If only that childish determination lasted through adulthood.

That childish determination HAS lasted into adulthood for me. I love this story. Not only is it well-written but I can so identify with the boy that I am ready to take my hatchet and climb the misty mountain with him. Well done.

“To dungeons deep, and caverns old…”

Wistful. Really well written, nice sharp characters, carefully blending comedy and poignancy – standard stuff for you, THX.

It is indeed a powerful theme that all adults can relate to – the desire to find magic in the world that becomes more urgent as we grow up, and such fancy stuff that we took for granted as children begins to evaporate around us.

Great beginning. With a character, goal, and setting established, the stage was set very well. Looking forward to what comes next.

The mother’s comment made me think: how much adventure have we missed due to more “mundane” duties?

Heartbreaking in its sincerity and earnestness. Love it.

I am left wondering if this is just a normal mother-child moment or if there really is mysterious stuff in the hills/mountains. It’s great tension that both meanings sit so easily in this one piece.

This seems like the start of some epic. Whether it is or not, it still grabs the reader. Great work.

Well written, it tickles the imagination-if we are fortunate, we’ve all been some version of that child. More please!