The dragon angled down toward the platform where Alan had landed, wings beating hard enough to shake the air. Below, he was still alive, still whole, and still very offended.
He sat up as they approached, one hand braced behind him, the other raised in a slow, exaggerated thumbs-up that somehow managed to look rude.
Raizen didn't know whether to feel relief or pure humiliation.
Elin, of course, looked delighted.
"See?" she called down, voice bright. "Perfect landing form Alan!"
Alan pointed at her with one finger, then pointed at the cloud, then made a twisting motion near his temple like she was crazy.
Even through the wind, Raizen could hear it.
"You're all insane!"
The dragon hovered over the platform for a heartbeat, then dropped with a controlled thud that made the wooden boards creak and groan.
Elin leaned forward, palm pressed to the seam of scales near its neck.
"Pick him up" she said, softer now. "And this time, don't drop him again."
