04 – The Leap into Adventure

 

Feilong stood beside his mother in the cave, a few metres away from the waterfall.

«Are you ready?» asked his mother.
«Yes, I am,» replied Feilong, his voice full of excitement.

«You’ll take a running start and leap straight through the waterfall. As soon as you’re through, spread your wings and flap them just as your father showed you. First, fly upwards. I’ll be right behind you and will show you where to go.»

«All right, Mama.»
«Then off you go!»

Feilong took a running start, closed his eyes and leapt through the waterfall. He spread his wings, but before he could even start flapping, he splashed straight into the water. The current pulled him down. He tried to move his wings, but it didn’t really work.

«Keep your wings still,» he heard his mother’s voice in his head. «I’m coming to get you.»

Feilong pressed his wings close to his body, but he could feel himself being pulled deeper.

«Stay still,» he heard her voice again. «Let it happen. It’s all right if your head goes under the water. I’m here with you.»

Feilong sank a little further, closed his eyes and let it happen. But he didn’t sink very deep. Suddenly he felt his feet touch something solid.

«That’s my back. Hold on,» said his mother.

Feilong reached out, found her body and clung to her. Before he knew it, his mother shot up through the water with him on her back and turned a full one hundred and eighty degrees in mid-air.

Feilong opened his eyes. He could hear the roar of the waterfall, and now he could see it as well, though from the other side.

«Hold on tight, we’re flying up now,» said his mother.

Feilong could hardly take his eyes off the waterfall. He held on firmly as his mother rose slowly higher and higher. Suddenly there was no more water, only a vast blue expanse ahead. His mother made a gentle turn and landed.

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