New Tales of Old Shanghai
St . Margaret ' s Co-Educational English Secondary and Primary School ( Primary Section ), Choi , Nana – 9
D o you know what Old Shanghai was like ? Misty Brook , a werewolf , has also asked this . Except for the first paragraph , this is her journal .
In werewolf form , Misty slunk through the forest , with her companion , Gavin Heavypaw , at her side . “ We ’ re late !” Misty hissed . “ Hurry up already !” Rolling his eyes , Gavin pounced onto a boulder . “ Well , then take a shortcut .”
Grumbling , Misty followed . “ Wonder what Old Shanghai is like ?” she asked suddenly , glancing at Gavin . “ Ar- ” “ Because ,” Misty interrupted , “ it ’ s our school project .” “ Oh ,” Gavin murmured , streaking at such speed his paws barely touched the ground . “ Well , have you wondered why we can be in werewolf form in the daytime ?” He suddenly stumbled . “ Ow !” Instantly an invisible force sucked him away .
“ Gavin !” Misty whipped around as a hand touched her . It was her dragon-woman tutor , Ember Goldenwillow . “ The Dark . We ’ ll go to Old Shanghai to save Heavypaw , then destroy the Dark Leader .” Grabbing Misty , now a human , she flew at a tiny hole , and disappeared into nothingness .
“ Wake up , Misty .” The werewolf jerked awake as Ember charred her shirt with a fireball . “ This is Old Shanghai ?” Misty asked , gazing in wonder . “ Yeah . We must hurry ,” Ember huffed . Changing into a werewolf , Misty dashed toward Old Shanghai , Ember flying with her .
After a while , they arrived at the now horribly black gate of the city . Disgusted , Ember shot a volley of fireballs at it . “ Let ’ s go . You coming ?” she called , turning into a woman again , Misty copying , and the two stepped into Old Shanghai .
“ Did you know that Old Shanghai was formerly known as Chinese city ?” Ember asked Misty as they trekked along the blackened path . “ It ’ s the traditional urban core of Shanghai , Asia . Its boundary was defined by a defensive wall- ” “ Okay , okay ,” Misty muttered . “ Stop being Details Dragon .” Ember blasted a small fireball . “ Ha-ha . Very funny .”
“ Wow .” Misty stared at a weird human with jet-black skin . “ Dark ,” Ember murmured , staring straight ahead . The guy passed , making funny gurgling noises . Suddenly he whipped around . “ Dragon ,” he snarled . “ Werewolf .” His startling green gaze slowly darted to Ember and Misty . The light in his eyes faded , and he collapsed , rising again as a hideous black spirit . He let an earsplitting howl . “ Dang ,” Ember cursed . “ My scent is still full of fire .” She transformed into a dragon again , golden scales glittering . Growling , Misty changed into a werewolf , glaring at the arriving Dark angrily .
“ These are cursed Dark !” Ember exclaimed , blasting fireballs at the first wave of the Dark . One small one fell , and rose again , but as a baby four-winged serpent . It coiled around four Dark , squeezing them into young but ferocious three-headed hounds .
“ Wave Coils ! Bring the Cerberus children over !” Ember called , whipping her three tails at the Dark that summoned the rest . “ You aren ’ t cursed .” She sank her teeth into its neck , and dark blue blood spat out from the wound . Shrieking , the Dark slashed Ember ’ s chest with its claws , but Ember shoved it away with a fireball , sending it crashing on another Dark , who turned into a centaur and pressed his hooves down at the Dark ’ s chest , drawing an iron blade .