Chapter 11: The Forest’s Secrets
Chapter 11: The Forest’s Secrets
The first rays of dawn filtered through the Emberoak canopy, painting the leaves in hues of green and gold. The Luminari family walked cautiously into Ember Hollows, their steps muted by the soft, mossy ground. The forest, while beautiful, carried an air of tension. The stillness seemed to hold its breath, the occasional rustle of leaves or chirp of distant birds doing little to ease their unease.
Behind them, Silverwing and Neo followed closely, their massive forms moving with surprising grace. Their scales caught the dappled sunlight, glinting like armor. To Ariel, they no longer seemed terrifying but majestic. Still, the tension in their snorts and the flick of their tails was palpable. The wyverns, like the family, were on edge.
“This forest always feels like it’s watching,” Noah muttered, glancing at the towering trees that stretched endlessly into the sky.
“It is,” Beka replied softly. “Every leaf, every stone, every shadow in Emberwood has its place and purpose. But don’t let it fool you—the Hollows can be as dangerous as they are beautiful.”
Ariel walked silently beside Zed, her hand occasionally brushing his mane. She felt the pull of memories, vivid and raw: the fear of hiding from the men, the terror of being chased, the moment Zed saved her life. Yet mingled with the fear were flashes of triumph—standing against the wyverns, connecting with them, learning their pain.
She glanced back at Silverwing and Neo. “They deserve their names,” she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.
Nick overheard and sighed. “Ariel, they’re not pets.”
“I know,” she replied, her tone resolute. “But if pets deserve names, then creatures like them certainly do.”
Nick didn’t argue. He knew better.
As they followed the path deeper into the forest, Noah broke the silence. “If we find this third wyvern, what’s the plan?”
Nick hesitated before answering, his tone carefully measured. “We hope that Neo and... and Silverwing,” he grimaced, “can explain what’s happened. If they can calm it down, maybe we can guide it back to Drakeclaw.”
Ariel smirked. “You said their names. You like them. Admit it.”
Nick’s grumble was drowned out by a round of chuckles, a moment of levity in the tension.
Noah’s face grew serious again as he asked, “What if we don’t find the third one?”
“We’ll stay on the trail to Emberfalls,” Beka said. “By now, Silvermist should have alerted the village about the wyvern in the meadow.”
They stopped abruptly at a set of large claw prints embedded in the soft earth. Nick knelt, running his fingers over the deep impressions. “Here,” he said. “This is where it started. He ran that way.” He pointed further down the trail.
“More like chased that way,” Noah muttered, remembering the burly man from the night before.
“Yeah,” Nick agreed grimly. “Let’s keep moving.”
The sound of voices ahead made them freeze. Nick called out cautiously, “Who’s there?”
A gruff, familiar voice replied, “Nick? That you?”
“Elder Fig?” Nick relaxed slightly, though his shoulders remained tense. The trees parted to reveal Fig, the head of the Emberfalls Elder Council, flanked by nearly twenty men. Ariel’s eyes darted between them, trying to count the shifting figures. Fig was stout and imposing, his weathered face framed by a thick beard.
Behind Ariel, Silverwing and Neo began to stir, their low snorts rumbling like distant thunder. Ariel placed a hand on Neo’s flank. “It’s okay,” she whispered.
Fig’s sharp eyes immediately fell on the wyverns, narrowing with suspicion and disdain. “What in Drakeclaw are you doing, Nick?” he barked, his hand drifting to the hilt of his weapon. “One of those things nearly killed one of my men!”
“Hold your fury, Fig,” Nick said calmly, stepping forward. “This is going to be hard to believe, but I think we have a bad actor in our midst. Someone wanted it to look like these wyverns were attacking us.”
A burly man stepped forward from Fig’s group, his face flushed and angry. “One of those beasts chased me! Nearly killed me! We should chain them up and dispose of them!”
Nick and Noah exchanged a glance. Noah gave a small nod, confirming what Nick suspected. This was the man who had been chased down the trail.
Before Nick could speak, Ariel’s voice rang out, strong and accusing. “I know you!” She stepped forward, her eyes blazing. “You bound these wyverns and were transporting them—probably to our ranch!”
The burly man flinched, his bravado faltering. “That’s quite an accusation,” Fig said, his tone sharp.
The burly man, emboldened by Fig’s dismissal, tried to regain his composure. “Your girl’s lying. I didn’t—”
Nick interrupted, his voice cutting like steel. “I’d make the same accusation. Am I lying, Fig?”
The tension between the two men was palpable, their words charged with history and unspoken challenges. Ariel could feel Silverwing and Neo vibrating with anger behind her, their horns glowing faintly. She tightened her grip on their scales, trying to calm them.
Fig glared at Nick. “We’re just trying to keep the peace. Hand over the wyverns, and we’ll take care of them properly.”
Nick’s eyes narrowed. “We’re taking all three of them back to Drakeclaw. That’s where they belong.”
“That’s not how things are done here,” Fig retorted.
“And what about when three wyverns are stolen from their home and carted to my ranch? How do we handle that?” Nick’s sarcasm dripped like venom.
Fig’s patience was fraying. “You’re letting wyverns roam free, endangering everyone in Emberwood!”
“And you’re lying to protect your man, who stole them in the first place!” Nick fired back.
The forest seemed to hold its breath as the two men squared off, neither willing to yield. Beka moved to Nick’s side, her dagger resting lightly at her hip.
“You can see we’re fine, Fig,” Nick said evenly. “You’ve done your duty by checking on us. Now head back to Emberfalls.”
Before Fig could reply, Silvermist emerged from the shadows, her glowing horn illuminating the tense standoff. Beka rushed to her, humming a few notes that made the unicorn snort and nuzzle her shoulder. Silvermist’s horn pulsed brightly, and a faint, magical hum filled the air.
Beka turned to Fig, her voice calm but resolute. “We’re not giving up these wyverns, and it’s clear you don’t want to help us find the third. So your options are simple: walk away now, or we’ll settle this before the full Assembly in Emberfalls.”
Fig’s jaw tightened, his face red with barely contained anger. “You’re threatening an Elder Council member?”
“I’m stating facts,” Beka said evenly, her hand brushing her dagger. “You came here to check on us. You’ve seen we’re handling it. Now leave.”
Fig fumed, his fists clenched. “Mark my words, Nick,” he spat. “Those wyverns will be disposed of, and your ranch... well, let’s see how long it stays yours.”
As Fig turned, his men followed, grumbling as they disappeared into the trees.
Ariel let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She reached out to Silverwing, whose horn was still glowing with residual magic. When her hand touched it, a sharp heat seared her palm. “Ouch!” she yelped, pulling back.
Silverwing moaned softly, his eyes wide with regret. Ariel smiled through the pain. “It’s okay. We’ll figure each other out.”
Nick turned to Beka. “What now?”
Beka nodded toward Silvermist. “She gave us some very interesting information. It’ll change everything...”
The family leaned in, the tension of the moment giving way to the promise of revelation.
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