Late August 2036 – the monsoon had retreated, leaving the merged plains lush and steaming under a sky washed clean. The Eternal Bridge orchard dripped with leftover rain, mango leaves glistening like polished emeralds, fruit heavy and fragrant. The air carried the sharp, clean scent of wet earth mixed with the sweet rot of fallen overripe mangoes and the faint, high-altitude crispness drifting from the newly discovered Kohyari Peaks far to the east.
Ahmed Khan stood at the orchard's edge, watching his ever-growing family prepare for the next leg of the Threefold Quest. The prophecy from Elder Rukh had been clear: the eldest three children—Ammar, Zara, and Liyana—would each lead a trial to seal the major rift clusters threatening the bridge. Ammar had faced his endurance test in the dunes. Zara had out-tricked shadow illusions in the Punjab plains. Now it was Liyana's turn: the Kohyari Peaks, a jagged range where leylines converged like frozen rivers, and ancient shrines whispered of ascension through longing.
Liyana Thorne-Frost, eight years old, stood beside her father, pale blue scales shimmering with nervous frost mist. Her tiny wings—still too small for sustained flight—fluttered against her back. She clutched a small, frosted mango from the orchard as her "offering" for the mountain spirits.
From Liyana's perspective: "Mountains are tall. Scary tall. But Sassui climbed them for love. I can climb for family. My frost will keep everyone warm inside—even when it's cold outside. Abba says heart first. I have a big heart. It beats like Nani's dhol."
Ahmed knelt to her level, brushing frost from her cheek. "Beti, the peaks test longing—virah, separation. You'll feel it strongly. But remember Bhitai's Sassui: she crossed Kohyari with a burning heart. Your frost isn't weakness—it's balance. Cool the fire without freezing love."
Liyana nodded solemnly. "I won't freeze my heart, Abba. Promise."
The family had grown into a small tribe. Ahmed's bonds now encompassed every major race and folklore essence, each marriage a living poem of unity. Beyond the original and recent additions, new unions had deepened the weave:
• Ursa Grizzlefur (High Bear-kin shaman): massive, furred, gentle roar. Twins Bruno and Bruna (four years old), bear-strong huggers.
• Centara Swiftgallop (High Centaur nomad): horse-bodied, archer grace. Daughter Gallia (three years old), swift kicker.
• Satyra Hoofsong (High Satyr bard): goat-legged, horned, flute charmer. Son Pan (two years old), piping chaos-tunes.
• Lamira Coilscale (High Lamia serpent-kin): scaled coils, emerald eyes. Daughter Ssera (one year old), constricting hugger.
• Harpya Skywing (High Harpy aviator): feathered wings, sharp talons. Son Aero (one year old), gusty flyer.
• Cylopa Onegaze (High Cyclops forge-master): one massive eye, mountain build. Daughter Mono (nine months), gaze-sparker.
• Capra Hornweave (High Goat-kin climber): hoofed, horned, woolly. Son Capro (nine months), agile climber.
• Vampira Nightveil (High Vampire diplomat): pale, fanged elegance. Daughter Luna (eight months), night-calmer.
• Nagara Scalesong (High Naga snakeskin): serpentine, melodic scales. Twins Naga and Nagi (six months), chime-coilers.
• Sassi Desertborn (Saraiki legend essence): sand-skinned, enduring. Daughter Sassara (one year old), wind-wanderer.
• Heer Passionfire (Punjabi legend): flame-haired, flute heart. Son Ranj (nine months), passion-piper.
• Pari Wingwhisper (Punjabi fairy): ethereal, wish-dust wings. Twins Parina and Parik (six months), wish-flutterers.
• Churel Heartbloom (reformed witch-spirit): blooming from darkness. Daughter Chura (five months), light-bloomer.
• Sohni Riverflow (Punjabi nymph): water-veiled, ripple-scaled. Son Mahi (four months), flow-gurgler.
The family now numbered twenty-eight children—hybrids of every essence, their laughter a living bridge.
The expedition formed: Ahmed, all wives, the three eldest questers (Ammar, Zara, Liyana), and a support group of older children (Elara, Rami, Durin). Grandparents watched from the spire—Ahmed's human parents waving ajrak shawls, Thalira and Grom rumbling blessings.
They flew east on dragonkin wings and centaur gallops, portal-jumping to the Kohyari foothills.
The peaks rose jagged and snow-dusted, leylines frozen into icy rivers that shimmered blue-white. Winds howled like distant qawwalis; snowflakes carried whispers of folklore—Sassi's footsteps, Heer's flute notes, Mirza's arrow-whistle.
Liyana led, frost breath clearing paths. From her perspective: "Mountains are quiet. Like Nani's prayers before dawn. But they feel lonely. I will frost the lonely away."
Ammar scouted ahead, howls echoing to test paths. Zara illusioned false trails for safety.
Mid-ascent, the first trial: a chasm spanned by a single ice bridge—cracked, unstable.
Liyana stepped forward. "My turn."
She recited Bhitai's Kohyari sur:
"Kohyari te chadhdi ae
Dil jalda ae, par himmat naal…"
(Ascending Kohyari
Heart burns, but with courage…)
Her frost breath flowed—reinforcing the bridge, turning cracks to smooth ice. The family crossed safely.
From Liyana's view: "It worked! Sassui didn't freeze. Neither will I."
The summit shrine awaited: a domed cavern carved with folklore motifs—Sassi climbing, Heer playing flute, Dulla riding, Mirza shooting arrows, Sohni swimming. A central crystal altar pulsed with rift energy—dark tendrils lashing.
Riftborn emerged—dozens, twisted folklore echoes: shadow-Sassi with endless desert thirst, vengeful Heer with broken flute, dark Dulla with tyrant sword.
Liyana faced the core rift—whispering separation.
She breathed frost—reciting Sassui's endurance:
"Thirst bites, thorns stab—
But love is the water I carry in my heart."
Frost spread—cooling shadows, freezing tendrils, turning pain to stillness.
Ammar howled support: Bulleh Shah defiance.
Zara illusioned true love visions—Sassi finding Punnu, Heer with Ranjha—weakening Riftborn.
Family joined: wives' powers fusing, younger children adding sparks.
Rift sealed—crystal purified, prophecy fragment revealed: "Children of longing mend the final tear."
From Liyana's perspective: "I didn't freeze my heart. I cooled theirs. Now they can rest."
The family descended—triumphant, closer, ready for Zara's turn.