Tyson and the Dragon of Echo Cave
It was a perfect afternoon for an adventure. The sun was shining through the leaves, painting dappled patterns on the grass at the park. Tyson loved this park, mostly because of the Great Oak Tree that stood at the centre of the field. It was the biggest tree he had ever seen, with roots that twisted across the ground like sleeping snakes.
Today, Tyson noticed something strange about the Great Oak. Near the bottom of the trunk, where the roots split apart, there was a dark, mysterious hollow. A tiny sparkle, like a trapped firefly, flickered inside.
Being a brave explorer, Tyson crouched down. "Hello?" he whispered.
He reached his hand into the cool, dark space. His fingers brushed against something papery. carefully, he pulled it out. It was an ancient scroll, rolled up and tied with a faded red ribbon.
Tyson untied the ribbon with shaky, excited fingers. It was a map! But not a map of the city streets. It was a map of the park, drawn in old, swirling ink. A dotted line led from the Great Oak, past the duck pond, and straight toward the rocky cliffs at the edge of the woods.
At the bottom of the map, there was a riddle:
To find the friend who guards the night, You must return the Stone of Light.
Tyson looked back into the hollow of the tree. Sitting right where the scroll had been was a smooth, teal stone. It was cool to the touch and seemed to hum with a gentle energy. He picked it up, slipping the map into his pocket.
"Adventure time," Tyson said with a grin.
He followed the map's instructions perfectly. He marched past the swings, tiptoed around the duck pond so he wouldn't wake the sleeping geese, and climbed the grassy hill toward the woods. As he got closer to the rocky cliffs, the teal stone in his hand began to glow brighter, lighting up the path as the sun started to dip below the horizon.
Finally, he found it. Hidden behind a curtain of ivy was the entrance to a cave. It looked dark and spooky, but Tyson wasn't afraid. He had the Stone of Light, and he was on a mission.
He stepped inside. Drip. Drip. Water echoed from the ceiling. The air smelled like rain and old earth.
"Is anyone home?" Tyson called out. His voice bounced off the walls. Home... home... home...
"I have been waiting for you," a deep, rumbly voice answered. It sounded like stones rolling down a hill, but softer.
Tyson turned the corner and gasped. There, sitting in a nest of soft moss, was a dragon!
He wasn't a scary dragon, though. He was the colour of forest leaves, with golden horns and kind, amber eyes. He looked sad, his tail curled tightly around his paws.
"Are you the friend who guards the night?" Tyson asked, stepping closer.
The dragon nodded his large head. "I am. My name is Fern. I cannot fly to light the evening stars because I lost my magic. I lost my stone."
Tyson smiled. He knew exactly what to do. He held out his hand. The teal stone was glowing brilliantly now, casting blue shadows on the cave walls.
"I think this belongs to you, Fern," Tyson said.
The dragon's eyes widened. He lowered his neck so he was face-to-face with Tyson. "You found it! The Star Stone!"
Tyson placed the glowing stone into the dragon's claw. Instantly, the dragon's scales began to shimmer. A happy puff of smoke, shaped like a heart, floated out of Fern's nose.
"Thank you, brave explorer," Fern rumbled happily. "Because of you, the stars will shine bright tonight."
"You're welcome!" Tyson beamed.
Fern gave a gentle nudge with his snout. "You should head home now, Tyson. It is almost dinnertime. But whenever you see the first star appear in the sky, know that I am waving at you."
Tyson waved goodbye and ran back through the woods, clutching his empty map. He felt proud. He hadn't just found a treasure; he had helped a friend. And that was the best kind of adventure there was.