured ones. This place is enchanted. Endless supplies of food and water. The only problem are the humans that come here. But we don't need to worry about them. A five-star security system protects us."
"Which is?"
"That."
Shell pointed a claw above them; specifically towards the moon. It took Kai a while, but eventually he too found it.
There was a dragon silhouette on the moon.
Not a dragon shape made of normal moon blotches. But an actually silhouette of a dragon on the moon. Moving and everything. Kai was at a loss for words.
But before he could ask anymore questions, he and Shell were at the edge of the cliff, and just as Shell had said, he could vaguely make out the shapes of cows and various other meat sources.
"Which one would you like? I'll bring one back for you because, well, because you're like a penguin."
Kai looked around and spotted a trail down to the field below them, "I think I can manage. First one to bring back the biggest meat product wins!"
"How are you-"
Before Shell could finish her sentence, Kai had run off towards the trail and before she could completely comprehend what was happening, Kai was already half down.
"So that's how you want to play, is it? Then let's play."
Shell opened her wings and took off, diving down towards the field.