The Forest Pact

he forest, the damage of Malric

nder the Heart of the Forest, the tranquility felt

rose steadily on the horizon, placing the world

reath stilling. "That..

, his face giving way t

he spirit world and this one blurs. We could have worked together, M

But her gaze turned to Silas, still sweeping the forest, his golden eyes alert but det

ed," she said

on make dark forces magnified, but it also tests bonds... it tests wills. As if

"And if we fail the t

ng against hers, and a jolt of warmth shot through her, even as the air w

fear and resolve anchori

far-off sound, a note, haunting and fo

r that?" Sh

n darkened. "Yes.

m wh

oming to outsiders. But we have no choice. "If they're calling us,

us energy buzzed in her veins.

n unreal hue. The tune radiated more loudly now, slicing the trees like a live thing, yanking the

arted to a vast glade. A circle of ancient stones with glowing runes covering every inch sat in the ce

rest E

breath

their ghostly visages wavered with an ethereal glow. One of

n a low and sonorous tone. "You have entered s

aved Heart of the Forest." Without her, Ma

eyes to Aurora, narrowing t

"I didn't want to intrude, but the Heart...

Heart only calls to those it finds worthy. But

aller and wolfier

ture has been disrupted, and now the human, you are a pa

opped. "What is the

d spirit. It will show your real self and decide if you are

f in front of Aurora. "She's already pro

er turned icy. "The forest

d soft but steady. "It's okay," she said softly. "This is wha

is golden eyes burning

mpse of stubbornn

trust myself. We'l

hin the glade. On the other side of it, the world seemed 

, "the Veil will test you. You have to

 what will s

ing. Silas took her hand in his and squ

ther in the face, and the

ou interfere with her trial, it

ora's hand tighter

the archway, the world around t

t for miles, with an unusual energy in the air.

you can't just

the haze shifted, taking s

gh a field, laughing. But the picture turned, t

es and sharp voices, scolding her ab

r felt like I was good enough for

"You're more than enough, Aurora. You're brave, you'

ming. Aurora caught a glimpse of a younger him, standing among wo

, his isolation, and

I love," Silas said, his voice hoarse. "That

cing. "You don't have to be alone anymor

he mist began to clear, an

ehind, prepared to meet what

ore than a trial; it was a

trate their power, not only to