Wandering Wyvern: The Perils of the Green Stone

By Lyn Osborn

In a fantastical world of horses, swords, and treasure, young Hesta lives a normal life, along with her brother Thane. One day, though, she makes an incredible discovery. She comes upon a creature the size of a fawn with two tiny wings folded against its back and a long pointed tail. In its talons, it holds a green jewel that sparkles in the darkness of a ravine.

Hesta has found a baby wyvern – a poisonous dragon with two legs and giant wings. The discovery is indeed amazing, but it soon turns dangerous when Thane ends up poisoned after the parent wyvern finds and attacks them.

Desperate to save her brother, Hesta takes on several risky missions to find the cure for Thane’s illness. Everyone now seeks the wyvern’s green jewel, including a treasure hunter named Nordore. Along with their faithful horses, a mysterious man, and a clever cat, this brother and sister race to save not only themselves but also the magic of the wyvern.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: Dec 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781982292720

Lyn Osborn

Lyn Osborn has been writing books since the age of eight. With a bachelor’s degree and decades of experience as a copywriter, proofreader, and journalist, she now enjoys creating fantasy stories for children. Having lived in several countries, she speaks many languages but has a special love for the English language. She has two children, two grandchildren, two cats, two fish, and one husband.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

I T WAS HESTA who first heard the strange sound when she was out picking berries in the mountainous woodland.

She straightened up and listened carefully to see where the sound was coming from. She frowned while she wiped her berry-stained hands on the front of her dress.

Her light blonde hair gently blew in the breeze that was coming from across the valleys. The sun was bright and provided warmth to the summer’s day.

As she squinted towards the west, she heard it again.

Oweeeewaaa…oweewaa…oweewaaa.

It was a heartfelt, desperate cry for help.

It was a cry that was not familiar to Hesta, as it was not a deer, fox or bird.

Hesta knew immediately that she had to help or rescue whatever was in danger.

The cry didn’t seem too far away so she sent off in a loping run, careful not to twist her ankle on the rough terrain.

Rocks poked out among the grass and there were spiky bushes too.

She headed downhill, and the cry came again.

Oweeewaaa, oweeewaa…

I’m on my way, she said to herself under her breath. Where was Thane, her older brother?

He was out picking berries with her but also trying to find some thickset branches to fix a fence at their modest cottage.

Thane! she yelled loudly. She didn’t stop running though.

Then she came to the edge of the ravine and looked down. Whatever was in need was down there.

Scanning into the deep shadows, Hesta tried to make out the signs of a person or animal.

All was quiet – just the wind blew and a bird called from a thicket.

She would have to scramble down a bit more. Carefully she worked her way down the steep edge, using her hands to hold onto the wild grass to keep her balance.

About a quarter of the way down, she caught sight of a flash of light brown.

It was a small creature wedged on a rock that was sticking out the side of the ravine.

Hesta drew a breath in sharply. What on earth was that creature? It looked like a large bird, she thought.

Hello, she called.

The creature struggled a bit and uttered another loud cry.

Hesta kept her eyes on the creature while she hastily scrambled down.

About nine feet from it, she stopped to have a better look what it was.

Then the creature turned and looked at her with big soulful but angry eyes.

It was about the size of a fawn, light brown in colour, two tiny wings folded against its back and a long pointed tail hanging beside it.

In its talons it held a translucent and green jewel that even sparkled in the darkness of the ravine.

Hesta locked her eyes on it and couldn’t help but make an exclamation.

Even though she had never seen this creature before, she knew instinctively what it was - a mythical wyvern, a two-legged, dragon-like creature with wings and a tail that ended in a diamond point.

These creatures were known to be ferocious, with sharp teeth and talons. Also it was rumoured that their bite and talons were poisonous.

But why was this wyvern here and why was it in trouble?

Hesta knew that wyverns didn’t usually reveal themselves to people unless they were in danger.

Then she saw the problem. One of its legs was jammed in-between two large rocks and one must have rolled onto the leg.

Perhaps it saw the jewel and wanted it.

It was a very young wyvern - Hesta knew that because they were rumoured to be of a reasonable size.

And where was the parent? Hesta hesitated for a minute and then made her way down towards the little wyvern.

