New Tales of The Old Shanghai
Island School , Saunders , Anya – 14
N ight had fallen in in eastern Shanghai , silent and swift like a curtain drop . There was a humming in the air , sending electric shivers up the spine of anyone residents of the neighbourhood . As such , any and all windows and back doors had been tightly shut and barred . The streets were almost entirely deserted . It was one of those nights when humans say you can smell the trouble in the air .
From his perch on a high up clothes rack , Kayr the dragon could tell you what this night really smelled like ; stale piss , baking rubbish , and dead rats . At least in the absence of the humans , us outcasts can hunt in peace , he thought bitterly . A cool gust of wind brushed his mane , momentarily distracting him as he leaned into the breeze . For a second , he imagined what it ' d be like to fly . It ' d be the most perfect freedom . To go anywhere , to not be tied down ever by anything . He knew it used to be possible ; his parents had told him stories about their glorious past . Their species had once been symbols of power , revered for their grace and intelligence . They had lived with humans in harmony , and served the emperors as advisors for millennia . They had been gods .
Pain stabbed at his stomach again , sending him out of his fanciful spiral . He was getting philosophical again . Must be the hunger , he thought with a humorless laugh . That ' s the real reason he was up here . His clan was starving . Already several of the oldest and youngest had died , and the rest wouldn ’ t last long . Glancing down at the clustered group waiting below , Kayr took in their pitiful appearance . Their ribs protruded sharply , while skin covered in dull scales hung low from their bellies . Dirty piles of hair laid around the nest from their molting manes . Some lay curled around themselves on the floor , too weak from sickness to stand . With a sharp pang , Kayr realised he would do anything to protect the clan . As leader , he had to find them something .
If it came to it , he knew the clan would eat each other to survive , but he really didn ’ t want it to come to that . He swiveled his head slowly , looking for a fresh dumpster , or some living movement in the alleys . A new smell was drafting towards him , something bitter mixing with something sickly sweet . Alcohol , he realised , and some kind of awful perfume . He looked around , searching out the scent ’ s origin . There , he spotted it . A human .
Oooh did he look appetizing . He wore a fine suit jacket lopsided on his shoulders with the sleeves unbuttoned , and shiny shoes getting more scuffed by the second with as he swayed through his steps . His shirt buttons strained with the effort of containing his overflowing stomach . He was the perfect mark . Clearly rich and clearly pissed , and likely smoked too , meaning he was probably an arrogant fool who would barely fight back . He could feed the whole clan for weeks . Kayr weighed the risks of taking a human against the benefits . They could be found out by the police and exterminated like rats , but then again , if they didn ’ t find other food they ’ d probably be dead soon anyway . And he was a foreigner . That settled it .
He scampered down the pipe as fast as his weakened body could take him , jumping the last few feet to the ground . The other dragons collectively turned to him with large , expecting eyes . Kayr addressed the crowd , “ I saw a human down on 23rd . He ’ s big , but drunk . Should feed us for a while .” There was silence . Kayr paused , confused . He ’ d expected cheering , or at least some indication of their relief . The clan just stared at him .
One voice spoke out , “ A human ? We ’ re all hungry , but that seems insane . They ’ re dangerous .” Others in the cluster chorused their agreement . “ I know that ,” he responded and I know we won ’ t last long if we don ’ t get food . We need this . Besides , he ’ s a foreigner .” A young dragon raised their voice , “ Maybe , but isn ’ t it kind of … wrong to kill a human ? They have minds and everything .” Kayr actually laughs at that , a cold harsh sound . “ So do we . And do you remember what they did to us ? Someone tell me what they did to us .” One of the older dragons stepped forwards , a dark look in her eyes . She spoke in a low voice filled with fire , “ When the new people came to Shanghai , they treated us like dogs . They paid the right people , and then they shot at us and poisoned us and forced us out of our nests onto the street .” Inspired , another dragon stepped forward , “ When the foreigners took over , they cut us out of our rightful place in the government and stopped our food supply .” The clan began to shout out their abuses .