A Dragon's Clutch

by Alica Mckenna Johnson

“Sounds good to me,” Sasha sat and opened his bag. The rest of us copied him.

  I blushed as Taliesin sat next to me, our knees touching. I bit into my apple and squeaked as juice ran down my chin.

  “Here.” Taliesin handed me a napkin.

  “Thanks. So, um, how are you feeling?”

  “Much better. Between Miu healing me and the run, I feel like my normal self.”

  I wanted to ask how he felt now that the fox demon was gone, but if he wanted to talk about it he would. “I’m glad.”

  “Sapphire,” Hiroshi said holding out his sketch pad. “I think I’ve drawn this place.”

  Taking the pad, I looked over the drawing of a stone torii gate surrounded by spring trees, a wooden lamppost, and a stone statue of a pagoda. The image inside the torii gate of stairs made from smoothed stone, parted like a curtain. Behind the curtain stood a tengu—a tall, proud man in a tunic and pants—with the head of a raven and large black wings extending from his back.

  “So we need to find a stone torii,” Taliesin said.

  “And figure out how to get the curtain to open for us,” I said. I took the jade bell given to me by the stag guardian out of my backpack. The silk cord fit over my neck, the bell chiming as it settled into place over my heart.

  “There’s more,” Hiroshi said turning the page. A tengu with a hawk’s head holding two swords looked ready to burst off the page. “He is waiting for us on the other side of the curtain.”

  “Hopefully, this and the dragons can help,” I said.

  “I’m sure we can help,” Zennyo Ryūō said. Walking towards us, his wooden shoes echoed against the hard packed earth pathway. “What do you need?”

  “Hiroshi has drawn the way to the tengu.” I turned back to the picture of the torii gate.

  “Hiroshi, your Phoenix gift is as amazing as your skill,” Philip said taking the drawing. “So we just need to find this gate.”

  Mizuchi smiled. “Yes, just.”

  “What?” asked Philip.

  “The temple is large,” Mizuchi said.

  “And I doubt the tengu want to be found,” Kiyohime said. “You could walk past the gate and not even realize it.”

  “Would you see it?” I asked.

  “Of course,” she said. “As dragons all of us will be able to see it.”

  “Will the bell the stag guardian gave me help me see it?”

  Mizuchi knelt next to me. “May I?” I nodded and handed him the jade bell. “Oh, yes. This will help you. This is a special gift. Don’t let go of it.”

  “I won’t.” I touched the cool jade.

  “So let’s break into groups,” Philip suggested. “Sapphire, Mizuchi, Kiyohime, and Zennyo Ryūō can take one or two of us, and we’ll search the temple.”

  “And surrounding area,” Mizuchi said. “This could be along a path or in the garden.”

  Kiyohime reached out and grabbed Kayin’s arm. “I will go with this one. He is quiet and respectful.”

  “Oh, um, sure,” Kayin said, his eyes wide.

  “Have fun,” Shin said with a smile as the dragon headed up the stone steps. Kayin by her side.

  “I get two,” Zennyo Ryūō said grabbing Sasha and Philip and headed off down a path.

  “Would you care to join me?” Mizuchi asked Miu.

  “Yes, thank you. Hiroshi, are you coming?” Miu said following him up the stairs to the main temple.

  “Yes, Mom and Dad want me to watch out for you,” Hiroshi said as he joined them.

  “Looks like we’re a group,” Shin said.

  “Aren’t you worried about Kayin?” Taliesin asked as we started walking down another path. “I’m surprised you didn’t follow them.”

  “It’s not like she’s going to eat him,” Shin said. “Right? She won’t, will she?”

  I laughed. “No, she won’t. I wonder if they ever ate humans or if that was only a myth.”

  “Separating fact from fiction in mythical creatures. That’s got to be a fun job,” Taliesin said.

  “Philip does it.” I frowned as we passed a huge wooden head painted bright red on a pedestal. “That is one angry, lying Pinocchio.”

  “That’s the tengu,” Shin said.

  “No, oh please tell me they don’t look like that.” I ducked under the long nose.

  “They didn’t in Hiroshi’s drawing,” Taliesin said. “But are they this angry?”

