I been meaning to to do this idea for a few months now and was able to get to work on it.
Hope you all enjoy this adventure
The loud engines of the plane droned in the background as Lincoln's thumbs danced across the screen of his handheld game. The digital creatures within it battled fiercely, their pixelated cries and shouts piercing the air of the cabin. Next to him, Lynn stared blankly at the movie playing on the tiny screen embedded in the seat in front of her. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had seen this film before, or at least one exactly like it. The plot was as predictable as the in-flight meal she had just finished, and the acting was as stale as the pretzels she had nibbled on.
Peering over at Lisa, Lynn noticed her sister's nose buried in a thick book. It had a picture of a furry mammoth on the cover, which Lynn found oddly amusing. "What are you reading?" she asked, hoping to distract herself from the monotony of the flight.
Lisa looked up, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "It's about these scientists trying to clone a woolly mammoth," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "They found some of its DNA in the permafrost in
Alaska!"
Lynn rolled her eyes. "Boring," she mumbled, not even trying to hide her lack of interest.
"But think about it," Lincoln interrupted, his gaze momentarily leaving the game. "If they could clone a mammoth, that would be so cool!"
"They already did that in Jurassic Park," Lynn said dismissively.
Lisa chuckled. "It's not that simple. They need living cells with intact DNA to clone anything, and all they have are ancient samples."
The conversation about extinct creatures and scientific impossibilities continued, filling the air with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. It was a stark contrast to the silent anticipation that filled the rest of the cabin.
As the plane descended, the view outside the window shifted from endless blue sky to a vast, untouched expanse of green and brown. The city grew larger and more defined, giving way to a landscape that seemed to stretch on forever. The plane touched down with a gentle thud, and the siblings gathered their things, ready to explore their temporary home for the summer.
In the airport, they were met by a smiling boy with a mop of unruly hair and a mischievous glint in his eye. Eric was their eleven-year-old cousin, and he was practically bouncing with excitement. "You guys made it!" he exclaimed, wrapping them in a group hug.
The absence of their other siblings was palpable as they drove through the lush countryside towards Eric's farmhouse. The rolling hills and towering trees whispered secrets of adventures that lay ahead, hinting at the mysteries that Alaska had in store for them. The excitement in Eric's voice was infectious as he spoke of his secret hiding place near Mammoth Mountain.
"You guys wanna see what I found in the ice?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with the promise of discovery.
"Maybe it's a prehistoric animal," Lisa suggested, her imagination already racing ahead.
Eric giggled nervously. "Could be," he said, his smile never faltering.
The farmhouse was a cozy retreat from the bustle of the city, nestled in the embrace of nature. The mountain loomed in the distance, its peak lost in the clouds. It was a world apart from what they knew, filled with the scent of pine and the distant calls of wildlife. As they approached the house, a sense of wonder and unease crept into Lynn's heart. What secrets did this place hold?
Their aunt's warm embrace and the comforting aroma of freshly baked cookies soon washed away their apprehension. For now, the focus was on making new memories and enjoying the time they had together, with the looming promise of Eric's secret hiding place just out of reach.
The ride to the farmhouse was a blur of scenic beauty, the kind that made you want to lean in closer to the window to capture every detail. As they pulled up the gravel driveway, the house looked quaint and welcoming, with a wraparound porch adorned with colorful flowers and rocking chairs that beckoned for lazy afternoon chats.
"Welcome to Alaska!" Eric's mom exclaimed, her voice as warm as the sun that peeked through the clouds. "We've got so much planned for you guys this summer. I'm sure you're going to love it here."
Lynn couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt. "But what if we hate it?" she thought to herself, the vastness of the untouched land stretching before them feeling more daunting than inviting.
Once inside, Eric couldn't wait to show them to their room. It was a cozy space with two bunk beds, the bottom bunk already claimed with a sprawled-out collection of comics and action figures. The siblings dropped their luggage and took a moment to look around, feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
"So, when do we get to see this big secret of yours?" Lynn asked Eric, eager to distract herself from the quiet solitude that seemed to envelop the farmhouse.
"After dinner," Eric said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "But I'll give you a hint—it's something even cooler than a cloned mammoth."
Dinner was a hearty meal of salmon, potatoes, and fresh garden veggies, with stories of past summer adventures shared around the table. Eric's parents spoke fondly of the siblings' parents and the mischief they had gotten into when they were young, which brought a smile to the children's faces despite the empty seats where their other relatives would have sat.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the mountain range, Eric's mom called for them to put on their boots and grab their jackets. "It's time," Eric whispered, his voice a mix of excitement and nerves.
The three of them followed Eric into the backyard, the tall grass brushing against their legs. His secret hiding place was nestled against the tree line, a small opening in the brush that led to a clearing. The siblings' eyes widened as Eric pulled back a tarp, revealing a chunk of ice, about the size of a small suitcase, nestled in a bed of straw.
"What is it?" Lisa asked, her voice hushed with anticipation.
"It's a piece of the past," Eric said, his voice filled with awe. "I found it when I was exploring the mountain."
With trembling hands, Eric chipped away at the ice, revealing a furry object. A moment of silence hung in the air as they stared at the unmistakable form of a prehistoric creature, perfectly preserved within the crystalline prison.
"It's... it's incredible," Lynn breathed, her skepticism forgotten.
Lisa leaned in closer, her eyes shining. "It's a... it's a baby mammoth,with its mother "she whispered.
The realization hit them all at once. They had stumbled upon a piece of history, a miracle frozen in time. The weight of the moment was palpable, and they all knew that this summer was going to be anything but ordinary.
"Lynn, you gotta see this," Eric called out, his voice echoing in the vast, frozen chamber. His breath danced in the frigid air as he stepped closer to the ancient wall etchings. The louds had stumbled upon another hidden cave while exploring the glaciers near Eric hidden hideout place, and the discovery had them buzzing with excitement.
Lynn,lyyn & Lincoln exchanged a look of curiosity before they followed Eric's voice, their crampons crunching against the compacted ice beneath their feet. They found him standing before a series of ancient symbols carved into the gleaming wall, a mix of awe and puzzlement etched on his face. "It's like nothing we've seen before," Eric said, running his gloved hand over the intricate patterns. "But something about it feels... familiar."
Lisa, the more skeptical of the group, scrunched her nose as she approached. "Could be some kind of old Inuit warning," she suggested, trying to sound nonchalant despite the chill that seemed to seep into her bones from the very air around them. "You know, like, 'Beware of polar bears' or 'Don't pee on the sacred ice statue'."
The trio shared a laugh, the sound bouncing off the icy walls and disappearing into the depths of the cavern. Eric nodded, a grin playing at the corners of his lips. "Maybe," he said, his eyes still glued to the cryptic message. "But I have a feeling it's more than that."
Their laughter faded as the walls around them began to rumble, the vibrations resonating through their very core. The etchings grew brighter, almost pulsing with an unseen energy. Unseen by the trio, deep within the heart of the glacier, something ancient and powerful stirred, sensing the warmth of their curiosity. The ice cracked, a spiderweb of fissures spreading rapidly along the cavern floor, hinting at the hidden dangers that lay dormant beneath the frozen surface. What other animals could it break out
