Heavy rain followed light rain. Occasionally, the downpour stopped for half a day and a sliver of daylight leaked through the clouds, only for rain to patter down again a few hours later.
Amid the unending rain, the mountain wilderness quietly turned green. There were especially many frogs that year.
Jin Si lay on the mountaintop, watching it all.
He remembered that this time of year should not have had a Continuous Rainy Season, yet the rain kept falling, leaving him a little unsure what season it actually was.
He had flown long enough in the downpours and enjoyed himself thoroughly, absorbing far too much rain essence and lightning from the clouds. He had gorged himself until he was uncomfortably full. Even lying still, water vapor kept seeping through the gaps between his scales.
Sometimes, having too much of a good thing could be a worry, too.
He had not visited the Village School for quite some time, and had missed his Wu Day and Gui Day attendance checks at the Library Pavilion as well. Having lingered in the mountains too long, he decided to return to the Medicine King Temple first and see whether there was any news.
He pushed himself up on all four claws, floated into the sodden clouds and mist, and swung his tail as he flew toward the Medicine King Temple.
He had ventured too deep into the mountain forests, and the journey back was rather long.
When the rain grew heavy, he climbed into the rain clouds. When it lightened, he wound his way along the wet treetops, his belly scales brushing the green leaves with a soft rustle.
Days of overcast rain had hidden the sun, but fortunately, following the contours of the valleys and ridges kept him from losing his way.
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