  “The stories in Philip’s book weren’t very comforting,” I said. “They are referred to as the enemies of Buddhism.”

  “So, when do we get to go and find the fluffy sweet magical creatures?” Shin asked. “The ones who grant wishes, or make everyone happy with their magical purring.”

  Taliesin raised an eyebrow. “Magical purring?”

  “It could be a thing,” Shin defended.

  “Let’s go this way,” I said pointing to a red wooden bridge which crossed a small waterfall. We walked up steep stone steps, under blooming fruit trees, through ancient stone temples, and saw several torii gates, but not the one from Hiroshi’s drawing.

  “Which way should we go now?” Shin asked. We stood further up the mountain looking down on the temple.

  “Let’s ask the dragon,” Taliesin said, pointing to a dark blue-green streak in the sky.

  Mizuchi landed in front of us. His voice growled and hissed words spoken in dragon. “The torii gate has been found. I will fly you there, climb on.”

  “Can you carry all three of us?” I asked.

  “You doubt my strength?” Mizuchi growled.

  “No, no of course not.” Touchy dragon. “They found the gate, and Mizuchi is willing to give us a ride so climb on.”

  Taliesin arched an eyebrow.

  Rude.

  “Shin,” I said motioning to the dragon.

  “Ladies first,” he said looking at the fourteen-foot-long dragon, his blue-green scales shining.

  I tightened the straps of my backpack and walked over to Mizuchi. “Where is it best for us to sit?”

  “Behind my shoulders.” He laid down.

  Placing my hand on his hot scales I swung a leg over, grateful I was so flexible. “Here?”

  “Yes, and tell them to hurry,” he growled.

  I thought about saying something like saddle up, or let’s ride, but wasn’t willing to risk Mizuchi understanding me and paying me back while he flew. Unlike when I pissed off Quetzalcoatl in Peru. See, I can learn. “Come on, he wants to go.”

  Taliesin got on behind me and Shin sat behind him.

  “Hold on.” Mizuchi’s power sparked around us heating the air as he began to lift off the ground.

  “Hold on to what?” I asked my voice high. Leaning forward I grabbed onto his shoulders. Taliesin scooted closer and wrapped his arms around my waist. I felt Shin’s hands against my back as he held onto Taliesin.

  Mizuchi’s large body slithered in the air, his magic radiating around him, creating a field which kept us from crashing into the ground.

  I attempted to stay calm as we soared over trees and rooftops before landing in front of the torii gate. It looked exactly like Hiroshi had drawn it. Stone pillars held a stone beam and above that a carved top beam which curved at the ends. Jugs of sake were placed on the first beam and a dull yellow silk rope hung underneath.

  “So now what?” asked Miu.

  “It’s a doorway, maybe we should knock?” Philip suggested.

  I looked at Zennyo Ryūō.

  “Oh, no, my dear. The tengu would not open for a dragon.”

  “You’re wearing the jade bell from the stag guardian,” Kiyohime said. “They will hear its call and feel its magic.”

  I crossed my fingers hoping an angry Pinocchio wouldn’t appear as I held the small bell and rang it. The bell rang clear and high. Inside the gate the air shimmered and the view parted. The tengu from Hiroshi’s drawing stood in the doorway. His shining black wings fluttered, and his small black eyes stared at me.

  The crystal on my unicorn hair bracelet
glowed silver with angry red slashes. So not a warm welcome then?

  “Hello, I’m Sapphire Rayner, the Jewel of the Phoenix King and Queen.”

  “You have dragons,” he said in English with clicks and squawks accenting his words.

  Kiyohime hissed in anger. Mizuchi growled lightly. Zennyo Ryūō took a picture.

  “Yes, well, I need their help. We are here to ask for help from the tengu also,” I said keeping my voice soft and respectful.

  The tengu looked over us one at a time. Then sighed and turn to Philip. “You are willing to control the behavior of our enemy, if we allow you all to enter?”

  “I’m sure it won’t come to that,” Philip said. “We are here in the hopes you will help us.”

  The tengu tilted his raven head to the side, his round black eyes never leaving Philip’s.

  “But yes, I will take responsibility for their behavior,” Philip answered.

