Chapter 12: Secrets in the Shadows
Chapter 12: Secrets in the Shadows
The Ember Hollows still carried the echo of raised voices and frayed tempers from the confrontation that had just transpired. Shafts of early sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, illuminating dust motes dancing in the uneasy air. Nick and Beka stood close to their children, their features etched with concern.
In the near distance, Neo and Silverwing snorted and rumbled, restless after the tense standoff with Elder Fig and his men. Even Zed, usually keen to explore, hovered close to Ariel’s side, nostrils flaring as he picked up on the family’s apprehension.
Beka broke the heavy silence first. “We need to talk about what Silvermist showed me.” She looked around, searching for the unicorn that had brought her the disturbing vision. A short distance away, Silvermist stood with her head bowed, flicking her tail in agitation.
Nick exhaled, the lines of his face deepening. “Yes, let’s hear it.”
Beka ran her hand down Silvermist’s mane, her voice subdued as she began. “She saw the burly man who ran from our confrontation rushing to Fig’s home. She saw him leading—actually dragging—a wounded wyvern behind him. And Fig himself... stunned it with some contraption or magic. Locked it away.”
Ariel’s eyes flashed with anger. “That means there’s a third wyvern being held captive—right now.”
Noah’s jaw tightened. “So Fig’s definitely more involved than he wanted us to believe. He’s not just covering for his lackey—he’s orchestrating this.”
Beka nodded, sadness and fury mingling in her expression. “Silvermist’s vision also suggested that the kidnapping was planned. Fig and his men took the wyverns on purpose.”
A tense hush fell, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves overhead and the soft huffing of Neo and Silverwing. Ariel placed a calming hand on Silverwing’s flank. “We have to get that third wyvern out,” she said, voice trembling with urgency. “We can’t leave it trapped with them.”
Nick looked at his family. “Agreed. But we can’t stroll into Fig’s estate and demand it back. He’d lock us up, or worse.”
A wry grin tugged at Noah’s lips, despite the dire situation. “So we’re going to steal a wyvern from the lead Elder of Emberfalls?”
Nick mustered a half-smile in return, acknowledging the absurdity. “If that’s our only option—yes.”
Gathering Resolve
They retreated deeper into Ember Hollows, putting distance between themselves and the path Fig’s men had taken back toward Emberfalls. This part of the forest felt more confined, with towering Emberoaks gripping the sky and knotted roots underfoot. The canopy’s leafy veil dappled the daylight, turning it into scattered shards of green-gold. A low mist clung to the ground, hinting at the damp, secretive nature of this ancient woodland.
They found a small clearing surrounded by mossy boulders. Here, they could plan without fear of being overheard. Neo and Silverwing settled on opposite sides of the clearing, eyeing each other as though conferring silently about this strange rescue mission. Zed stood nearest to Ariel, as if the small unicorn sensed she needed his support.
Nick lowered his voice. “We need more details about Fig’s compound. I haven’t been there in years—he’s expanded it since then.”
Beka gently stroked Silvermist’s muzzle. “Silvermist caught only a glimpse in her vision: a tall fence, a courtyard with stables, and a shed where the wyvern was kept. She didn’t see how many guards or the exact layout.”
Ariel chewed her lower lip, glancing at the older wyverns. “Should we bring them?” she asked, gesturing to Neo and Silverwing. “If they go anywhere near the town, we’ll be spotted in an instant.”
Nick shook his head. “They can’t. It’s too dangerous. They’d draw attention before we even made it to the outskirts of Emberfalls.”
At that, Neo let out a low rumble, his eyes flicking to Silverwing as though they shared a private thought. Silverwing beat his massive wings once, shifting the air around them. Even Zed nickered softly, caught up in the tension.
Beka looked at her daughter. “Ariel, can you calm them—let them know we’ll return with their sibling soon?”
Ariel took a breath and approached the wyverns. She began humming one of the melodic phrases she’d discovered in her strange link with them. The effect was almost immediate: Neo tilted his head, and Silverwing folded his wings, settling into something like cautious acceptance.
“They’ll wait here,” Ariel said, turning to her parents. “They understand... or at least I think they do.”
Noah exhaled heavily, relief mixing with apprehension. “Then let’s move.”
Through the Forest
They traveled on foot through snaking paths no wider than a deer trail, guided by Nick’s memory and Beka’s forest-sense. Each step took them closer to Fig’s compound on the outskirts of Emberfalls. The deeper they went, the more the character of Ember Hollows shifted—trees grew sparser, and the undergrowth thickened. The hush of the old forest gave way to a more open, rolling terrain dotted with brambles and fallen logs.
The journey had a surreal quality: they were not wandering tourists, but a family on a clandestine rescue mission. At times, they shared small, nervous laughs—Noah complaining that burrs kept catching on his clothes, or Ariel joking that even the local squirrels seemed to sense the drama unfolding. Yet the tension remained, a coiled spring ready to snap.
At last, near midday, they crested a gentle slope and glimpsed the outline of Fig’s estate below—a modestly sized compound with tall wooden walls and a squat watchtower on one corner. Even from a distance, they could see a few figures patrolling the perimeter.
