The village square lay under a heavy, leaden sky, the usual hum of activity muffled by an oppressive stillness. The cobblestones glistened from an earlier rain, and the air was thick with the scent of wet earth and smoke from distant hearths.

A lone figure moved through the square, her tattered cloak dragging across the damp stones. Her face, pale and hollowed by sleepless nights, was framed by strands of disheveled hair that clung to her skin. Her eyes, once bright, now flickered with a desperate, haunted light.

“Have you seen him?” she asked, her voice thin and wavering, like the rustling of dead leaves.

The baker, busy stacking loaves, paused, his hands faltering. “Who?” he asked, though he already knew. Everyone in the village did.

“My son,” she whispered. “He’s just a boy. You’ve seen him, haven’t you?”

The baker shook his head slowly, avoiding her gaze. “I’m sorry. I haven’t.”

She lingered for a moment, her eyes narrowing as if trying to peer through him, searching for the truth. Without another word, she moved on, her footsteps light but purposeful.

At the market stall, she asked again. “Have you seen him? My son… he has blond hair, blue eyes. Just a boy.”

The merchant froze, her hands tightening around a bundle of herbs. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, her voice trembling. “I haven’t seen him.”

The mother tilted her head, her expression unreadable. “Are you sure?” she asked, her tone sharper now, cutting through the quiet like a blade.

The merchant nodded quickly, her eyes darting away.

One by one, she asked them all—the blacksmith, the old farmer, the children playing near the well. Each time, her voice grew colder, her questions more insistent.

“Have you seen him?”

“No.”

“You must have seen him.”

“No… I haven’t.”

Their denials piled up, a wall of silence and fear.

As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the square, the mother’s search became more frantic. Her steps quickened, her questions growing louder, echoing off the stone walls.

“Where is he?” she cried, her voice breaking. “Where’s my son?”

But no one answered.

The villagers began to retreat, closing their doors, pulling their shutters tight. Whispers passed between them, low and hurried.

“She’s still looking,” one said, barely audible.

“It’s been weeks…” another replied.

“Do you think she’ll ever stop?”

Their murmurs faltered as they glanced toward the forest’s edge, their expressions pale with unease. They knew she wouldn’t find him.

Not there.

Not in the woods.

Because the boy had vanished long ago, on a night much like this one. And everyone knew that no one ever came back from the forest.

The mother stood alone in the square now, her chest heaving, her fists clenched. The wind picked up, carrying with it the faint, distant sound of a child’s laughter. It drifted through the air like a phantom, barely there but unmistakable.

Her head snapped up, her eyes wide. “Till?” she called, her voice cracking.

She turned toward the sound, her heart pounding in her chest. The laughter grew fainter, slipping away into the darkening woods beyond the village.

“Till!” she screamed, running now, her cloak billowing behind her.

The villagers peered through their curtains, their faces etched with quiet dread. They watched her disappear into the shadows, the laughter fading with her.

And then, silence.

***********************************************

The boy blinked in surprise, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to process what had just happened.

“Yes,” he finally said, his voice filled with wonder. “I can understand you now.”

Nyx’s heart leapt. “Finally! We can—”

She stopped, huh?

Based on what he was saying, Jonah could now understand her—but Nyx couldn’t understand him anymore.

She frowned, her excitement fading into quiet frustration. This isn’t working.

Nyx sat back on her heels, pondering the situation. They needed a way to communicate, but the bracelet only seemed to help one of them at a time. She tapped her chin thoughtfully, glancing between Till and the bracelet.

After a moment, an idea formed. She gestured toward the bracelet on his wrist, then pointed to herself and back to him, indicating that they should take turns wearing it.

Till watched her closely, his brows furrowing in thought. “You want us to switch it back and forth?” he asked, his voice uncertain.

Nyx nodded eagerly, motioning for him to give it a try.

He hesitated but eventually unfastened the bracelet and handed it to her. She slipped it on and tried again.

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“Can you understand me now?” He asked

Nyx nodded. “Yes!”

