XARINGMERE CRAGG RISE (DAY 10, LETTER X)

CHAPTER 10

XARINGMERE CRAGG RISE

Dapper's paws skidded to a halt on the polished wooden floor, the sudden silence in the cottage screaming its lungs out. The scent of stewed tea, and a hint of woodsmoke lingered from last night's fire. The human was a glorious silhouette against the window's light, the lace curtains stirring lazily in the breeze.

Hopper's words hung in the air, heavy as a dropped acorn, "Goldwynn's looking for the Locke Jewel. She thinks it's a key to something big. Papa Koala's gone, and I was gonna tell him..."

The room seemed to shrink. Dapper's mouth was agape, his glassy gaze drifting to the fireplace, where cinders still glowed like dying fireflies in the ash. A half-finished cup of tea sat on the hearth, steam no longer rising from its surface. The Bears' absence was a gnawing ache.

His mind stumbled, like a paw slipping on a leaf. Missing bears? The forest's heartbeat seemed to falter. He replayed the previous night's sounds – the owls, the rustling leaves... had there been a warning?

Goldwynn's voice broke the spell, her words measured. "I have a map of the Locke mansion. It leads to a place called the Xaringmere Cragg Rise. And for some reason it's marked with a bold X !”

Hopper's gaze snapped to the map, his nose twitching. Chipper followed, his paws making barely a sound on the floorboards. The map was spread on the wooden table, weighed down by a crystal apple streaking pale red highlights on the map.

Chipper's voice was a bare whisper, "What happens at the Xaringmere Cragg Rise?"

Goldwynn hesitated, her eyes locking onto Hopper's. "I think something's been hidden there. Something the Locke family wanted kept a secret."

Hopper's paws flexed, his eyes narrowing. "Papa Koala said the Locke Jewel's guarded by a shadow."

Chipper's ears folded back, a shiver tracing his spine. A shadow !! The forest's stories weren't always kind.

Goldwynn leaned in, her voice a thread. "Want to see the map?"

Hopper and Dapper nodded, slow. Chipper mirrored the motion, his mind racing with questions.

Goldwynn smiled, producing a yellowed, crumpled map . "This was nestled in the Locke mansion. I think it leads to the jewel. Or a key to it."

Hopper's eyes went wide as Chipper launched himself onto the table, paws splaying out like a tiny dancer. "Lemme see!"

The map revealed a serpentine path through the forest, symbols marking gnarled sentinels and sun-dusted clearings. Chipper's nose crinkled, recognizing landmarks. "I know this trail! It hits the Misting Moor Manor– a crumbly old monument with pockets full of memories."

Dapper's ears perked, intrigued. "What kinda memories?"

Chipper's grin was a mischievous crescent. His mind careened like a pinecone in a storm. Missing bears? A treasure hunt? He was eager for action.

Papa Koala said the Pioneers stashed goods there. Sacks, chests and whatnot.

If the Locke Jewel's a key, that's our spot." His voice was a notch above a squeak.

Goldwynn's eyes sparkled like dew on a spiderweb. "Sounds like we've got a treasure hunt on our hands…and paws."

The trio exchanged a look, their brains humming like a hive of bees. The forest was a puzzle, and they were about to crack it.

Hopper tapped the map, his paw steady. "Let's map our raid. But first, we need to find Papa Koala and the bears."

Chipper nodded, "I'm in. When do we roll?"

Goldwynn chuckled, tucking a stray lock behind her ear.

Dapper, puny in his stature, stared blankly at all of them. Would he be of any help...or simply get underfoot inviting their annoyance?

To Be Continued...

This post is part of the Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2026.

https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogrolls/xaringmere-cragg-rise

Comments

ABERCROMBIE LOCKE MANSION

This post is part of the Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2026. CHAPTER 1 ABERCROMBIE LOCKE MANSION The sky bled bruises of plum and cherry over the rolling hills. A full moon hung low against the mauve casting silver shards through the trees. The mansion made of cold greystone loomed large beyond the rusted iron gates. It grated on the gravel, rasping on the hinges and yawned open like a predator's jaw as Goldwynn booted it open with her foot. Her sneakers squished heavily on the mulch of dead leaves. Clutching her backpack, she looked up at the towering, grim structure forebodingly. "Are you sure you want to do this?" her friend Lexi whispered, hesitating by the gate. "This mansion's totally cursed, they say." Lexi's voice was a thin thread. A chill crept up her back and she tight...

