Long Bright River Novels & Stories

' The trees leaned in like a grim canopy as his eyes were caught by a glimmer of moonlight flickering on still water. Not a ripple moved on the small lake, crafted from rain and dewdrops from the leaves above and aided by an underground stream from the sea. The shadows danced with the silvery hue and beckoned to him like a sensual wraith, luring him to death or glory. Lloyd froze as he heard the unmistakable sound of a twig snap, whirling about to meet a pair of wide, brown eyes.

I muttered and rose to follow. The mansion was bigger than I’d imagined, it was almost endless. She led me to a training ground where wolves tore into each other violently. I winced as one fighter’s arm bent then snapped back into place like nothing happened. “And this..” Arya gestured toward a wide river glinting beneath the morning light, “..is the River of Healings. Or it used to be. This river doesn’t heal a damn thing anymore.” “Why?” I asked, drawn to the water’s stillness.

After he went back to the bedroom, I opened Serena's social feed. The latest post popped up instantly, "Saw a new star last night. I've got a feeling that it's going to be named after me this time." Underneath the post, her friends left playful comments. "Haha! Dream on! You think you have a romantic boyfriend like Professor Thorne?" "Who is it? Sounds impressive!" She replied vaguely, "You'll see soon enough." The next day, the observatory's official social account announced that Lucas had discovered a new star, and he had named it "S".

Harold finally caved to their relentless curiosity, "Okay, okay, no more questions. We're off to Lunaris Inn later for some stargazing." Out of nowhere, Selena piped up, "Lunaris Inn, that's the spot for lovers—pricey and oh-so-romantic. It's open just once a month, and our Alpha snagged the grandest suite. They say it's a glass palace that glows wild and beautiful in the moonlight... Talk about a couple goals for our alpha and his mate." My polite grin was on the verge of cracking. I was in the dark about such intimate plans, yet Selena was in the know before me.

Before us stretched a pristine lake surrounded by towering trees, its waters reflecting the afternoon sun like liquid silver. "Shadowlight Lake," Odette said softly. "Sacred to the Royal Pack. Very few outsiders are allowed here." I stood mesmerized by the peaceful beauty of the place. The water seemed to glow from within, casting gentle light across the surrounding landscape. "It's beautiful," I whispered, feeling some of my tension ease away.

I needed to start letting them go. "It's about twenty minutes to the dark forest, and then we have no idea how long it will take for them to show, if they show themselves, to us," River said, turning a bag around on his back. "We have some food and water packed if you need anything." He looked at me, and I nodded shyly. He looked incredibly handsome, and all of them did.

Forward, however, is an expansive landscape. The river stretches out before us, its surface glittering in the light of the aurora. We can see for miles in every direction, and the sight is breathtaking. It looks like the Southwest, with canyons and bluffs, but it glows. Neon greens, purples, and pinks light up the rock faces, like they've been coated with glow-in-the-dark paint. "Wow," Damon says softly. "Whoever designed this place certainly had a flair for the dramatic."

The ‘sunlight’ was basically the reflection of the river’s silverish water, and the steam clouds had been formed due to the area’s great humidity. It took Walter a moment to find his voice, but when he did, he immediately exclaimed, “It’s… it’s the Red River…!”

~ Ethan ~ "Turn the wheel around, pal, this bridge is shut down cold!" a construction worker shouted through the storm, waving an orange flashlight back and forth across my windshield. Ahead of me, red brake lights stretched across both lanes of Riverside Drive like a frozen chain of fire. Right in the center of the Ashbourne River Crossing, a giant concrete mixer lay flat on its side, thick gray sludge oozing over the yellow lines and pooling into the drains. "How long until you clear one lane?" I yelled out the driver's window, cold rain stinging my cheek.

Or how the air seemed to grow heavier the longer the silence stretched. It wasn’t awkward silence. It was loaded silence. Like something unspoken sat between us. We finally pulled up to the riverbank. The truck slowed, then stopped with a soft crunch of gravel beneath the tires. The river looked… different. Not like any river I’d seen. It shimmered under the moonlight, wide and still, with steam curling off its surface like it breathed. Thick trees circled it, and just across the water, a pale mist hung like a curtain, hiding the Northern Watters from view.