Lila had always felt different from the others in her village. While the villagers feared the dark and mysterious elder grove forest, Lila felt a deep, inexplicable connection to it. On most days, she would steal away from her family’s fields, sneaking toward the woods where she could sit by the edge and listen to the wind weave through the ancient trees. But the forest had begun to change. Strange occurrences had unsettled the village: the disappearance of livestock, sudden wilting of crops, and a growing sense of unease. Rumours spread about a figure seen at the edge of the woods—a shadow that seemed to blend into the trees and watch the village with unseen eyes. One night, as Lila lay in bed, she felt a sharp tug in her chest, as though something deep within the forest was calling her. It was more than a feeling—an irresistible pull. She closed her eyes and saw it: the forest, wrapped in mist, with an ancient oak at the centre. Beneath its roots, something glowed—a feather, shimmering with power. Lila’s eyes snapped open. She knew what she had to do. Slipping out of bed, she grabbed her cloak and made her way outside. The village was quiet, the air thick with tension. She made her way to the forest's edge, her heart pounding in rhythm with the night’s pulse. She hesitated for a moment, but the forest called again, stronger this time. She stepped past the boundary, feeling the world shift around her. Inside, the forest was alive, humming with magic and mystery. As she ventured deeper, a sense of familiarity washed over her, as though she had been here before in another life. The trees whispered in a language she couldn't understand, but the message was clear: keep going. ________________________________________