Found

Found

Zelnard lay on the muddy bank, gasping for breath. His clothes clung heavily to his small frame, soaked through by the cold lagoon water. Every breath burned in his chest, and his injured leg throbbed with each heartbeat.

Ferson strode toward him, his expression stern as his eyes moved slowly from the exhausted boy to Dunstor, who still stood frozen beside the water.

"I was just about to help him," Dunstor blurted out. "But... you beat me to it."

Ferson's eyebrows drew together.

"You were just standing there, Dunstor."

His voice cracked across the lagoon with genuine anger. He hadn't seen everything that had happened, but he had seen enough. When another boy's life had been in danger, Dunstor had done nothing.

Dunstor lowered his eyes. His face had lost all its colour, and whatever explanation he tried to give dissolved into an incoherent mumble. For perhaps the first time in his life, he found himself unable to meet someone else's gaze.

Ferson turned back to Zelnard.

With a gentle sweep of his hand, warm currents of air spiralled around the younger boy. The magical breeze chased the chill from his body, drying his clothes and wrapping him in comforting warmth. Colour slowly returned to Zelnard's cheeks as the trembling in his arms began to fade.

Their eyes met and Zelnard gave a small nod of thanks. He was still shaken, but he felt safe now. The fear that had gripped him in the lagoon was replaced by a quiet relief.

Ferson gave a small nod in return. He was a man of action not words unless they were necessary, and he had seen enough to know that Zelnard had been brave and kind in the face of danger. He had made choices that would shape the boy that would save the future.

Abah, who had been standing silently beside Ferson, finally spoke. "Boy are you ever lucky Ferson was here."

"Zelnard's been found!" Ferson called, his voice echoing through the trees and across the winding river. "We're heading back to the beach!"

Abah immediately repeated the call to any potential rescuers nearby, his voice carrying even farther through the forest until distant voices answered in return.

Together, Ferson and Abah helped Zelnard to his feet. His legs were unsteady, but with one boy on either side, he slowly found his balance.

The four of them began the long walk back toward Crystal Quay beach, leaving the dark lagoon and its hidden dangers behind.

As they walked, Zelnard glanced back one last time toward the still water where his little fesealon friend had disappeared. He knew he had rescued it from the sea, but another fear now settled into his heart.

What if the Longmouthed Tyra had found it instead?

Abah noticed him looking over his shoulder and smiled quietly.

"Don't worry," he said. "I saw your little fesealon swimming toward the outlet before all the excitement. It'll make it safely back to where it belongs."

Zelnard smiled.

The knot that had tightened inside his chest finally loosened.

The day had brought pain, fear, cruelty, and almost death. Yet somehow, despite everything that had happened, he felt a quiet sense of accomplishment.

He had chosen kindness when it would have been easier to walk away.

He had endured suffering for someone who could never repay him.

He had discovered that courage was not the absence of fear. Courage was choosing to do what was right even while afraid.

Though he did not yet realise it, this small adventure beside the lagoon would become one of the first stones laid in the foundation of the man he would one day become.

Thy Quests
What did Zelnard learn about himself during this experience that would become foundational to his character? Use examples from the story to explain how this adventure changed him.