Noah sank to a crouch, peering over a thick bush. “Guards at the front gate, at least two. Probably more along the wall. This place looks bigger than I remember.”
Beka nodded, remembering her own brief visits to Fig’s property in the past. “He’s expanded. Reinforced everything.”
Nick grimaced. “Clearly, he’s been planning something for a while.”
A Plan Takes Shape
They took cover in a dense copse of scraggly pines near the back side of the compound. The smell of fresh pine needles blended oddly with the faint smoke rising from torches along Fig’s walls. A stifling tension hung in the air.
Nick gathered them in a tight circle. “We’ll split up. Beka, you’ll take point. Find the guard rotation if you can. Ariel, you’re with me. Noah, you stand watch on the opposite side so you can warn us if Fig or his men start circling around.”
Noah gulped but nodded. “Got it.”
They moved quickly but quietly. Skirting the tall walls, they found a narrow gap between sections of wooden planks—likely a place where new construction met old, leaving a slight seam. Beka pressed her ear to it, listening for voices or movement. After a moment, she waved Nick over.
Through the gap, they could see into the courtyard. It was larger than expected, with pens for livestock and a handful of outbuildings. A couple of thornpaws—thick-furred, bear-like creatures often used as beasts of burden—dozed near a half-finished wagon. A stable sat at one end, and a smaller shed at the other.
“That might be where they’re keeping the wyvern,” Beka whispered, pointing to the shed. It had a heavy padlock on the door, and even from this distance, Ariel could make out thick iron fittings.
Just then, they heard raised voices from deeper within the compound. Nick and Beka stiffened, exchanging alarmed glances. Ariel leaned closer to the gap, feeling her heart thud painfully. Two figures came into view behind the shed.
One was Fig, his thick arms folded across his broad chest. The other—a narrow-eyed man in a fine jacket. They paused in mid-conversation, close enough for the Luminaris family to overhear snippets through the gap in the wall.
“—only a matter of time,” Fig was saying, voice simmering with anger. “If we let that family keep meddling, the entire plan collapses.”
“Once the ranch is under your control,” the other man responded, “you’ll have all the unicorn magic you need. You said it yourself—there’s never been a better time to profit from these creatures.”
Fig’s lips curled into a sneer. “They prance about, building houses and playing at charity, while we should be harnessing their magic for real gain. And those wyverns—” He jerked his thumb at the shed. “—will serve as the perfect excuse. Blame the attacks on them, and the Luminaris ranch is doomed.”
Ariel, crouched at the wall, felt a wave of nausea. Fig wanted her family to fail so he could seize their ranch... and enslave the unicorns. She clenched her fists, recalling the laughter, the joy, the love that thrived on her family’s land. The thought of it corrupted by Fig’s greed turned her stomach.
Beside her, Nick’s jaw was taut, eyes burning with fury. Beka’s expression hardened, her hand drifting toward the dagger at her waist. Noah, kneeling a few paces away, had also caught enough of the conversation to set his teeth on edge.
The narrow-eyed man spoke again, lower but still audible. “And the captive wyvern?”
Fig waved a dismissive hand. “We’ll keep it locked up until the moment’s right. If the Luminaris lot tries anything, we’ll use it against them. Then we’ll dispose of it—quietly.”
A bitter taste filled Ariel’s mouth. Dispose of it. The cruelty was staggering.
Executing the Rescue
Nick touched Ariel’s shoulder gently, urging her back from the wall. They retreated to the cover of pines, hearts pounding. Beka joined them, rage evident in her trembling voice. “We have to get that wyvern out now, before Fig can use it to orchestrate another ‘attack.’”
Nick nodded. “Right. We’ll do this quickly. Noah—give us some cover with the star fragments if needed. Ariel, you’re with me.”
They paused just long enough for a brief, surprisingly light moment. Noah took out one of his star fragments and tossed it into the air, catching it deftly. “Back to being the ‘Wyvern Liberation Squad,’ I guess,” he joked, a wry grin sneaking onto his face.
Ariel gave a tight smile, her heart still racing. “I prefer ‘Wyvern Rescue League,’ but I’ll take it.”
Beka exhaled a soft chuckle, the tension easing for just a second. “We’ll meet at the back fence if we get separated.”
With that, they crept along the wall until they found a loose board near the corner of the compound—an older section where the wood was beginning to warp. Quietly, Nick pried it open just enough for Beka to slip through. Ariel followed next, inhaling deeply to steady her nerves.
Inside, the courtyard smelled of hay and stale smoke. A lone guard loitered near a half-loaded cart, idly peeling a piece of fruit. He didn’t see Beka slip behind him, star sling at the ready. With a swift, muffled thwip, a tiny star fragment struck the guard behind the ear, and he slumped against the cart.
Ariel couldn’t help but think how strange it was that they were knocking people unconscious to save a creature that most of Emberwood believed to be dangerous. The world felt upside down, but there was no going back.
