First Flight of Spring

We reach the top of the ridge overlooking the valley where our village rests. In the distance, we can see our home. Asteroids pass above us, dappling the sunlight with shade, and this high, the air thins and the stars still peek through the pink clouds. The wind teases through our hair and under our folded wings. We stretch them wide, enjoying the ache of easing our stiff spine. Our fingers twine amongst the long grasses on our mane, gripping onto the sturdy anchor. Small white flowers bud on our branches. We whisper with a voice like a rustle of a breeze through new leaves.

"Just one flight?"

This story is going out to mailing list subscribers today! If you sign up for my quarterly newsletter, you'll get a new short story with every email, as well as access to a library of my previous publications. Most of these stories are more experimental, and will be collected in an anthology in the future, but subscribers get to see them first. Here's the link to join!

"First Flight of Spring" follows Notos, a young dragon rider, as they face their mistakes and decide whether or not to continue their apprenticeship with their mentor, Boreas.

Embark on a journey where each passport stamp tells a story 🌍📖, and the world becomes your captivating, ever-unfolding novel. 🌏✈️ . Let the chapters unfold with every new adventure and let your wanderlust pen the tales of a lifetime. 🗺️🔖 . Start planning your next getaway now at travelladda.com

Go big…or go BIGGER, baby✨🙌🏽✨ I was on the phone with my momma so I asked her why I feel so much more unapologetic creative freedom with my wardrobe in Florida than back home. She said “Your best self really comes out when you’re in a place that makes you feel full of love and light.” Homegirl really gets me. I took that as my sign that this year needs to be packed full of sunshine, #creativework, and lots of miles traveled. If anyone needs me, I’m either gonna be booked with clients, reading books, or bookin’ @airbnb ‘s. 🏠 ••• FACE: @charlottetilbury • Hollywood Flawless Filter Shade 1, Flawless Airbrush Setting Spray @tartecosmetics • Shape Tape Glow Wand @diorbeauty • Backstage Face & Body Bronzer @fentybeauty • FULL FRONTAL VOLUME Mascara @urbandecaycosmetics • Brow Blade in Gingersnap @anastasiabeverlyhills • Brow Freeze Gel @revlon • Skin Lights Daybreak Glimmer @rarebeauty • With Gratitude, Dewy Lip Balm in Empathy ••• 2 MUST EXPERIENCE places in FL— @leaderboardarcade in Jacksonville for the GREATEST pizza bites & @sparkyslanding in Marathon for the happiest happy hour in the world! Shrimp, Wings, and the vibes are ✨immaculate✨! ••• #photodump #travelingartist #mrsworldwide #vintagesoul #antiquedealers #everydaymakeup #travelingram #floridafinds #curvymodel #worldwanderer #makeupartistlife #bridalmakeupartist #tinytattooartist #permanentcosmetictrainer (at Saint Petersburg, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqYyNoouQMT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

QOTD: What's your favourite reading snack? 🍩 Answering the #readinghabitsbooktag! I was tagged a log time ago by the sweet @vidhya_v.l. I'm sorry it took sooooo long to answer. 📖When do you read the most? It could be anytime but usually in the afternoon. 📖Do you read one book at the time? Depends on the books, but usually I read a physical book and listen to an audiobook at the same time. 📖Read book or watch movie first? Book first. Always! 📖Can you stop reading anytime or does it have to be at a specific chapter or page? I prefer to finish a chapter before stopping, but if I'm interrupted, I finish at least the paragraph. 📖Do you have a favourite bookmark? I'm that kind of person that uses anything as a bookmark. Even a spoon 🥄... 🤣 🍩 Your turn! . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #bookblogger #myeverydaymagic #readersgonnaread #booknerd #bookworm #igersportugal #discoverunder3k #travel #worldwanderers #huaweip20 #olhares_pt #igersroma #geisha #tagsomeone #booksinbed https://www.instagram.com/p/B2pa7pVAO7E/?igshid=vvn81jby063p

