Chapter 13: The Long Road to Drakeclaw
Chapter 13: The Long Road to Drakeclaw
A faint wind rustled through the towering Emberoaks, carrying the scent of moss and the distant promise of rain. The Luminaris family lingered at the edge of Glittering Meadows, hearts weighed down by the realization that their beloved ranch was no longer safe. Leaning against a thick trunk, Nick surveyed his home in the distance—so peaceful in the early morning light, and yet under threat from Elder Fig’s growing hostility.
Beka gently stroked Silvermist’s silky muzzle. The unicorn’s eyes shone with quiet worry, reflecting the tension rippling through everyone. Nearby stood Neo and Silverwing, the newly freed third wyvern lying close by, still exhausted from captivity. Zed hovered at Ariel’s side, nuzzling her hip for reassurance.
Beka broke the silence first. “Silvermist, alert the herd. Take the adult unicorns and lead the little ones to the far side of the meadow—away from Emberfalls, away from Fig. Protect each other at all costs.” Her voice wavered with emotion, but her resolve was clear.
Silvermist nudged Beka’s shoulder, understanding the gravity of the request. With a swift movement, she spread her gleaming wings and leapt into the sky. The family watched as her shining form arced toward the ranch, sadness and gratitude mingling in their eyes.
Nick sighed heavily. “We can’t leave the unicorns at the ranch. Not with Fig out there spreading lies. We just can’t risk it.”
Ariel nodded, brushing away the tears threatening to spill. “Silvermist will gather them. They know how to hide if they must.”
Noah shouldered his sling. “Guess we’d better get going too,” he said softly. The mere thought of abandoning their home stung, but they had no choice.
Nick turned toward the forest. “We’ll head for Drakeclaw Vale. If we can get the wyverns home, maybe we can show the Assembly that Fig’s plan is a sham. If they still won’t believe us... we’ll figure it out then.”
Beka took a deep breath. “Right. Let’s move.”
Into the Forest
They walked deeper into Ember Hollows, navigating sun-dappled trails that twisted among colossal Emberoaks and thickets of brambles. The undergrowth rustled with small creatures fleeing from the wyverns’ presence, while overhead, a murder of crows traced lazy circles in the brightening sky.
Despite the tension, the Luminaris family found moments of lightness. At midday, they stopped by a trickling creek to rest. Neo and Silverwing took cautious drinks, their horns glinting in the sunlight, while Zed trotted around, sniffing at bright yellow buttercups. Ariel caught Noah trying to sneak a quick sip from the same spot, and she splashed water at him playfully.
“Hey!” Noah yelped, half-laughing, half-miffed. “You’re going to scare off all the fish!”
“You’re the only fish around here,” Ariel teased. “A big ol’ guppy.”
Nick barked a laugh, and Beka snorted, covering her mouth as she tried to stifle her amusement. Even in the face of danger, the family’s love and silliness shone through. For a moment, the forest around them seemed less foreboding.
As they packed up to continue, Beka reminisced about simpler times. “Remember when we’d come out here just to gather mushrooms for stew? No wyverns, no threats—just the four of us, some baskets, and a lot of laughter.”
Ariel smiled wistfully. “Zed would chase after every squirrel he saw.”
“I’d bring my sling,” Noah added, “but only for target practice on tree stumps!”
Nick’s grin faded a little. “Things were easier then,” he admitted, gently prodding the injured wyvern forward. “But we’ll fix this. We have to.”
Nightfall and the Cabin
They walked until the sun slipped behind the looming trees, painting the sky a smoky orange. The forest darkened to a deep, rich green. Their feet dragged, and the wyverns moved more slowly, each step a weary shuffle through the leaf-strewn paths.
Eventually, the trees thinned enough for them to spot the silhouette of a small, abandoned cabin. The walls were crooked, the roof patched in places, but the sight of possible shelter sparked relief.
“We can’t go much farther,” Beka murmured. “Let’s see if we can hole up in there.”
Noah crept around the perimeter to check for signs of life. The windows were coated in dust, and the door hung on rusted hinges. Nothing stirred within. He pushed the door open with a creak, revealing a simple, one-room interior. A battered wooden table stood against the wall, and a defunct stove huddled in the corner. Cobwebs draped every surface like a ghostly veil.
Inside, they found a few dusty cans of preserved beans and pickled carrots in a rickety cabinet. “At least it’s something,” Ariel said, trying to sound optimistic.
While Nick and Noah cleared a space for the wyverns just outside, Beka set about lighting a fire in the old stove. The flame crackled to life, casting dancing shadows across the cabin walls. The family settled in, shoulders slumped with exhaustion.
The meal—if it could be called that—tasted like desperation and metal from the tin cans. But it filled a hole in their stomachs, and they felt a small surge of gratitude for any food at all. Afterward, they huddled around the stove, letting the warmth lull them into an unplanned slumber.
An Unwanted Wake-Up Call
A grey light filtered through the smeared cabin windows when Ariel stirred, blinking groggily. She heard voices—angry, urgent voices. She scrambled to her feet, heart thudding.
“Come out!” came a familiar, booming tone.