Till smiled. “Great. Now we just have to take turns.”

Nyx got to her feet, brushing off her clothes before giving a small, graceful curtsy.

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” she said with a polite smile.

Till still with the bracelet on hand blinked in surprise. Her refined mannerisms, coupled with her elegant appearance, left little doubt in his mind.

She must be a noble, he thought, his suspicions now fully confirmed. No ordinary person carried themselves like that, especially not in a place like this.

They passed the bracelet between them, each speaking in turns.

“I’m Nyx,” she said during her turn.

The boy repeated the motion. “I’m Till.”

Till’s stomach started growling loudly after the brief introduction, breaking the moment. He clutched his belly with an embarrassed laugh. “I haven’t eaten in days.”

Nyx immediately rummaged through her bag, pulling out fruit and snacks. She handed it to him with a reassuring smile. Till’s eyes lit up as he devoured the food, his gratitude evident in every bite.

Once he finished, they swapped the bracelet again and continued talking.

“What are you doing here, Till?” Nyx asked. “How did you get into the forest?”

Till looked down, guilt flashing across his face. “My friends dared me,” he admitted. “We were playing outside the village, and they said I wouldn’t be brave enough to step into the Dark Forest.” His voice grew quieter. “But I got lost… and I’ve been wandering here for weeks.”

Nyx’s expression softened. She could see the fear and exhaustion etched into his face. “That must have been terrifying,” she said gently.

Till nodded, his voice trembling. “I miss my mom. She must be so worried.”

Nyx felt a pang of sympathy. She couldn’t imagine what it was like to be separated from family, lost and alone. She reached out, squeezing his hand reassuringly. “I’ll help you get back home,” she promised. “We’ll find a way out.”

Till hesitated, glancing toward the dark trees surrounding them. “Do you think we can?” His voice wavered with doubt.

Nyx tightened her grip on his hand. “Yes. I won’t let you stay lost. We’ll get through this together.”

Her determination seemed to comfort him. Till wiped his eyes and managed a small smile. “Thank you, Nyx.”

They spent the next hour talking, exchanging stories of their lives. Till shared tales of playing games with his friends—hide-and-seek, tag, and a silly one involving balancing on barrels. He laughed as he recounted the time he fell off and ended up face-first in a pile of hay.

Nyx listened intently, fascinated by his descriptions of life outside the forest. She asked about his village, the people there, and what it was like to live among others like him.

In turn, Till grew curious about Nyx’s life. “You’re different,” he said. “You’re strong and smart… and you make amazing potions. Who taught you all that?”

Nyx smiled, her silver eyes glinting with pride. “It was Len,” she replied. “He’s been in my family for as long as I can remember.”

Jonah’s brows furrowed. “Len? Who’s that you’re father?”

“It’s a bit complicated,” Nyx said with a laugh. “But I’ll tell you all about them before we get you out of here.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, Till felt a spark of hope. And for Nyx, the presence of another human, someone her age, was a reminder of the world beyond the forest.

The forest around them remained eerily quiet, the dense canopy above barely letting through the fading light. But for now, the two of them sat together, drawing strength from each other’s company.

They continued talking late into the night, their voices weaving together stories of two vastly different lives brought together by fate.

***********************************************

“What are you doing right now?”

An angry voice shattered the quiet, startling both Nyx and Till.

Nyx jumped in surprise, but Till’s reaction was far more severe. His entire body stiffened, and his eyes darted around in pure fright. The voice carried a sharp, commanding tone, one that sliced through the air like a blade.

Nyx immediately recognized the voice, her pulse quickening for a different reason. Oh no, she thought.

Till, however, was trembling behind her, his small hands clutching tightly at the back of her shirt. “Wh-who is that?” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “Is it… angry?”

The figure drew closer, its imposing silhouette growing clearer with each step.

“Little one,” the voice demanded, “who is that, and how did they get inside the forest?”