They hastened toward the shed. Ariel’s heart twisted at the sight of thick chains and iron bars across the door—exactly as Silvermist had shown Beka. The lock looked even sturdier up close.
Nick lowered the unicorn blade to the padlock, summoning a faint glow from the tip. Slowly, he pressed. Ariel watched in breathless anticipation. At first, nothing happened—then a tiny crackle of magic flickered along the blade, and the lock sizzled. The bolt gave way with a dull pop.
Beka eased the door open. At first, darkness confronted them, but then a pair of eyes glinted back—feral, terrified. A low hiss rippled through the gloom. As they stepped inside, they saw the third wyvern, battered and chained around its wings and neck. One of its hind legs sported a nasty bruise, and the creature trembled, pinned to the floor.
“Oh, no,” Ariel breathed, tears pricking her eyes. Every bruise felt like a personal affront, a testament to Fig’s cruelty.
They moved in unison. Nick went for the neck chains, while Beka fiddled with the latches on the wing restraints. Ariel hummed softly—her makeshift “Wyvern lullaby.” The creature flinched at first, but gradually, the trembling slowed.
“Easy,” Ariel murmured. “We’re here to help.”
In that tense, flickering hush, the chain latches finally gave. The wyvern, free for the first time since Fig’s men dragged it here, tried to stand. It swayed, scraping against the floor, letting out a keening cry that made Ariel’s heart ache. Outside, they heard the faint sound of footsteps—likely more guards.
Noah appeared at the door, face pale. “We’ve got company,” he whispered urgently. “Fig’s inside the house, but at least two men are headed this way.”
Nick set his jaw, glancing at the wyvern. “We’re taking it out. Now.”
A Daring Exit
Fighting the urge to run, they led the wyvern out of the shed. The poor beast limped, wincing with each step. Beka and Ariel stayed on either side, doing their best to steady it and keep it calm. Noah scanned the courtyard for signs of movement. They could hear voices barking orders somewhere on the opposite side of the compound.
Nick motioned to the place in the fence where they’d slipped in. “Go. I’ll cover you.”
As Beka, Ariel, and the wyvern retreated, Nick spotted a guard rounding the corner. In an instant, the guard’s eyes widened at the sight of an enormous wyvern hobbling across the yard. “Stop! Thieves!” he shouted, fumbling for his weapon.
Nick raised his blade. He didn’t want to hurt anyone, but he’d do what was necessary to keep his family and the wyvern safe. At that moment, a bright flash zipped through the air—Noah’s star fragment. It struck the guard in the shoulder, knocking him backward and momentarily stunning him.
“Nice shot!” Nick called. Noah grinned, though his hands shook.
They rushed to the fence and helped the wyvern squeeze through the gap. Outside, the midday light felt blinding compared to the dim shed. The forest stood a short sprint away—a line of lush green offering precious concealment.
With adrenaline surging, they half-guided, half-carried the wyvern into the cover of the trees. Panting, they stumbled to a stop among the thick roots of an ancient Emberoak. The creature collapsed, letting out a soft, trembling moan. Beka and Ariel pressed gentle hands against its battered scales, trying to provide comfort.
Noah appeared next, sweat beading on his brow. “Guards—maybe four or five—are searching the yard. We need to go!”
Reunion in the Woods
They hurried deeper into the forest, forging a winding path through brambles and undergrowth. At last, they found the place they’d arranged to meet Neo and Silverwing. The two older wyverns greeted the newcomer with low, rumbling calls, pressing snouts together in a display of relief and concern. Zed stood by, looking both wary and curious at once, his little horn glowing faintly with a supportive warmth.
Ariel sank to her knees, exhaustion flooding her limbs. Despite the tension, a flicker of triumph warmed her heart—they had rescued the third wyvern. She felt the electric hum of connection again, a wave of raw emotion passing between her and the battered creature. It was gratitude, confusion, pain... and a fragile hope.
Beka dropped beside her, pressing a hand to her daughter’s shoulder. “We did it,” she breathed, her voice trembling. “But Fig isn’t going to give up.”
Nick looked around at the close-knit circle of family and wyverns. “That’s why we need to move on,” he said, sparing a glance at the battered scales and bruises on the newly freed wyvern. “Get them all to Drakeclaw, away from Fig’s reach.”
Noah nodded fervently. “And we have to warn the Ember Assembly about Fig’s plan to enslave unicorns. They have to hear the truth.”
A quiet fell over them, broken by the soft snuffles of the reunited wyverns. In that hush, the reality of what they’d done settled in. They had defied an Elder, trespassed on private property, and freed a creature most people believed to be a fearsome predator. All to protect the balance of Emberwood—its unicorns, its people, and even these misunderstood wyverns.
Ariel looked up at Neo, Silverwing, and the injured newcomer. “Come on,” she whispered. “Let’s get you home.”
And so, with hearts still pounding and resolve burning brighter than ever, the family and their wyvern companions slipped deeper into Ember Hollows, determined to outpace Fig’s vengeance and deliver these mighty creatures to their rightful place in Drakeclaw—and to expose Fig’s treachery before it tore Emberwood apart.
End of Chapter 12
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