The following morning dawned crisp and silver, as though the forest itself had bathed in moonlight even as the sun rose. Aerin awoke to birdsong she had never heard before — sweet, almost crystalline notes that threaded together into an otherworldly melody. For a fleeting moment, she wasn't certain if she was awake or still drifting in dreams.
Her breath puffed in the cool morning air as she sat up, rubbing the stiffness from her neck. The moss beneath her had been her bed, strangely comfortable despite its dampness. All around, the forest remained cloaked in mist, every tree standing like a sentinel keeping secrets.
Aerin stood, brushing leaves from her clothes. A flicker of unease coiled in her chest — had she truly entered another world, or had she wandered deeper into an ordinary woodland? But the memory of the shimmering archway she had crossed still burned behind her eyes. She knew this was not her home anymore.
The faint scent of wildflowers and something sweet — almost like honey — hung on the air. Drawn to it, she began walking, her boots crunching softly on the damp ground. The trees whispered above her, their branches creaking though no wind stirred. She could swear the forest leaned closer as she moved, as though watching her.
Suddenly, a rustle nearby froze her steps. Liora's heart pounded as she turned. From between the roots of a massive oak emerged a creature unlike any she had ever seen. It was small, no taller than her knee, with skin the color of tree bark and eyes glowing faintly green like fireflies. Its delicate hands carried a bundle of flowers, which it dropped with a startled gasp upon seeing her.
For a moment, both stood in silence — girl and creature, equally astonished. Then the little being darted behind the tree, vanishing in a flash of movement.
"Wait!" Aerin called, her voice trembling. "I won't hurt you!"
Her words seemed to hang in the mist, unanswered. She lowered her hand, exhaling shakily. The forest was alive, and not only with plants. That realization both thrilled and unnerved her.
She continued walking, though her pace slowed. The sun climbed higher, scattering beams of light that pierced the canopy in golden shafts. Dust motes danced in the air, turning the forest into a cathedral of light and shadow.
Hours might have passed — it was impossible to measure time here. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, but she pressed forward, guided by instinct more than direction. She kept expecting to find a path, but the forest gave none. Only endless trees, tangled roots, and the soft murmur of unseen waters.
At last, she stumbled into a clearing. The sight stole her breath.
In the center stood a pool of water so clear it reflected the sky like glass. Around it bloomed flowers she did not know the names of, their petals shimmering faintly as though dusted with stars. Aerin knelt by the pool, cupping water into her hands. It was cool and sweet, refreshing beyond any stream she had drunk from before. As it slid down her throat, a strange warmth blossomed in her chest, as though the water carried life itself.
But then she heard it — a whisper.
At first she thought it was only the breeze, but the sound grew clearer, curling into words she almost understood. She froze, the water dripping from her fingers. The voice came from beneath the pool's surface, low and melodic, like a lullaby sung from deep underground.
Her reflection rippled. Another face swam beneath her own — pale, delicate features framed by dark hair, eyes that glowed faintly silver. Aerin gasped and stumbled backward, her hand flying to her mouth.
The figure in the water smiled softly, though it did not break the surface. Its lips moved, but the words were not hers. Still, Aerin felt them echo in her mind: "The forest remembers. The wishes are waiting."
Then, with a shimmer like moonlight striking glass, the vision faded. Only her own startled reflection stared back at her.
She sat trembling for long minutes, heart racing. What had she seen? A spirit? A memory? Or was it the forest itself speaking to her?
Before she could make sense of it, movement stirred in the trees behind her. She spun, fear lacing her veins. From the shadows emerged a figure — tall, cloaked, their face hidden beneath a hood. Aerin's breath caught.
The stranger walked with deliberate grace, steps silent on the moss. As they reached the edge of the clearing, they stopped, tilting their head as though assessing her.
"You should not drink from the pool so freely," the stranger said, their voice low, threaded with warning.
Aerin swallowed hard. "Who… who are you?"
The hood shifted, revealing eyes sharp as steel, though not unkind. "A guide. Or perhaps only a wanderer, like yourself."
Their gaze lingered on her trembling hands, then softened slightly. "This forest is not kind to those who stumble into it unprepared. Many have entered. Few remain unchanged."
Aerin's lips parted, but no words came. She wanted to demand answers — about the pool, about the whispers, about the face she had seen — but the weight of the stranger's presence silenced her.
Instead, she managed, "Do you… know the way out?"
A faint smile tugged at the stranger's lips. "Out? Child, this forest does not release so easily. But perhaps, if you understand its secrets, you may yet walk the path without being lost."
With that, they turned, motioning for her to follow.
Aerin hesitated, torn between fear and the gnawing knowledge that she could not navigate this place alone. At last, she gathered her courage and stepped after them, leaving the pool and its haunting whispers behind.
As they vanished deeper into the trees together, the forest seemed to sigh — a sound of branches creaking, roots shifting, as though acknowledging that her journey had truly begun.