The Secret of Shadow Peak
The wind howled through the jagged cliffs of Shadow Peak as fourteen-year-old Ayaan adjusted the straps on his backpack. His heart pounded with excitement—and fear. Everyone in the village spoke of the mountain as cursed, haunted by spirits and guarded by a beast no one had ever seen and lived to tell the tale. But Ayaan wasn’t afraid. He had a map, a clue, and a promise to keep.
Two years ago, his elder brother, Kabir, had gone on a trek to Shadow Peak and never returned. Most believed he was gone forever. But last week, Ayaan discovered an old letter hidden in Kabir’s journal. It contained a hand-drawn map and a riddle: “Where moonlight strikes the eagle’s eye, the secret path will show you why.”
Armed with only a torch, a compass, and his courage, Ayaan followed the map through dense forests, across rope bridges swaying over deep ravines, and into the heart of the mountain. On the third night, while resting in a small cave, he noticed moonlight pouring in through a crack in the roof. It landed on a rock formation shaped like an eagle’s head. His heart skipped a beat. He raced to the rock and pressed the "eye"—and the wall slowly creaked open.
Inside was a hidden passage lit by glowing moss. Ayaan stepped carefully, each sound echoing like thunder. Deeper within, he found a narrow chamber and—he gasped—Kabir! His brother, thinner and worn, looked up in shock and joy.
Kabir had fallen into a pit inside the cave and injured his leg. The hidden chamber had food and water—left behind by an ancient tribe that once lived on the mountain. He had survived, hoping someone would find the clues he left behind.
Ayaan helped Kabir up, and together, they found another exit through an underground stream. They emerged at the base of Shadow Peak as dawn broke over the hills. The villagers couldn’t believe their eyes when the two brothers returned, dirty and bruised but alive and triumphant.
Shadow Peak still loomed over the village, mysterious and dangerous—but now, it was also a symbol of hope, bravery, and the bond between two brothers who never gave up.
-By Yashvi Bhatt