speed and took Yoshiko for a faster flight, circling all of the Alana Mountains.
Romao spotted several Guard Dragons who were prowling around the Trail Mountains, and started to descend. He landed, shortly followed by Yoshiko, who was out of breath and panting.
Romao looked at his little chest moving in and out.
‘The secret to becoming a Guard Dragon is practise, practise, practise,’ he said, as they watched the guards swoop at high speeds over their heads. ‘See that dragon there?’ He pointed to a blue Talana dragon, whose scales rippled with the muscle underneath. ‘He was really clumsy in the air when he started,’ said Romao. ‘Now he is one of Dragor’s best. Every day he trains around the Trail Mountains.’
Several of the passes had been adapted by a team of Guard Dragons and were the pride and joy of their Captain Ayo. He had instructed the trails to be full offlight obstacles and targets so as to help improve the flying skills of any trainees.
Yoshiko looked in awe at some dragons flying into the entrances at breakneck speeds. A Guard Dragon then came swooping down behind them from one of the exits and shot across the Great Waters. Then with absolute precision the dragon smashed a row of clay pots floating on the surface.
As the fragments sank out of sight another dragon at the edge of the Great Waters began turning a pulley system. It ferried another set of pots out into position, waiting for the next dragon.
‘You won’t be ready for the Trail Mountains until you are very fit,’ said Romao. ‘One wrong turn and that could be the end of it.’
‘Have you ever hit a mountain?’ asked Yoshiko.
Romao shook his head. ‘No, but I was injured badly when I caught a turn wrong,’ he said, unfurling his large wing and showing Yoshiko an ugly raised scar. ‘Every year there are one or two dragons who fly the trails too early and hurt themselves. The hardest trail has lava pits along the way that throw smoke and ash up, plus there are jets of scalding water from the rocks that shoot sky high. Go through either of thoseat the wrong point and it could be fatal.’ Romao’s tone was serious.
‘Come,’ he continued. ‘Let’s fly over the simple adventure course. All you have to do is swing in and out changing sides in order to avoid the trees. You cannot hurt yourself even if you hit the branches as the leaves are soft and cushioning. We will train here every day until you absolutely perfect it, then you can move on.’
They turned and flew at a gentle speed that allowed Yoshiko to fly beside Romao, swinging in and out of the small forest. He sailed through the course with ease.
‘Great, let’s go see how the Alanas train – the most talented in the air of all the clans,’ said Romao.
They approached the Great Waters, Romao cried out against the shrill of the wind, ‘Now … Look down! See the Alanas are all practising their skills. Watch how they are doing fancy turns before they dive deeply into the water. They are making their bodies and wings as straight as they can. They are challenging themselves to build up a perfect score. Every year at Red Seventh Moon these dragons gather for the Great Races. All the Guard Dragons will be taking part and competing forthe main award. I am already training hard for the next one. It’s going to be so much fun!’
‘Do you really think I could ever make a Guard?’ Yoshiko asked hopefully.
Romao turned to him and examined his current form in the skies.
‘Most dragons never use all their talent. They don’t ever develop the right attitude. Won’t listen. Won’t learn,’ he said. ‘They fly only to get around Dragor. If you are willing to train hard there is almost no end to what you can achieve. Wing exercises,’ Romao continued, ‘are the first essential for improving flight.’ He stretched out his large wings and hovered as he pushed them up and down quickly.
‘First we train for strength in the wing,’ he said.
‘Then we train
Romao spotted several Guard Dragons who were prowling around the Trail Mountains, and started to descend. He landed, shortly followed by Yoshiko, who was out of breath and panting.
Romao looked at his little chest moving in and out.
‘The secret to becoming a Guard Dragon is practise, practise, practise,’ he said, as they watched the guards swoop at high speeds over their heads. ‘See that dragon there?’ He pointed to a blue Talana dragon, whose scales rippled with the muscle underneath. ‘He was really clumsy in the air when he started,’ said Romao. ‘Now he is one of Dragor’s best. Every day he trains around the Trail Mountains.’
Several of the passes had been adapted by a team of Guard Dragons and were the pride and joy of their Captain Ayo. He had instructed the trails to be full offlight obstacles and targets so as to help improve the flying skills of any trainees.
Yoshiko looked in awe at some dragons flying into the entrances at breakneck speeds. A Guard Dragon then came swooping down behind them from one of the exits and shot across the Great Waters. Then with absolute precision the dragon smashed a row of clay pots floating on the surface.
As the fragments sank out of sight another dragon at the edge of the Great Waters began turning a pulley system. It ferried another set of pots out into position, waiting for the next dragon.
‘You won’t be ready for the Trail Mountains until you are very fit,’ said Romao. ‘One wrong turn and that could be the end of it.’
‘Have you ever hit a mountain?’ asked Yoshiko.
Romao shook his head. ‘No, but I was injured badly when I caught a turn wrong,’ he said, unfurling his large wing and showing Yoshiko an ugly raised scar. ‘Every year there are one or two dragons who fly the trails too early and hurt themselves. The hardest trail has lava pits along the way that throw smoke and ash up, plus there are jets of scalding water from the rocks that shoot sky high. Go through either of thoseat the wrong point and it could be fatal.’ Romao’s tone was serious.
‘Come,’ he continued. ‘Let’s fly over the simple adventure course. All you have to do is swing in and out changing sides in order to avoid the trees. You cannot hurt yourself even if you hit the branches as the leaves are soft and cushioning. We will train here every day until you absolutely perfect it, then you can move on.’
They turned and flew at a gentle speed that allowed Yoshiko to fly beside Romao, swinging in and out of the small forest. He sailed through the course with ease.
‘Great, let’s go see how the Alanas train – the most talented in the air of all the clans,’ said Romao.
They approached the Great Waters, Romao cried out against the shrill of the wind, ‘Now … Look down! See the Alanas are all practising their skills. Watch how they are doing fancy turns before they dive deeply into the water. They are making their bodies and wings as straight as they can. They are challenging themselves to build up a perfect score. Every year at Red Seventh Moon these dragons gather for the Great Races. All the Guard Dragons will be taking part and competing forthe main award. I am already training hard for the next one. It’s going to be so much fun!’
‘Do you really think I could ever make a Guard?’ Yoshiko asked hopefully.
Romao turned to him and examined his current form in the skies.
‘Most dragons never use all their talent. They don’t ever develop the right attitude. Won’t listen. Won’t learn,’ he said. ‘They fly only to get around Dragor. If you are willing to train hard there is almost no end to what you can achieve. Wing exercises,’ Romao continued, ‘are the first essential for improving flight.’ He stretched out his large wings and hovered as he pushed them up and down quickly.
‘First we train for strength in the wing,’ he said.
‘Then we train
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