Most young adolescents only dream of great deeds and wild adventures. What if a couple of typical 21^st century teens suddenly found themselves in a strange and fantastic world?

Gabriel Hunter and his younger brother Zach were spending a perfect day snowboarding the half-pipe and checking out trails. The last run of the day would be down Demon’s Gate. A Black Diamond trail due to open in a couple of weeks. They never made it to the end of that trail. Instead, they were plunged into an unimaginable ride, into a world where elves, dragons and demons are part of everyday life.

After being hunted and threatened by the inhabitants of this new world Gabriel and Zach must decide if the bond they are developing with some of the dragons is worth fighting for. The balance of power is shifting, and Gabriel and Zach discover that the skills they once took for granted could change the future of an entire civilization.

L.J. Libiran grew up in a small town in Mid-Michigan. Being the middle child of nine adventurous siblings has helped fuel her imagination. She has two adult sons, and resides with her husband of 25 years.

This published author has won several honorable mentions for her poetry. She has started on her next book, the sequel to Dragon Skurfers, with other stories waiting to be finished. Since 1996 she has been perfecting her artistic skills with the airbrush, and is trying to find the time to learn the art of scroll sawing.

"Did you hear something?" Zach whispered, turning his head from side to side.

Gabriel was too tired to hear anything. He put one of his feet on the back of the snowboard and nudged Zach forward on the board. Placing his hands on top of Zach’s shoulders, Gabriel pushed. A wind started to blow around them.

"Maybe I shouldn’t have asked what else could go wrong. Where did that wind come from?" Gabriel asked.

Zach raised his voice and called out, "I’ll use my body to steer."

"Something tells me this is not a good place to be!" Gabriel shouted, as he pushed off.

They were gliding along the top of the ice-encrusted snow. Gabriel urgently wanted to be somewhere else. An electric current ran down his spine. The hairs on the back of his neck started to rise.

"See anything, Zach?"

"No."

The sound they heard reminded Gabriel of something from a creepy Halloween tape. The whooshing of wings, maybe? But from something big. Really big.

"It’s getting louder! Go faster Gabriel, move!" Zach said urgently. He pushed off with his hands on the icy surface.

"I’m trying!" Gabriel yelled in Zach’s ear. "Head for that building! Steer to your right!"

Gabriel knew that whatever was following them was big, and it was gaining on them. He could feel a hot current coming from above them.

All they could see was swirling whiteness. The wind howled around them, whipping at their clothes. Gabriel ran behind the snowboard, pushing faster. Zach leaned forward and to the right, steering the board toward the building. A large shadow engulfed them from above. Snow stung their eyes, blurring their vision.

"Where is that building?" Zach yelled.

Gabriel couldn’t answer. He was out of breath, his chest ready to explode. The predator was overhead! It was close--too close. Suddenly, the board was ripped out from under them. It had gotten stuck on gravel that had replaced the snow. Gabriel didn’t miss a step. He grabbed Zach by the jacket and launched them both towards the building. Crashing into the wooden wall, they ran their hands along the rough surface, searching for an opening. Something snagged Zach’s jacket at the shoulder and started lifting him into the air.

"No!" Zach screamed, as he tried striking at the claws that were clutching him.

Gabriel grabbed at Zach’s legs. His feet started rising from the ground. The stench of sulfur filled his nostrils. Fear clasped its hand around his throat, and squeezed his vocal cords shut. He couldn’t scream. Gabriel heard something rip as he fell hard to the ground with Zach landing on top of him.