After a year living in Taiwan the time has come to leave this fantastic little island and finally head back to Australia and home, Brisbane 🇦🇺 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I’m enjoying posting on Instagram and sharing all of my adventures from different locations I visit. Be sure to follow on FB and Twitter too! For more information please visit www.danielrcutforth.com ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ #travelsofdanielrcutforth #danielrcutforthdotcom #photographer #writer #australia #brisbane #discoverqueensland #qld #travelQLD #oz #photo #apple #nikon #photograph #brisbanephotographic #inspiration #travelblogger #travelphotography #worldwanderers #traveltheworld #traveler #socialmedia #backpacker #travel #follow #instatravel #life #traveling #photography #wanderlust (at 華航諾富特飯店 Novotel Taipei)

I never really understood permafrost before this trip. Then upon entering Fairbanks a friendly cyclist pedaled up next to me. We talked about my trip and then I found out Lauren (friendly cyclist not on Instagram) worked at the Permafrost tunnel. A few days later @glennvilleneuve and I were headed into the tunnel to learn about Ice wedges (pic 1), ice lenses (pic 2), check out some 40,000 year old preserved wood (pic 3), extinct bison bones (pic 4), and 20,000 year old grass, no... not that kind 🤦‍♂️🚭. . The research facility is maintained at a 23°F (~-5°C) temperature. It is 110 meters long (~350 ft) and gives a glimpse into what lies below the surface in Fairbanks where the permafrost is on average 60-120 ft (~20-40 m) thick. If this one little tunnel holds all these mysteries, think how many amazing things are just sitting below the surface perfectly preserved in areas with arctic climates. . (Another story) Along the north slope I was told I was in a desert, yet everywhere off the highway looked like a marsh turns out the 1,000 -2,000 feet of permanently frozen ground doesn't let any water through so the little that does stays on the surface. How crazy! 🤓 . . . . . . . . . . . #instatravel #travelgram #worldtravel #worldwanderer #travel #belarus #vagabond #viaje #podróż #travelawesome #adventure #backpacking #roamtheplanet #mytravelgram #globetrotter #lonelyplanet #welltraveled #roamtheplanet #worldtraveltags #worldtravelphotography #여행 #weltreise #reiseblog #permafrost #science #nerdshit #alaska #fairbanks #usa🇺🇸 (at Permafrost Tunnel Research Facility) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTf205Ip88C/?utm_medium=tumblr

🔹️During our north coast of Scotland roadtrip we stayed in the village of Midtown, overlooking Loch Ewe. ⁣ ⁣ 🔹️I loved how moody the sky looked over the hills at the other side of the Loch. Beautiful⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #coupleslovetravel #traveljourney #worldwanderer #travel_capture #traveldreams #travelgoal #traveltheworldwithme #Getlostnow #Travelcaptures #weliketotravel #visualwanderlust #Tblogger #wheretogo #travelbucketlist #reiseblogger #wheretonext #Awesomenature #Beautifullandscapes #Escapethecity #Wondersofnature #Naturelandscape #Explorescotland #northcoast500 #offthebeatenpath #nc500 #travelscotland #discoverscotland #Scottishscenery #moodysky (at Highlands, Scotland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCc6BsWpQl1/?igshid=5a3e8pc84vt5

#traveler #landscape #landscapeofnorway #norway #wanderlust #getoutandseetheworld #worldwanderer #RogerBatchelorPhotography.com https://www.instagram.com/p/B8hqzYkp5_O/?igshid=zhnanf4fhlmn

Les beaux jours 😃☉🌊 article sur Cassis sur le blog 😄 ______________________________________________ #marseille #cassis #calanque #calanques #paysage #landscape #marseillerebelle #provence #mer #cheznousamarseille #igersmarseille #myprovence #mediterranean #tourismepaca #jaimelafrance #visitlafrance #southoffrance #france_focus_on #ig_color #hello_france #choosemarseille #marseilleinthebox #ig_marseille #marseillecartepostale #xperiaxmas #world_beautifulshots #loves_united_provence #loves_provence #worldwanderers (à Route des Crêtes)

WIP of the illustration for First Flight of Spring! This short story is about dragonriders in space, owning up to your mistakes, and 2nd chances. Sign up for my mailing list to read it tomorrow!

