Adra's gaze was drawn to her hand, which still tingled slightly from the effort of summoning the wind. As she looked closer, she saw that a small green mark had appeared on the back of her hand - a symbol she had never seen before. It was a simple design, but there was something about it that seemed ancient and powerful.

She studied it intently, trying to make sense of it, but the symbol remained a mystery to her. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before, and yet somehow it felt familiar, like a memory just out of reach.

As she traveled, she began to experiment with the wind, finding new ways to harness its power. She blew a gust at a nearby tree, causing a ripe apple to fall to the ground. She used a gentle breeze to keep the mosquitoes away, and a stronger gust to scatter a group of chattering birds. It was exhilarating, to have this newfound control over the element.

As she became more adept at controlling the wind, she began to rely on it more and more. When the nights were particularly cold, she would use the wind to create a small whirlwind, gathering dry leaves and twigs to build a fire. She found that by manipulating the wind, she could make the fire burn brighter and hotter, providing much-needed warmth and light.

The wind became her constant companion, and she began to feel a deep connection with it. She would spend hours sitting in silence, feeling the breeze against her skin and listening to the rustling of the leaves. It was a peaceful respite from the constant struggle to survive.

As Adra made her way through the forest, she felt a growing sense of unease. Something was off, she could feel it in the air. The trees around her seemed to be leaning in, as if watching her every move. The leaves rustled with an almost menacing tone, and the animals were nowhere to be seen.

As she walked, she heard the unmistakable sound of twigs snapping underfoot. She spun around, expecting to see a predator closing in on her, but there was nothing there. The forest had fallen silent, as if holding its breath.

Adra quickened her pace, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was following her, stalking her through the trees. She tried to focus on the wind, to use it to her advantage, but her concentration was shattered by a sudden crashing sound.

A massive creature burst out from the bushes ahead, its scales glinting in the sunlight. Adra stumbled backward, her hand already moving to summon the wind. But this was no ordinary beast - it was huge, far too big for her to take on alone.

As the creature lunged at her, Adra let out a scream, summoning all her strength to create a gust of wind that sent the creature tumbling backward. But it was only a temporary reprieve, and Adra knew that she couldn't win this fight. She turned and ran, the wind at her back, fleeing deeper into the forest.

She could hear the creature roaring behind her, its footsteps shaking the ground with every stride. Adra pushed herself to run faster, the mark on her hand glowing with a fierce green light.

I can't outrun it forever, she thought to herself, her heart pounding in her chest. I need to find a way to stop it, to slow it down, to buy myself some time.

Just as the creature was about to close in, Adra spotted a narrow crevice in the rocks up ahead. With no other options, she dove inside, barely fitting through the gap. She heard the creature bellowing in frustration, and then silence.

Adra took a deep breath, trying to slow her racing heart. She looked around, trying to get her bearings in the dim light of the crevice. It was narrow and winding, with jagged rocks scraping her skin as she squeezed through.

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"Great job, Adra," she muttered to herself, "Now you're stuck in a dark hole with a giant monster outside."

She leaned against the rock wall, closing her eyes and focusing on her breathing. She needed to come up with a plan.

"Think, Adra, think," she whispered to herself, "You can't stay here forever."

She waited there for a few hours. As she considered her options, she heard a faint rustling sound behind her. Adra spun around, summoning a gust of wind to blow away any danger. But it was just a small, furry creature, looking up at her with curious eyes. Adra let out a relieved breath, her hand still crackling with energy.

"Sorry little guy," she said, her voice softening, "I didn't mean to scare you."

The creature cocked its head, as if trying to understand her words. Adra felt a twinge of guilt for scaring off the animal. Maybe she was overreacting, maybe there was no danger after all. When she stepped out of the crevice, she heard the creature's roar again. It was closer now, and more furious than before. Adra realized with a sinking feeling that her moment of calm had been short-lived.

Adra ran as fast as she could, the pounding of the creature's feet following close behind her. She could feel its hot breath on her back, and she knew that it was only a matter of seconds before it caught up to her. She could hear the trees being uprooted and crushed as the beast came closer.

With one final burst of energy, Adra leaped over a fallen log, but her foot caught on a root, sending her tumbling to the ground. She landed hard on her shoulder, feeling a searing pain shoot through her arm. The creature was upon her, its jaws opening wide to swallow her whole.

Just as the monster was about to strike, a blinding light filled the forest. Adra squeezed her eyes shut, unable to see anything but the white light. When the light faded, she dared to open her eyes and was surprised to see the monster gone. In its place stood an old man, bathed in a golden aura.

"Who are you?" Adra asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The old man walked back without responding, his pace slow and measured. Adra followed him, her heart racing with anticipation. She wondered who he was, what he knew, and why he seemed to be walking deeper into the forest.

"Excuse me, sir," she said, struggling to keep up with him. "What happened to the creature? Can you tell me where we're going? Do you know where we are?"

The old man didn't answer, his eyes focused straight ahead. Adra tried again. "Please, I need your help. I'm lost, and I don't know what to do. I don't want to die out here in the forest."

Still, the old man remained silent, and Adra began to wonder if he had heard her at all. They continued to walk in silence, deeper and deeper into the forest, until they reached a clearing.

The old man stopped and turned to face Adra. He looked at her for a long moment, his eyes searching hers as if trying to read her thoughts.

Adra's questions poured out of her in a torrent, tumbling over one another in a desperate rush. The old man listened to her with an expression of growing confusion, his eyes searching her face for some clue as to her intentions.

After several moments of this, the old man held up a hand to halt her barrage of questions. "Can you hear me now, child of Zephyr?" he asked, his voice soft and low.

Adra's brow furrowed in confusion. "Zephyr?" she repeated, the word feeling foreign on her tongue.

The old man looked at Adra with a kind expression and spoke slowly, "Zephyr is the name given to the god of the west wind. It's said that he was the bringer of spring, the harbinger of good weather and a protector of travelers."

Adra's face twisted in confusion. "What do you mean, child of Zephyr? I don't understand."

The old man regarded her with a measured gaze. "I mean that you have been marked by the god of the west wind, child. You carry his power within you."

Adra's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's impossible. I'm just a girl from a small village. How could I be marked by a god?"

The old man shook his head. "The ways of the gods are mysterious, child. They work in ways that we cannot comprehend. But I can sense the power within you, and I can see that you have the mark of Zephyr on your hand."

Adra looked at the old man with furrowed brows. "So, are all the other wind mages the children of Zephyr?" she asked.

The old man shook his head. "No, my child. You cannot compare someone who has been touched by the gods with a simple wind mage."

Adra's confusion deepened. "What do you mean by 'touched by the gods'? Are you saying that I am not a wind mage?"

The old man chuckled. "Oh, you are a wind mage, that much is clear. But you are more than that, Adra. You are a child of Zephyr, one who has been blessed by the west winds themselves."

Adra's eyes widened. "I see. So, there are others like me?"

The old man nodded. "There are others who have been blessed by the gods, but each in their own way. No two are exactly alike."