She made soft, cooing words to reassure the wyvern. The creature looked at her and didn’t move, clutching the jewel tightly with one talon.

Hesta reached it and wondered how to help it. If she could move one of the rocks, that would help. She looked for a sturdy branch to prise the rock. Luckily there was one nearby and Hesta held it out carefully.

One more step and she could almost touch the wyvern.

Oweewaa!

It was so loud Hesta nearly fell off her precarious perch.

Shh, she said, as she took the branch and pushed it under the rock. How dainty those little wings were!

And its eyes…so expressive.

No time to study it, as she had to work quickly. With all her strength she pushed. The rock wobbled a little bit. Another push and it moved a few inches.

The wyvern wiggled slightly but kept silent.

Now perspiring and grunting audibly, she gave a might push and to her delight the rock rolled away.

Yes! she exclaimed.

The wyvern gave an audible sigh and studied its little leg. Carefully it nosed it. To Hesta’s surprise, a giant tear rolled from one of its eyes.

Her heart nearly exploded with love and pity.

She waited to see what it would do. Could it fly with such tiny wings?

Time passed, as crickets hummed and birds called.

I should leave, she thought. But what if it couldn’t move or tried to fly and fell deep down into the ravine?

I need to get Thane, she thought. Perhaps he would know what to do.

She dared not pick it up; it was too ferocious, too delicate.

As Hesta reached the lip of the ravine and out into the bright sunshine, she spotted Thane in the distance.

Thane! she called and he responded by turning towards her.

Over here, she shouted, waving an arm.

Thane came running over, concerned at the tone of her voice. He had a short cloak on and a long sword at his side.

He wasn’t overly handsome but had a kindly face and dark brown hair with sparkling eyes.

Hesta waved him closer.

Oweeaa, came the sound again.

Thane started running faster towards Hesta and just as he was within a few lengths of her, a huge shadow came overhead.

Hesta saw it too late to shout a warning. It was the parent wyvern and it was angry.

It swooped towards Thane who saw it at the very last moment. No time to draw his sword – all he could do was duck and put his arm up for protection.

The wyvern hit his arm with its powerful wing and the talons were extended towards Thane’s head.

Thane stumbled and went down. Hesta knew she had to do something.

She waved her arms and ran for the ravine. After a brief pause she could hear the noise of wings behind her.

The air was rushing towards her as was the ravine. She threw herself over the edge and held onto a tussock for balance.

The wyvern brushed past, just a few feet away.

Oweeaa, went the cry. The parent wyvern wheeled in full flight and dived towards the bottom of the ravine. It nose-dived like an eagle, its wings tucked by its side.

Hesta could only watch in fascination. Despite its speed and power, it scooped up the little wyvern in one fluid motion. Then it wheeled sideways and flew back up to the sunshine again.

It ignored Hesta and flew away towards the distant hills, without a backward glance.

Hesta’s heart was racing. What an experience! Then she remembered the attack on Thane.

She scrambled up and ran towards Thane who was still lying in the long grass.

Thane, are you OK? she asked.

Luckily he was propped up on one arm but he was groaning loudly.

Aaaarrg, he said, his face in a grimace.

Hesta reached him and quickly scanned him for injuries. She saw that his arm was bleeding with deep gouges in it and it was hanging at an awkward angle.

What was that? he asked. Thane looked quite dazed and shocked.

That was a wyvern, she said. She took off her cloak and fastened it around his arm, while he moaned.

A wyvern! he exclaimed.

I know, she soothed. And there was a baby one too – that’s why it was so protective.

I thought they didn’t exist here – only in the deep mountains of Theor, he muttered.

So did I. It won’t be back as it found its young. Hesta thought she would tell him later about the rescue.

Let’s get you back to the cottage.

Supporting Thane on one side, they made their way home; luckily it wasn’t too far away.

Hesta noticed that green and red blood was oozing from the wound on his arm but she didn’t want to mention it.

Once back at their cottage, Thane sank onto the bed. Hesta took the hot water from the stove and poured it into a basin. She knew she had to clean the wound well otherwise infection would set in.

And poison. The wound oozed green and this concerned her. She had already pushed the arm back into position and it went back in easily.

I need to rest, Thane groaned. I don’t feel that good.

Hesta didn’t raise her concerns with him, as she