⛵🌊 I dream of adventures, sea storms and a light from the coast. This is the power of the sea. * * * * * * * * #lighthouse #cliffside #irelandgram #irelanddaily #loveireland #dublin #ireland #traveldeeper #travelgoals #travelmoreworryless #traveladdict #welivetotravel #welovetravel #getlostnow #nowtravel #globelletravel #thetraveltag #worldwanderer (at Baily Lighthouse) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2b-BqtolAQ/?igshid=1mslsq6kx804q

#boats #monet #claudemonet #france #1868 #1800s @fcgulbenkian #lisbon #portugal #museum #art #artmuseum #latergram #july #travel #instatravel #travelgram #worldwanderer #passionpassport #europe #iphonexsphotography #nofilter (at Museu Calouste Gulbenkian) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1SC5w6JJY0/?igshid=1sc28tvpn7o7w

"Ocean, n. A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man — who has no gills." #AmbroseBierce in #TheUnabridgedDevil'sDictionary . . . . . . . . #bookstagram #bibliophile #bookblogger #myeverydaymagic #readersgonnaread #booknerd #bookworm #igersportugal #discoverunder3k #travel #worldwanderers #huaweip20 #olhares_pt #visitazores #igersazores #açores #nofilter (at Mosteiros, Azores) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2KlMo-gGg-/?igshid=yip9vdvw9ff2

Good morning from Marina Bay - Singapore 🇸🇬☀️📷👣🌍 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I’m enjoying posting on Instagram and sharing all of my adventures from different locations I visit. Be sure to follow on FB and Twitter too! For more information please visit www.danielrcutforth.com ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ #travelsofdanielrcutforth #danielrcutforthdotcom #adventurer #photographer #writer #asia #singapore #australia #nature #blogger #photograph #ShotoniPhone #apple #travelblogger #photoshoot #travelphotography #photooftheday #brisbanephotographic #photo #backpacker #travel #traveling #photography #worldwanderers #wanderlust #life #photographer #portrait #travellife #travelgram (at Marina Bay Sands)

Stunning @amazingdestination.s This is incredible! A pink lake and a blue lake separated by a sand walkway 👌🏽 ___________________ Credit @chloektodd • • • • • #travelearth #worldwanderer #travelingourplanet #worldcapture #worldtravels #worldtraveler #worldtravelpic #worldtraveller #worldtravelscapes #worldtravelers #worldtraveling #worldtravelig #worldtravelpics #worldtravelbook #traveltheworld #travellife #amazingdestination #amazingdestinations #amazingplaces #amazingplace #bestplacetogo #travelholic #travelnow #travelphotography #travelphotos #travelawesome #travel_captures #traveldeeper https://www.instagram.com/p/BzDmgm6hmRP/?igshid=jdyjsj8wlyfy

Petra, Jordan 🇯🇴 ❤️ Life‘s a climb. But the view is great. • • • 📸 Credit @ciiiinaa ➖➖➖➖ #jordan #petra #temple #ancientruins #ruins #traveling #roamtheplanet #globetrotter #worldwanderer #backpacker #backpacking #travelblogger #traveladdict #traveltheworld #travelmore #travelasia #lifeisbetterinthesun #naturelovers #solotraveler #girltraveler #passionpassport #hiking #explore #adventure #wanderlust #fernweh #sheisnotlost #ladiesgoneglobal #postcardplaces https://www.instagram.com/p/BrwjKRjl7eh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=65bf197qf5m7