-

ew

walls and weather-beaten cottages. Aster stood by the window, watching as dawn painted the sk

rs grew darker by the day. Rumors of beasts in the woods, shadows that moved

jah said softly from behin

ssion weary. "They've a

he room to stand by Aster'

Aster asked. "Their fear

-

houlder. "We'll leave tomorrow. W

d him with both dread and hope. It was the only home he'

Aster asked. "You

barely tolerated because I stand by y

. "Then we'll face t

-

wind carried strange whispers through the trees. It was

toward the forest

asked, noticing Ast

that?" Aste

straining to lis

't just the wind. There was s

ge of the forest. Cloaked in shadow, they r

through the window of his cottage. There was a quiet intensity t

again, the figure melted back into

-

r way through the village, the tension was palp

f elders gathered, their

ead," one of them whis

sed boy-" an

ouched his arm, stopping him. "Don't.

Elijah muttered. "No

ed. He was tired of

-

packed the last of their s

ready?"

mories - some painful, some bittersweet. But they were just wa

," Aster s

wind picked up, carrying with

-

e forest, a shadowy figu

pping in front of

re?" Elija

neath a hood. Their presence radiated power and

he stranger said, thei

ed his eyes.

ixed on Aster. "The cursed moon is rising. Yo

red. "What

re are those who will seek to use you, and those who will seek

ward. "And why sho

listening to something in the distance. "Beca

vanished into the forest, leavi

-

Road

d their journey, the fore

t was about?" Elijah a

er replied. "But it

atever happens, we

ll" For the first time in a long

st, the shadows grew longer, and th

-

-