He followed Graydon, his board cutting through the air with ease.
She stared at the two and shook her head. How did she let herself be talked into these things?
"This should be interesting," the lizard observed from her collar. "What are you going to do?"
"What do I always do when issued a challenge?" Kira crouched, her blood pounding and excitement bubbling in her veins as that piece she'd been missing all those years slid into place.
"Yes!" Jin hissed. "Show them what they've woken."
Kira cut the engines, dropping into a smooth dive, the ocean below rushing up to meet her. She waited until the last second to switch the engine on, the abrupt change from falling to flying threatening to topple her.
She hung on, keeping her balance as a joyous whoop escaped Jin.
She streaked after Graydon and Raider, closing the distance quickly. Neither man was serious yet, letting her catch them easily.
They traded looks, agreeing without words.
"Here we go," Kira whispered.
As if of one mind, they kicked the engines to maximum, rocketing over the water.
The board bounced under her, the vibration settling in her bones and jarring the teeth in her skull. Kira loved every moment of it as she fought for more speed.
Graydon was the first to take the lead, the other two sliding into his wake and letting him take the brunt of the wind.
They were still testing each other, looking for strengths and weaknesses.
Soon, though, it would be time.
Raider gestured at Kira behind his back, sliding her a signal from a time when they'd both been Curs, telling her to flank Graydon.
Sounded good to her.
He slid right, and she went left, the two moving as one to overtake Graydon. Kira put on a burst of speed, shooting past him easily, Raider doing the same on the other side.
They traded victorious looks as they kept Graydon trapped behind them, drifting to block him anytime he tried to pass.
Between one second and the next, their mood turned serious as each concentrated on winning. First, Kira edged out Raider, minutes later he nudged past her board, Graydon bringing up the rear.
They tucked in close, flying only feet off each other's flank. A single mistake could kill them all.
Kira didn't care, crouching and coaxing more speed out of her board. An exultant feeling of victory shot through her as she bypassed Raider, leaving both men behind.
Jin shouted wind speed and directions in her ear, allowing her to concentrate only on flying.
The sharp sense of danger sent her instincts clamoring as a roar split the air behind her.
Kira dodged left as a force rose from the deep below, the soundless toll of a bell ringing as a massive form breached the waves. Up and up it rose, the whiskers and mane trailing behind it as water cascaded off its form. The shadow of the rest of its body still darkened the water beneath as Kira gaped.
The close call she'd just had was insignificant when compared to the massive creature still rising toward the sky.
Lu-ong.
And this one was no baby.
"Evade," she screamed in the next moment as anotherlu-ongbreached the surface directly beneath her board, its open mouth and very sharp teeth aimed straight at her.
TWENTY-ONE