Beka and Nick jolted awake, sharing a shocked glance. “Fig,” Nick growled, moving to peer through a crack in the window. Sure enough, Elder Fig stood at the front of a group of assembly members and townsfolk. Torches flickered in the dawn gloom, illuminating anxious faces.
A strident voice shouted, “We know you’re in there, Luminaris. Hand over the wyverns and come out quietly, or we’ll take them by force!”
Noah’s eyes went wide. “How did they catch up to us so fast?”
“Fig must’ve spread word we ‘stole’ the wyverns,” Beka said, voice shaking with anger. “Now the town believes we’re criminals.”
Outside, a murmur rippled through the assembly. “The Luminaris family has betrayed us!” someone yelled, echoes of agreement following.
Nick hissed a curse under his breath. “We’ve served the Assembly for years, and they turn on us because Fig says so?”
Beka’s face hardened. “We can’t fight them—they’re our neighbors, people we’ve helped build homes with, shared harvests with. But if we go out there with the wyverns, it’ll be chaos.”
Ariel stood by the window, nerves buzzing. “If we surrender, Fig will do exactly what he wants—take the ranch, the wyverns, everything.”
Nick looked torn, the lines on his face deepening. “We can’t hurt these people, but we can’t let Fig ruin Emberwood. We should turn ourselves in and hope we can reason with them in Emberfalls.”
Ariel’s face contorted with disbelief. “Dad, no! They’re not going to listen to reason. We’ll lose the ranch... and the wyverns could be killed!”
Silence fell as the family weighed the impossible choice. Every second, the assembly’s calls grew louder. Neo and Silverwing paced anxiously near the back door, their wings rustling. The newly freed third wyvern huddled low, trembling at the agitated voices. Zed pressed close to Ariel, sensing her distress.
Nick set his jaw, sorrow etched into his features. “We can’t risk a fight. People we love are out there—neighbors, friends. We turn ourselves in, try to explain.”
Beka nodded, though her hand shook. “It’s the only way. We’ll face them in Emberfalls and prove Fig’s plan is a lie.”
Ariel opened her mouth to protest, but a firm look from both parents cut her off. In their eyes, she saw the worry for their children, the weight of years of leadership in the community, and the heartbreak of betrayal. They were certain surrender was the lesser evil.
Nick took the lead. “All right. Let’s do this.”
The Cabin Stand-Off
Heart pounding, Ariel followed as her parents crossed the dusty floor to the front door. Noah stayed a step behind, glancing between Ariel and their father. At the door, Nick paused, exchanging a final look with Beka—a silent moment of familial unity before stepping into the unknown.
Nick pushed the door open, raising his hands. “We’re coming out!”
An immediate roar erupted from the crowd. Torches waved in the dawn breeze, and crossbows or spears bristled in tense hands. Fig stood at the forefront, eyes gleaming triumphantly.
“You’ve made the right choice,” he called, voice dripping with mock sympathy. “Hand over the wyverns. We’ll deal with them properly.”
But behind Nick, in the dim interior, Ariel had other ideas. Anger and fear twisted inside her—anger at Fig’s lies, fear for the wyverns’ fate. She began to hum a low, resonant tone that stirred something deep in Zed and the three wyverns.
Before anyone realized what she was doing, Ariel darted for the back of the cabin, flinging the rickety door open. “Come on!” she whispered urgently. Neo, Silverwing, and the younger wyvern scrambled after her, and Zed bounded forward with a quiet nicker.
Noah saw one of Fig’s men notice movement through the side window. The man raised a crossbow, aiming at the wyverns’ silhouettes. Acting on instinct, Noah whipped out his sling. The star fragment launched with a sharp zing, striking the man’s arm before he could release the bolt. He collapsed, stunned.
Shouts erupted on all sides. “Stop them!” “The wyverns are escaping!”
Nick spun around, eyes wide. “Noah! Ariel!”
Noah hesitated only a fraction of a second before sprinting out the back. “I’m sorry, Dad!” he yelled. “I can’t let them be killed!”
Elder Fig’s face twisted with fury as he jerked his head at his men. “Grab the parents! Don’t let them out of our sight!”
A swarm of assembly members surged forward, seizing Nick and Beka’s arms. Despite Nick’s resistance and Beka’s struggle, they were overwhelmed by sheer numbers, wrestled to the ground, and bound.
The last thing Nick saw before being forced down was a flash of his children—Ariel leading the wyverns, Noah right behind her, both disappearing into the swirling morning mist.
Outside, the forest rumbled with the heavy footsteps of panicked wyverns and two young humans running for their lives. In the clearing by the cabin, Elder Fig stood victorious over Nick and Beka, who knelt in the dirt, their eyes burning with equal parts fear and defiance.
“Take them to Emberfalls!” Fig barked. “We’ll make sure their crimes are known to everyone.”
As Fig’s men hoisted Nick and Beka to their feet, the morning sun rose higher, casting long shadows across the abandoned cabin. Somewhere in the distance, a low, plaintive roar carried on the wind, the call of a wyvern searching for safety... or perhaps for those who had risked everything to protect it.
End of Chapter 13
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