Dadcrossing Stories

  Chapter 6: Paths Crossed in Shadows The wiry man crept closer, each step sending a fresh jolt of panic through Ariel. Zed’s wide, panicked eyes pleaded with her to run, but she couldn’t. Running would give them away immediately, and there was no way she’d outrun them with Zed injured. Ariel’s mind raced. The only chance was to stay hidden and hope the wiry man’s search didn’t bring him all the way to the log. “Do you see anything?” the bearded man barked from the bridge, his voice impatient and sharp. The wiry man squinted into the dense shadows of Ember Hollows. The light filtering through the canopy was faint now, and the looming trees made every shape indistinct. “Nah, nothing here,” he finally called back, turning reluctantly to rejoin the group. Ariel let out a shaky breath, her grip on Zed loosening slightly. The wiry man’s departure felt like a reprieve, but her nerves were still on edge. “Let’s cross this cursed bridge and get out of here,” the lanky man grumbled. “This p...

  Chapter 5: Shadows and Whispers Noah blinked against the bright light, struggling to make sense of what had just happened. Above him, the concerned faces of his parents and the glowing horn of Celeste brought him back to the moment. “Are you okay, son?” Nick asked, his voice steady but strained with worry. Noah sat up, still shaken. “Yeah... I think so,” he said hesitantly, patting himself to make sure there were no hidden injuries. Nick’s sharp eyes scanned the stunned wyvern lying several feet away. “An adolescent wyvern in the meadow, with no signal from any of our defenses, is nearly impossible,” Beka muttered, her voice tight with suspicion. “What happened to the wyvern?” Noah asked, his voice trembling slightly. “Is it... dead?” “No,” Nick said firmly. “Celeste stunned it long enough for us to secure it. It’ll be out for a while, but we need to move quickly. I’ll handle locking it up and sending word to the Ember Assembly. They’ll want to know how this happened.” Tur...

  Chapter 4: Courage in the Grass and Shadows of the Forest Noah crouched low in the tall grass, his heart pounding as though it were trying to escape his chest. The meadow, usually a haven of beauty and peace, felt suffocating and silent. Then he heard it—a sound so loud and sudden it seemed to split the world in two. A crack, like the splintering of a mighty oak, echoed across Glittering Meadows. Noah’s instincts took over, and his head shot up from the grass. In the distance, he spotted her. Ariel, with Zed on her back, running for the safety of Ember Hollows. She looked so small, so vulnerable against the backdrop of the towering trees. “Ariel!” he shouted, his voice breaking with desperation. But the distance, coupled with the angry hisses and roars of the wyvern, swallowed his cry. The wyvern emerged from the grass, shaking its massive head and working its jaw, as if ensuring everything was still in place after colliding with Zed's magical barrier. It snorted, and smoke curle...

  Chapter 3: The First Flight of Zed The late morning sun bathed Glittering Meadows in a golden glow, its warmth seeping into the earth and the soft grass beneath Ariel's bare feet. The meadow stretched endlessly before her, a living tapestry of colors. Fluffy flowers swayed gently in the breeze, their soft petals drifting skyward like tiny clouds whenever disturbed. Flutterbies—small, iridescent creatures with wings like liquid rainbows—dotted the landscape, flitting between the blooms as if they were painting the air with joy. Ariel and Zed were in the heart of it all, playing as though the world was theirs alone. Ariel’s laughter rang out, mingling with Zed’s occasional snorts as they chased each other through the meadow. She leaped for a flutterby just ahead, her fingers brushing its delicate wing before it darted away. “Almost got you!” she giggled, turning to see Zed rolling in the soft grass, his hooves kicking up fluffy petals in a cascade of white and gold. “Haha, Zed, you...

 Chapter 2: The Morning of Emberwood Ariel Luminaris opened her eyes to the gentle glow of dawn streaming through her window. She stretched with a little smile, already humming a melody she’d been working on. Today, she was determined to sing it perfectly for Zed, the youngest member of the unicorn herd, and one who seemed to thrive on every note of her voice. She could already imagine his tiny horn lighting up, his little mane flapping with excitement. Just as she finished the last line of her morning tune, her brother Noah poked his head through the door. “Singing already, are we?” he teased, grinning. Ariel sat up, not one to let her brother’s playful jabs get to her. “Zed needs my voice in tip-top shape! How else will he grow strong enough to become a real unicorn of magic?” Noah chuckled, shaking his head. “Alright, you’d better make sure that little Uni is prepared for all you’ve got.” After a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs, Ariel barely waited to be excused before she das...

 Chapter 1: The Land of Glittering Meadows In the heart of Emberwood, where the light of a thousand tiny fireflies shimmered like stars in a clear, endless sky, there lay the glittering meadows—a breathtaking expanse blanketed with flowers that gleamed in all shades of gold, silver, and violet. This land was home to a remarkable family, the Luminaris family. Their home, more than just a place to live, was a ranch for unicorns, a rare and beautiful creature with silky coats as white as stardust and spiraling horns that glowed with an enchanting light. The Luminaris family, who had lived there for generations, took care of these magical creatures. They were a family of four: Beka, the loving, wise mother, who could speak in soft tones that even the shyest unicorn would answer to; Nick, a steadfast and warm-hearted father who always wore a smile and was known for his bravery; Noah, a curious 10-year-old with a knack for spotting trouble before it started; and Ariel, his little sister,...