Dragons & Wyverns 2026 Finalists
Thank you to everyone who participated in this challenge, and congratulations to everyone who placed!
We received over 800 submissions (whoa!) and had the best time diving into the worlds you created for us.
Everyone who submitted a story will be receiving feedback, regardless of whether or not the story placed.
And now for the winners!
Drumroll please . . .
First Place
Circuit Breaker By Dani Lucas
Casey, a first-year electrician’s apprentice, discovers an unusual hiccup in her new house’s electrical system.
Second Place
The Fortune's Harvest By Sydney Dunbar
A dragon-hunting ship prides itself on its collection of rare pearls harvested from ferocious sea dragons - until a secretive new deckhand infiltrates its ranks to reclaim what was stolen. When the truth is revealed, the captain’s prized treasures become the cause of his destruction, and both the intruder and the ship’s scholarly apprentice must reckon with the devastating reality that the hunt might never have been for treasure at all.
Third Place
The Heart of the Gatekeeper's Hoard By Ley Taylor Johnson
A young wizard’s apprentice bargains with the Gate Dragon in the hopes of retrieving her late master’s soul from the Realm of the Dead.
Fourth Place
The Old Dragon in Room Seven By K R Thomas
At an assisted living castle for aging dragons, the famous Brannigar comes weekly to tell its residents the stories of old and visit with Vessimus, an old dragon with dementia. Through a weekly treasure hunt, Brannigar leads Vessimus back through fragments of his past hoping Vessimus will recall he’s really Cordrin the Courageous - the great dragon that all the legends are written about. As Vessimus’ memory fades again, Brannigar patiently and lovingly begins the journey anew, honoring his mentor through a never-ending search for Cordrin’s prized collection - his memories.
Fifth Place
The Coins of the Styx By Kathryn Thornwood
Ferrying the dead to the underworld requires powerful muscles, an empathetic ear, and a resilience to monotony. Milo, the apprentice to the ferryman, isn’t any of these things. When he witnesses the first soul disappear under the water of the Styx, his decision to uncover the mysteries of the river and its guardian by any means necessary drags him to his own doom, much to the chagrin of his master.
Sixth Place
The Eye Of The Beholder by Lala Celaya
Eamon is a dragon who hoards knowledge in every form. There’s just one problem—he can’t read a word of it. Nora is a humble scribe who agrees to teach him to read in exchange for access to his library. But when Eamon’s finest treasure is threatened, Nora learns that dragons aren’t known for their willingness to share.
Seventh Place
Golden Skies by Audrey Armstrong
The annual dragon rodeo is set ablaze as a rider and a bull team up to give the crowd a show they’ll never forget.
Eighth Place
Above and Below by Savannah Laux
A young girl in a city atop a mountain is recruited to learn magic under the tutelage of a powerful mage. Years later, she comes to realize that there is far more to understand about her city, and it might just cost her everything.
Ninth Place
The Egg By Marian Crofts
Wendy Thimblewart doesn't believe in magical nonsense — not even when a dragon egg falls into her care. But when she finds herself in over her head, she'll need to learn to accept help from a little girl who loves dragons almost as much as she loves reading about them.
Tenth Place
The Silent Song By Whitney Vockrodt
A siren without a song is just another fish. At least that’s what Ishlaya, a siren unable to hear and therefore unable to sing, has always been led to believe. But when an encounter with a deadly ocean predator reveals a bond she never expected, Ishlaya discovers that magic takes many forms.