Till couldn’t understand the words, but the tone alone made him shudder. Nyx swallowed nervously, standing protectively in front of him. The closer the figure came, the more Till’s fear intensified.

Finally, the source of the voice stepped into the clearing. Fox, with his sleek fur and glowing eyes, looked every bit as dangerous as the tales suggested. His sharp gaze locked onto the two, and his tail flicked with irritation.

Till’s breath hitched. What… is that? he thought, his heart hammering in his chest. Some kind of monster?

Without thinking, he tightened his grip on Nyx’s shirt, squeezing his eyes shut as if willing the creature to vanish.

“It’s nothing,” Nyx said quickly, her voice calm but firm, trying to reassure both Fox and Till.

Fox’s eyes narrowed. “Nothing?” he repeated, incredulous. “Nyx, that is a person. A human. How did they get inside the forest?”

Nyx raised her hands defensively. “I don’t know! I just found him here.”

Fox’s gaze flicked back to Till, who remained hidden behind Nyx. His expression darkened. “No one should be able to get in here…” he muttered, almost to himself.

Till, curiosity briefly overcoming his fear, peeked out from behind Nyx. His eyes widened as he watched her interact casually with the creature. She knows it? he thought. They’re… talking like old friends?

The realization hit him hard: this strange girl wasn’t just anyone. She must be a noble—or maybe even royalty. Only someone that important could act so calmly around a monster like this.

Thus brought back the lingering question for Till: What was she doing in the forest?

She didn’t seem lost. If anything, she carried herself like she belonged here. But that didn’t make sense. No one belongs in the Dark Forest.

He tightened his grip on her sleeve, his mind racing. I’ll need to ask the elders when I get back to the village. They’ll know more.

Fox’s sharp voice cut through his thoughts. “You’re lucky I came before any of the others,” he told Nyx, his glowing eyes narrowing as he stepped closer in front of them.

Nyx gave a nervous laugh, shifting slightly to shield Till. “I know,” she said, her voice softer now. “But you’re here, so we’ll be fine.”

Fox didn’t seem amused. His tail flicked sharply, and his gaze flickered toward the dark trees surrounding them.

Till instinctively shrank back, his small frame pressing closer to Nyx’s side. The boy’s eyes darted between the two, unsure whether he should feel relieved or more afraid.

Fox now standing directly in front of Nyx, his glowing eyes fixed on Till. The boy flinched as Fox’s voice dropped to a low growl. “Hey, little boy, how did you get here? How long have you been wandering in this forest?”

“Fox, stop!” Nyx scolded, stepping in front of Till again. “He doesn’t understand you. And he doesn’t know how he got here, either.”

Fox huffed, clearly annoyed. “And what do you plan to do, Nyx? Just let him wander back out on his own?”

“No, I’m going to help him,” Nyx said firmly.

Fox tilted his head, one brow raised. “Do you even know how to get him out?”

Nyx hesitated, looking down at her feet. “Well… no,” she admitted quietly.

Fox sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Of course you don’t.”

Nyx’s face brightened suddenly. “But now that you’re here, you can help us!” She grinned up at him, her silver eyes sparkling with hope.

Fox rolled his eyes. “This sly little girl,” he muttered under his breath. “Fine. Let’s get him out of here before Drac decides to come looking for you.”

Nyx gasped, realizing she had completely forgotten about Drac. What am I going to tell him? Her stomach twisted at the thought.

Fox turned away, his sharp gaze scanning the forest’s edge as he began to focus his magic. His tail flicked impatiently, and faint sparks of energy rippled around him, lighting the area with a soft glow. The air grew charged, and the faint hum of his power made the trees tremble slightly, as if the forest itself recognized his authority.

Nyx watched in quiet awe, reminded once again of Fox’s incredible strength. For a moment, she felt a pang of guilt. Drac had trusted her to stay safe, and now here she was, caught up in something far more complicated. He’s going to be furious, she thought.

But there was no turning back now. With one last glance at Till, who was still nervously clutching her sleeve, she steeled herself.

“Let’s get you home,” she said softly.