  “Come then.” He stepped back and held the curtain open for us. His face might not have contorted into a sneer. I bet it’s hard to sneer with a beak. But I felt his emotions. He saw all of us as inferior and invading, dirtying his home.

  The veil which concealed the tengu’s land prickled sharply against my skin. I put up my shields trying to block the old fraying magic which tried to pull power from me to strengthen itself. I shook off the tengu’s magic, letting my Phoenix powers flare as I broke free of the veil. The dragons seemed unaffected and the other Children of Fire shivered but were able to walk free of the dying magic.

  We walked into a meadow. The curved roof of a great palace was visible above the treetops. Once we were inside and the curtain closed he added, “Of course we might not let you leave.”

  Five tengu warriors surrounded us, swords drawn, black wings tucked close, and their black beaks snapped the edges sharp and vicious.

  Anger flared in me. I did my best to contain it. The others didn’t like it when I yelled and threatened powerful god-like beings. It made them twitchy. I held up the jade bell. “This was a gift from the stag guardian. He assured me that it would mean safe passage.”

  “Is this any way to treat our guests?” A large tengu walked towards us. His golden brown wings flared out then tucked against his back. His hawk-like face seemed kind, but how one gets expressions from a beak that doesn’t move I have no idea. “I am Sōjōbō, King of the tengu.”

  The tengu warriors lowered their swords but didn’t sheath them. They bowed with deeply set eyes focused on us.

  I bowed, but not as deeply, without taking my eyes from him. “I am Sapphire, Jewel of the Phoenix King and Queen.”

  “I am honored, even if you did bring dragons into my home. I assume you’re here to open the portal so we may go home to Akasha?” He asked directing his question to Philip.

  I bit my tongue. If he wanted to talk to someone with a dick, then by all means go ahead.

  “King Sōjōbō, my name is Philip. The Princess has brought us to Japan to open the portal,” he began. “We have come here to ask for assistance.”

  I tried not to flush or fidget at being referred to as a princess.

  “To ask for help, first we must be friends. Come let us have some tea.” Sōjōbō turned to the tengu who opened the gate. “Please fly ahead and ask tea to be set out. The thick earthenware set would be best.”

  The gatekeeper looked us over. “Wise choice my King. I will also have the bottom door opened.” He opened his wings and with a few beats was in the air flying over the trees.

  “Philip, tell me about your group and how you became … involved with dragons.” The tengu king waited until Philip stood next to him then began walking.

  Kiyohime growled behind me.

  I turned and smiled at her. “He doesn’t like us much better. But we need their help. So we have to play the game to get the cookie.”

  “I would rather make my own cookies.” Kiyohime snarled but walked with us through a bamboo forest.

  I let go of my irritation and ignored the conversation I should be a part of to enjoy the forest. Bright green bamboo towered almost forty feet above us. Straight and strong with thick rings every foot, their shining leaves blocked the sun, giving the forest a green glow.

  We walked for about fifteen minutes along an overgrown narrow path when I smelt burnt popcorn. I sniffed the air, were they making popcorn? As we left the forest, a tengu cut down a bamboo. Bees swarmed around the ends and his blade. I sniffed the air, still trying to find the popcorn.

  “You smell the bamboo,” Zennyo Ryūō said. “It’s a unique smell.”

  “It reminds me of the first time I tried to make popcorn,” Shin said. “I burnt half of it and the rest didn’t pop at all. My mom wouldn’t let me in her kitchen for a month after that.”

  At the top of a small hill we saw the whole of the tengu village. A huge palace stood before us. Each of the six stories had a wide open balcony where the tengu could come and go. Shoji screens were surrounded by wooden walls painted a deep indigo blue. The base of the palace was stone, and the roof tile, which curved up at the edges. Surrounding the palace were workshops, and beyond that fields. It reminded me of the dragon’s village.

  “Does everyone live in the palace?” I asked. “I don’t see any other houses.”

  “My palace is open to all of my people,” said the king. He looked at the dragons, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. “It is the safest place to be in case of an attack.”

  “It’s beautiful,” I said watching as a group of tengu flew from the palace and landed in a dirt yard. They drew wooden swords and began to train.

  “Thank you, Princess,” said Sōjōbō. “I am sure your palace in Akasha is much grander than this.”

