Chapter 14 Chicago

Raven and I walked to the edge of the roof. The late morning sun glinted blindingly off the giant buildings surrounding us. I looked over the edge of the roof and down the street. We were only about three city blocks from the fountain.

I turned to Raven. "Well, I-" my voice came out as a whisper. I figured I had done something to my vocal chords when I screamed.

Raven turned to me. "I hope nobody saw us land. We might avoid detection if no one saw you. They might blame the shattered windows on something else.

"Like what?" I asked, my voice getting stronger, though it hurt a little to talk.

"Well... like maybe a small earthquake? A low-flying jet breaking the sound barrier? I don't know!" She sounded frustrated.

I sighed. "If I'm going to be... some sort of super-hero, I can't just keep a low profile. I mean, people are bound to notice when a huge white dragon starts running around saving people."

She grinned. "You have a point. Except the 'huge dragon' part. You're more the size of a large horse."

I huffed, then sighed again. "Sitting around flapping our tongues to create a breeze is going to get us nowhere. We should leave and find a place to spend the night. Right now, I could do with a warm bed and an even warmer shower."

Raven nodded eagerly. "You can say that again, sister!"

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Once again, I powered upwards, between the glass and steel walls of Chicago, and back into the hovering mass of clouds.

A cool wet breeze slapped at our faces as I floated through the silkey whiteness. I made sure to go slow so as not to run into the sides of any more skyscrapers. Suddenly, through the fog, a soft 'vuttavuttavuttavutta' noise became audible, and quickley grew louder. It became so loud, it seemed the cloud pulsed with the noise.

And then- SPLAT! I ran right into the windshiels of a helicopter. The glass cracked, and I heard screaming inside, as well as from somewhere in the vicinity of my back.

instinctivily, I slashed upward with the 'killing claws' on both my feet, trying desprately not to fall. For a moment, they lodged in the bottom of the chopper, then there was a muffled 'BOOM!' and the bottom of the chopper exploded, catapulting us a few yards higher in the air.

Then the rotors stopped.

Oh, fudgesticks! I cursed imwardly. I must have hit the gas tank!

Then we were falling.

I panicked for a moment, then decided that even if we were going to die, I had to try and save the chopper.

I let go with all my limbs, and once I was clear, spread my wings. The giant canopies caught the air and lofted me above the helicopter. I quickley folded them again and dove after the falling plane. I flapped once or twice, gaining speed, then just as we broke through the bottom of the clouds, I grasped the top of the chopper where the blades were and opened my wings.

Luckily, my body was still angled downward, or my wings would have just ripped right off. As it was, they burned like fire as every muscle streched to keep gravity in check. I slowly angled my body foreward, turning the dive into a long glide, just skimming the traffic on the street below. I flapped as hard as I could, trying to keep from hitting one of the honking vehicles. As I skimmed over the cars and trucks, I looked for a relatively clear place to land. Just when I was beginning to tire, I saw an opening between buildings, and beyond that, the fountain. I veered to the right, knocking the runners against the brick wall of the narrow alley.

I burst out the other side, flapping crazily to keep my balance, and glide-skidded to a stop in the center of the park, almost crashing onto the fountain, and coming nose-to-nose with a 'just married' couple getting picturse taken in front of the famous landmark.

I practically fell off my perch on top of the copter where I had been gripping it. I felt so tired, but I needed to take care of one more thing first. I turned to the chopper and ripped the door off, then stuck my nose inside. Instantly, I heard a scream, then felt a light smack on my nose, as though whoever it was inside that thing had tried to punch me. I drew back, letting out a smoke-filled snort. They think hitting me would stop me from eating them? Wow, that guy deserves the purple heart!

I backed away, suddenly aware of all the people standing around staring at me.

Suddenly, Raven spoke up. I had almost forgotten she was back there. "Well, so much for a low profile." She said driely.