The girl laughed as the rooftops fell away beneath her, the night wind tugging at her pigtails. With her satchel swinging at her side and the moon lighting her path, she leapt higher and higher, daring the stars themselves to keep up. There was no fear in her flight — only joy, as though the sky...

In the dappled sunlight of the garden, a boy of the Huldufólk and his white stag stood as still as statues — though the sparkle in their eyes betrayed they were anything but ordinary. Near a planter of flowers, one tiny fairy zipped and spun in delighted circles, while her sister chimed with...

Down the forest path she walked, sunlight streaming through the high boughs as though the woods themselves had opened a golden curtain for her. At her side, the faithful horse stepped softly, ears pricked as if listening to the hush of ancient trees. Wildflowers brightened the shadows, their...

Gorgeous! I love all the details!

Wow! What an honor! Thank you!

The anchor lay forgotten on the seafloor, a relic of journeys past. Beyond it stretched a hidden world alive with color and movement, a place where every shadow hinted at discovery. He swam forward, chasing the thrill of the unknown, eager to uncover the secrets the sea had guarded for centuries.

Beneath the waves, time slowed to a whisper. The ship lay broken but not forgotten, its timbers now a refuge for coral and creatures of the deep. An octopus curled among the shadows, fish drifted through the hull, and the sea kept watch over a story no longer told above the surface.

Beneath the little boat, swam a creature of impossible size. Too big to be bothered by hooks, too old to be measured in years, it drifted with the quiet dignity of myth. The smaller fish danced about as if in attendance, though the great one cared little for ceremony. Now and then it surfaced in...

The boys had followed the winding stream until the rocks opened into a quiet glade, where the air seemed charged with a sense of wonder. From the shadows of the stones, the griffin stepped forth, silver feathers catching the light as if brushed with frost. Its golden eyes seemed to measure their...

The garden hummed with quiet life that morning: the soft rustle of leaves in the trees, the buzz of bees drifting between blossoms, and the delicate flutter of butterfly wings. Now and then, their wings caught sparks of light that shimmered among the flowers. The air smelled sweet with blooms...

Oh my! This is gorgeous! I can hardly wait for the last part.

Side by side, they stood at the water’s edge, leaning into the years they had weathered together. The sun cast its golden glow across the horizon, softening the clouds and gilding the waves. A sailboat drifted in the distance, and a lone shorebird traced the tide, while the steady rhythm of the...

With the forest hushed around her, the young queen followed the narrow path where two beavers stood waiting. One carried a lantern aloft, its glow steady against the shadows, while the other watched in silence. Ahead, the ruins rose like a memory from the earth—an ancient gate that once guarded...

The scent of pine drifted through the open window, mingling with the faint sweetness of wildflowers carried up from the meadow below. A stream tumbled somewhere unseen, its voice blending with the soft rustle of wind in the trees and the distant call of a jay. Before them, peaks rose sharp...

The steady rhythm of waves reached the window, their gentle crash mingling with the sharp cries of gulls circling overhead. The air carried the tang of salt, and the faint briny scent of seaweed along the shore. Hand in hand, they leaned at the open window, already dreaming aloud of the day...

Sharp eyes and quicker feet—the roadrunner thrives where others tread carefully.

Where the cliffs rise, the mountain lion keeps its quiet watch.

It was a long time ago, in a faraway place, when autumn’s last days held fast. The cottage stood snug against the woods, its garden nearly gone to sleep. Only a few blossoms clung to color while the grasses bowed golden, dry as hay. Down the flagstone path the couple walked—neither poor nor...

The sign outside the cave shouted “BEWARE,” but she wasn’t frightened. Not even a little. With her boots planted firm and a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, she seemed to dare the world to surprise her. Just then, a wide-eyed dragon swooped down, grinning as mischievously as she did. Together...

Years ago I had the opportunity to visit the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. In their aquarium, they had a cylindrical tank that went from the floor to the high ceiling. It was filled with jellyfish. It was the most amazing display! I was trying to re-create that same feeling of awe with...