Lena found herself amidst a void, a realm swallowed in darkness. No soul stirred, no light dared pierce the black. All was still.
“Hello?” she called, her voice echoing into the abyss like a forgotten whisper.
“Is anyone there?”
Then came the sound—a rush of water, distant yet growing louder. Drawn to it, she moved forward until her feet stepped upon a river flowing beneath her, as though she walked upon the very surface of it. The darkness dispersed, giving way to a strange, ethereal light.
Before her stood a creature—tall upon two legs, cloaked in crimson fur, its visage that of a great wolf, its eyes an unnatural blue, piercing and ancient.
She stood frozen.
“Welcome, Magdalena,” the beast spoke, its voice both thunderous and soft, like a whisper of fate.
Her breath caught in he
