A giant pterodactyl glided in for an eerily silent water-landing at the edge of the marsh.

Dante glanced at Talon, who was standing a few yards away. Had he seen the winged creature?

As if knowing what Dante was thinking, Talon nodded.

Trying not to move, Dante stared at the massive creature. Had it seen them standing among the reeds, or was its focus on something below the surface of the water?

Those eyes were hard to read.

Was it looking at him?

It turned and took a step toward Talon.

Dante’s eyes widened. He needed a plan fast, or Talon was about to become lunch. Maybe he could shout while jumping and waving his arms so Talon could get away. But then that thing would come after him instead, and who would save him?

That wasn’t gonna to work.

He needed to figure out how to distract it without becoming its target, but every scenario he considered ended badly.

Maybe he could defeat it somehow. Scanning the area for anything he could use to defend himself, he found nothing but the weak reeds that surrounded him. Peering into the water, he saw a large rock that was mostly submerged. Maybe he could use that. Was it too heavy to lift? Was is covered in marshy slime? Would it slip out of his hands as he tried to pick it up, while his feet sank into the muddy sludge of the marsh, leaving him completely helpless?

Dante’s heart raced as the pterodactyl took another step toward Talon.

Before Dante could formulate a rescue plan, something large and fury darted out from behind the reeds. It splashed into the water toward the pterodactyl, which instantly took flight, soaring out of the marsh. It had narrowly escaped the jaws of a saber-toothed tiger, who immediately turned its attention to Dante.

“Hey boys, did you see that big blue heron that Max scared away? It flew right over the camper,” said Mom, ruining yet another grand adventure.

__________

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April Wenzel writes family-friendly fiction. She is a multi-story FaithWriters Challenge winner. Her readers often describe her work as sweet, intriguing, funny, and surprising. April firmly believes that her most valuable and joy-filled roles are wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. Read her full bio at aprilwenzel.com/about.

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