Dadcrossing Stories

 Chapter 10: Bonds and Choices The night air over Glittering Meadows carried a heavy stillness, broken only by the faint rustle of trees swaying in the breeze. The golden glow of Celeste’s horn cast long shadows across the ranch as the family tried to process Ariel’s revelation. The Wyvern , standing awkwardly on its three good legs, snorted and moaned softly. Every sound seemed laden with pain, fear, and a cautious curiosity. Nick’s voice, strained with equal parts disbelief and pragmatism, finally broke the silence. “We can’t just let a Wyvern roam free. How do we know this is actually what happened?” He gestured to the towering creature, its golden eyes fixed on Ariel. Ariel’s fists clenched at her sides. “It’s real,” she said sharply, her voice thick with exhaustion and conviction. “I don’t know how to explain it, Dad. I just... I felt it. I saw it.” Noah crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at the stone barn where another Wyvern moaned in response to its siblin...

 Chapter 9: The Connection The Wyvern crouched low, its golden eyes fixed on Zed with an unrelenting intensity. The shadows of Ember Hollows seemed to lean in, dark tendrils wrapping the scene in a suffocating stillness. Each sound—the snapping of twigs beneath its claws, the labored hiss of its breath—seemed amplified. Smoke curled from its nostrils, glowing faintly in the dim light, and despite its injury, the beast advanced with a relentless determination. Ariel’s heart hammered in her chest. The weight of the moment was crushing, but she refused to crumble. She crouched next to Zed, her fingers trembling as she touched his mane. “Run, boy,” she whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek. Then louder, with all the strength she could muster, “ RUN! ” Zed snorted and took a step back, his expressive eyes locking onto hers. He planted his hooves firmly, his horn glowing with a steady, unwavering light. His message was clear—he wasn’t going anywhere. “No!” Ariel pleaded, pushing ag...

  Chapter 8: Unleashing the Shadows Nick and Noah crouched in the damp undergrowth, hearts pounding as the thornpaws trudged closer. The thick foliage of Ember Hollows muffled the low grunts and heavy breathing of the beasts, but the stench of their sweat and the creaking of the wagons filled the suffocating darkness. The sickly yellow torchlight flickered across twisted roots and mossy stones, creating a shifting tapestry of shadows that danced over Nick’s and Noah’s worried faces. A sudden green-scaled claw slipped out from beneath a heavy tarp. Its talons, each three inches long, glinted menacingly in the torchlight. Noah swallowed hard, trying to steady his trembling hands. Seeing those claws dragged a fresh memory of his earlier near-death encounter with a wyvern. He leaned closer to his father. “Dad, it’s a wyvern!” he whispered, voice cracking with fear. “Another wyvern!” “Shh,” Nick hissed, pressing a calming hand to Noah’s shoulder. “You’re right, though. There must be two...

  Chapter 7: A Mother's Resolve and the Shadows of the Hollows The air in Ember Hollows was thick with a damp, earthy chill that clung to everything it touched. Beka squinted against the enveloping darkness, her grip firm on Celeste’s reins as they navigated the trail. Even with Celeste’s faintly glowing horn illuminating the path, the forest felt claustrophobic, the towering Ember Oaks pressing in like silent sentinels. “Easy, girl,” Beka whispered as Celeste shivered beneath her. The unicorn's tension was palpable, her ears swiveling at every creak and rustle. Beka’s generational bond with the unicorns of Glittering Meadows told her that Celeste sensed more than just the oppressive shadows. Something—or someone—was near. “What do you sense, girl?” Beka asked aloud, though the question went unanswered. Celeste stopped suddenly, her muscles bunching as if ready to bolt. Then, without warning, she lunged forward, breaking into an all-out gallop. “Celeste, no!” Beka shouted, cl...