Chapter Three — The Hidden Path
640 Words
Liora followed the white wolf through the trees, careful not to trip. Her leg still hurt, but not as bad as before. The forest was quiet, except for the soft sound of leaves underfoot. The moon above gave just enough light to see.
She didn’t know where the wolf was taking her. All she knew was—she felt safer with it.
After some time, they reached a narrow path between thick bushes. It looked like nobody had walked there in years. The wolf looked back at her, then stepped into the path.
Liora hesitated. “Are you sure?” she whispered.
The wolf didn’t answer, of course. But its eyes were calm. Trusting. So she took a deep breath and follow
After a short walk, the trees opened up again—and there it was.
A small wooden cabin sat in the middle of the clearing. It looked old but strong, with vines growing up one side and smoke coming out of a crooked chimney. Light shone through the windows. Someone was inside.
Liora stopped. Her heart beat fast. She wasn’t sure if this was safe.
The wolf stepped beside her and gave a short huff, like it was saying, “It’s okay.”
Liora walked slowly toward the door. Before she could knock, it opened.
An old woman stood there, her gray hair tied back, her face full of lines. But her eyes were kind.
“Come in, child,” the woman said, like she’d been expecting her.
Inside, the cabin smelled of herbs and wood smoke. A fire crackled in the fireplace. The woman pointed to a soft chair.
“Sit down. You look like you’ve been through a storm.”
Liora sat. Her legs were shaking.
The wolf lay down by the fire, finally resting.
The woman brought a bowl of warm soup and placed it in front of Liora. “Eat. You need your strength.”
Liora took a bite. It was the best thing she had tasted in days. Tears filled her eyes, not from the food, but from the comfort. It had been so long since someone was kind to her.
The woman sat across from her. “You’re not safe out there, are you?”
Liora shook her head. “A man was chasing me. I don’t know why.”
The woman’s face turned serious. “You’re not just any girl. There’s something inside you… something he wants.”
Liora stared at her. “What do you mean?”
The woman leaned forward. “You feel it, don’t you? When you were in that stone circle… something woke up.”
Liora remembered the glowing stones, the way the wolf had appeared. She nodded slowly.
The woman smiled. “You’re part of something bigger, child. That wolf is not just a guardian. It’s tied to you.”
Liora looked at the wolf. It was watching her, calm and quiet.
“But why me?” she asked, voice shaking. “I’m just… me.”
The woman stood and walked to a shelf, pulling down an old book. She opened it and showed her a drawing. It looked just like the stone circle she had seen. In the middle of it stood a girl… with the same birthmark Liora had on her wrist.
“You were chosen, Liora. Long before you were born.”
The words hit her hard. She felt dizzy
The old woman placed a hand on her shoulder. “Rest tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll tell you everything. For now, you’re safe here.”
Liora looked at the wolf again. Its eyes were already closed. She leaned back in the chair and let her body relax. The fear was still there, but for the first time, she felt a little bit of hope.
The hunter was still out there.
But now… she wasn’t alone.
- Writer
