Susan scanned the field for Xing Lao Lao or Fu, secretly hoping Baba would be there instead.
CRASH!
The fields seemed so peaceful. Flowers and grasses gently swayed with the wind. How far had Lin sprinted (dragging her along with her)? In the back of her mind she knew it was unlikely for her baba to have realized anything was wrong yet but like any young child – when in trouble they counted on their caregivers to protect them.
Well, Fu – she liked Fu – but Fu wasn't Baba.
CRASH!
Susan braced herself against Lin as the bull rammed once more into the rock face below them with a deafening clamor that rivaled the creature's previous attempts, the force of the collision reverberating through the medium and shaking them to their bones. Lin scooted further from the edge and the mad metallic bull raging below it. Her delicate hands tugged at Susan's dress, trying to drag Susan with her but her friend leaned ever so closer to the edge, daring to get closer as the bull recovered its strength. Lin's mind raced as to why.
Susan peered over the edge, not necessarily leaning her body all the way over but close enough for her to see the bull. She had never been this close to a bull before. Her instinct screamed at her to retreat to Lin but a strange zen state of curiosity had momentarily won out. The occurrence briefly analyzed in the back of her mind, Susan decided to blame it on awe if anyone ever asked about it. Below them she saw the bull's massive head testing the substance that blocked its path to its target. Its horns scrapped at the boulder, chiseling at the rock causing fragmented chips and sparks to arch. A horrid, mutant form of screeching metal pieced the air as the tips were dragged across the rock face.
Chang's thoughts drifted to the warm wind billowing up from the sunny grasslands filling her wings. The feeling radiating warmth . . .
"Do you see anything, Chang?"
She didn't let him see her jerk. She briefly glanced to study his face. "Ah, no." It was incredibly foolish of her; she didn't have time for these childish notions. She had a job to do. She turned to Lao Shi fully. She noticed his posture, his atmosphere. He had matured. He was no longer that party playboy. She mentally noted these possibly useful qualities down.
When Lao Shi's attention suddenly shifted she followed his gaze to the satyr couple at least a good fifty meters below them. They were signaling towards the northern edge of the tree line. The two dragons drifted closer to hear in entirety what they were shouting.
"That darn bull is heading to the northern pastures with a speed like one of those frilly cervitaurs." He held up the tracking charm, a small bell that would leaned to one direction ever so often and ring.
A low grumble resonated deep in Lao Shi's throat. "That is too close to Xing Lao Lao's," he mumbled. The satyr lady folded her arms against her form, a hand came near her mouth but never settled.
"Luckily the bull seems to be heading further north than that," the satyr man stamped the ground with a cloven hoof.
"We should check on the children," the satyr lady said.
Chang's ears twitched. "Children?"
"I'll explain more as we travel," he lifted himself from the ground, seemingly slipping from the long reaching grip of gravity itself. He stopped above them and hovered. "We need to check on Xing Lao Lao's school and the children before we continue tracking the bull. If only briefly. The bull is not heading towards any human encampments or settlements going north. Just snow laden mountains." In response, the satyr lady bounded to the next knoll, her husband, not realized her absence, turned to followed after her just as Chang shot into the air. Chang looped over Lao Shi (getting his attention) and zoomed pass the satyr. She glanced back to see his reaction.
"Did you see that!"
"MAMA!" A young plant creature yelled, clutching her soft rabbit animal. The flowers on her head tightly closed.
"AiWen, please!" Xing Lao Lao's aged hands lifted her dress as she carefully stepped to the toddler over the slime trail one of the children had left after getting frightened. Embracing the child she threw her head back towards the sliding door, "Fu!"
"That thing was huge!"
"Do you think it will come back?" another plainly asked.
"Oh no, what if it comes back!"
"They weren't at the shop!" Fu called back from inside the house, his hand still on the receiver in its cradle mounted to the wall.
"Was that the bull from Orz's farm?"
"Did you dial the right shop," Xing Lao Lao called out.
"Yes!" Fu curled into herself slightly. "I think I did," he breathed.
"Children!" Some of the children in the courtyard noticed the call; most noticed a large shadow seemingly landing in the enclosed space and looming over them. "Children?" They gathered in front of him. He drooped his long neck towards them. "Is everyone alright?"
"A HUGE, HUNKING THING ran by!" A small boy managed to yell out before a din of blurred exclamation drowned out any possible sensible conversation.
Laoshi felt a small tug on his forearm. He twisted his neck and found an incredibly small elf girl staring up at him, her seemingly unfocused emerald eyes, mostly hidden by silver hair, glowing and unblinking. She mouthed something he couldn't hear. He drooped down further, flicking his ear towards her. She leaned in and hollered something that did not make it pass the others' voices. (No one noticed the other, strange that was watching them from the roof either.)
The subsequent roar that erupted from him immediately quieted everyone and everything. "Fu Dog!"