Moxie N' Mettle

MOXIE N' METTLE In slivers and fragments as my sleep tiptoes, did I do right or wrong my heart needles… Some skies are born of black holes and tempest wreck, There glitters not a ray of light, nor a speck When curtains turbid hold all light hostage, Sandstorms, hailstorms, dust storms, snowstorms, windstorms assail and ravage Spanning my wings as a raging fire Or as a mellow glow of a fairy light in the distant darkness, quite debonaire I'll ignite my spark from within like a star born into itself spurting lava Or explode leaving trails of cosmic dust like a Supernova I will be the Sun creating galaxies and many a constellation. Or burn like a single flame of the candle to keep my hopes and dreams alive with determination! I will be at my own pace I will be whoever and whatever I want to be—in my own race Collapse, crash and crumble! But I'll...

RUTHLESS REVELATIONS (DAY 16, LETTER R)

CHAPTER 15 RUTHLESS REVELATIONS The Three Little Pigs stood triumphant in the whimsical cottage's living room, surrounded by mismatched furniture and waltzing dust motes. Baconne , Porkinn , and Swinedell grinned at each other, puffing out their chests like gangsters. Baconne swaggered closer to the makeshift bar. "You know," he said, stroking his shoulder, "the Big Bad Wolf wasn't so bad after all, was he?" His grin split wide, showing a gold-capped tooth. The pigs snorted, their belly laughs vibrating the chandeliers above. Swinedell poured three tiny glasses of wild truffle liqueur with a theatrical flourish. "Cheers to us!" he growled, hoisting a glass. "We wanted his posh cottage for ourselves. Wolfie mutt was just defending his pad." His eyes glinted like cheap jewels. Goldwynn's face paled. She stammered as she whispered, " Wha...

THE BIG BAD WOLF( DAY 17, LETTER T)

CHAPTER 16 THE BIG BAD WOLF The pigs snarled like proper rascals, fixing their cold steely eyes on the Wolf's cottage. How dare he refuse to part with his cottage! When the pigs demand, it's given to them---no questions asked! Porkinn limped, Baconne was soggy, Swinedell rubbed a sore bump on his head, but they were far from defeated. Swinedell snorted, a crooked grin spreading across his face. "Wolf thinks 'e's posh, don't 'e? " Baconne sniffed the air, his nostrils flaring. "We want the cottage!” He growled. Porkinn cracked his fingers, his sly glance darting about. The pigs crept towards the back door, their footsteps silent on the soft grass. They spotted the Wolf through the kitchen window, stirring a pot of steaming stew for dinner. They kicked the door in, the wood splintering jaggedly. The latch gave in....

ANAM CARA

The waves are soft and frothy. Laced with gossamer frills tenderly kissing the tips of my toes covered with the grainy sand of the rugged seashore where I'm sitting, wistful. A gust of briny breeze tousles my hair as I gaze as far as my eyes can see. A flock of terns wheel overhead, their sharp, shrill cries punctuating the air as they dive and swoop over the surfs. A lone frigate bird , its crimson belly dazzling like a jewel skims majestically above, its long, slender wings outstretched as it rides the thermals high above the ocean. I absorb the sights and sounds of the late afternoon while absentmindedly scooping seashells beside me. As the afternoon phases, the furthest rim of the ocean is fringed in a gilded hem and the sleepy sun yawns, its dipping glow streaking the sky in a mellow tangerine and warm cherry. As I continue sitting there, the ships and yachts appear --specks of light from the portholes glimmering in the distance, reminding me of the phrase “That ship has sai...

Sangeetha Kamath

Search This Blog