  “I haven’t seen the palace, if there even is a palace. I’ve never lived in Akasha.”

  “Well, then I hope you enjoy your time in mine,” the king said offering me his arm.

  I placed my hand on his forearm as we walked up the steps. The steps were cracked and covered in moss. The gatekeeper pulled open the door. The shrieking of the hinges made me flinch.

  “It has been hundreds of years since we have needed to use the lower entrance,” the gatekeeper said with a low bow.

  “Please excuse the state of the lower level. It’s been a long time since a human has made it this far,” the king said as he led us into his palace.

  The wooden floors were dull, with patches stained and warped from time and the weather. No art hung on the walls, where paint chipped and peeled. It was clean, no dust or cobwebs, and eerily devoid of life.

  “Come,” said the gatekeeper. “The stairs are this way.” He slid open a panel exposing a set of narrow stairs which creaked with each step.

  “Welcome to my home,” the tengu king said, as we stepped onto the second floor. The bamboo floor glowed. The shoji screens were open letting in light and fresh air. On the walls hung painted scrolls showing fierce warrior tengu. The one directly behind where the king sat showed a tengu standing on the bleeding body of a slain dragon.

  Zennyo Ryūō’s nails grew longer as he looked at the painting.

  I touched his arm, hoping to calm him, but my own anger raged in my belly. How dare he! Sōjōbō could have removed the scroll. There had been plenty of time. This was just a way to piss off the dragons, knowing they were here with me to gain the tengu’s help and would have to be nice.

  Taliesin sat next to me. “It’ll be okay.”

  They placed thick brown cups in front of us filled with a pale tea that had a bitter scent to it. Next came plates of sliced fruits, desserts, and fried insects.

  “Please help yourself,” Sōjōbō said waving his hand towards the plates of food.

  Kayin scooped up some crickets. They crunched between his white teeth. “Oh these are good.”

  I managed to keep my face as blank as possible and took a sip of the bitter tea. It tasted like pine and my mouth felt like I hadn’t had anything to drink in hours it was so astringent. This was the most unwelc
ome welcome I’d ever gotten.

  “How did you find us?” the king asked, using chopsticks to grab a black beetle and tossed it in his beak.

  “Hiroshi’s Phoenix gift led us here,” I said.

  The king tilted his head, his golden eyes looking at Hiroshi. “Tell me, young one.”

  Setting down his tea Hiroshi brought out his sketch pad. “When I wake in the morning I see images. I guess they’re from my dreams.” He opened the pad showing the king his drawing of the torii gate.

  “Such talent. May I?” the king held out his hand.

  “Of course.” Hiroshi handed him the pad.

  The king turned the page, his eyes brightened as he saw the drawing of himself. “Yes, you are indeed very talented.” Sōjōbō flipped through the all the pictures before handing the sketch pad back to Hiroshi. “Thank you for allowing me to look through your book.”

  Hiroshi took the pad and bowed his head. “The honor was mine.”

  “Philip, tell me of the favor you wish to ask of me and my people,” the king demanded.

  I took a slice of peach, to keep myself from talking and hoping to soothe my parched mouth. How rude would it be to get water from my backpack?”

  Philip glanced at me then turned his attention to the king. “As I am sure you are aware the Gaki of Aokigahara is very out of balance and luring many people to their deaths.”

  Sōjōbō sat back resting on bright silk pillows. I didn’t have silk pillows. “Of course I am aware of it, but I don’t care.” He looked at Mizuchi. “I’m surprised you care.”

  “We don’t care. The Phoenix princess cares and will not open the portal without the Gaki.”

  “And of course the dragons aren’t strong enough to capture and transport the Gaki by themselves.” The king chuckled and leaned forward using his chopsticks to take a small cake from his plate.

  “The Jewel insists the Gaki stay alive,” Mizuchi said his jaw tight and his voice half growl. “She says there is a trapped being under the madness, who needs to be freed. We have agreed to transport the Gaki, and the Children of Fire from the forest to the gateway stone, which is in our village.”

  “And you want what from us?” the king asked Philip.

  Philip turned to me.

  “I, we, are hoping you would be willing to capture and contain the Gaki,” I said.