Adra woke to the sound of birdsong and the gentle rustle of leaves outside her window. It was a sound that filled her with warmth and peace, a promise of another day in the embrace of her village. She stretched out her arms and took a deep breath, savoring the scent of the forest that surrounded them.

As she sat up, she felt the weight of her blankets slide off her and fall to the floor with a soft thud. Her mother had always told her she was like a cat, graceful and nimble even in sleep. It was a small compliment, but one that made Adra feel proud nonetheless.

She swung her legs over the edge of her bed and stood up, feeling the cool wooden floor beneath her feet. She padded over to her window and looked out, taking in the sight of the sun rising over the treetops. It was a beautiful morning, full of promise and possibility.

Adra always loved the morning mist that rose from the forest. The way it curled around her bare feet, the smell of damp earth and the soft chill it left on her skin. It was one of the small things in life that she found truly beautiful. She savored it, knowing it would be gone by midday.

As she turned away from the window, she noticed her mother standing in the doorway, watching her with a gentle smile.

"Good morning, little bird," her mother said, using the pet name she had given her when she was a child.

"Good morning, Mama," Adra replied, feeling a surge of warmth in her chest. "Did you sleep well?"

"I did, thank you," her mother said, stepping into the room. "And you?"

"I slept very well," Adra said, smiling up at her. "I dreamed about flying again."

Her mother chuckled softly. "One day, my love, you will fly. I have no doubt about that."

Adra beamed with pride at her mother's words. She had always known that she was different, that there was something special about her. Her mother had always encouraged her, telling her that she was destined for great things.

As they made their way to the kitchen for breakfast, Adra chatted excitedly about her dreams of flying, of soaring over the treetops and feeling the wind in her hair. Her mother listened patiently, a fond smile on her lips.

But as they approached the kitchen, they heard a commotion outside. Shouts and cries, the sound of clashing metal.

Adra's mother's face grew pale with fear. "Stay here, Adra," she said, her voice shaking. "Don't move."

But Adra was already moving. She ran to the window and looked out, her heart pounding in her chest.

What she saw would haunt her for the rest of her life.

The village was under attack. Warriors in black armor had descended upon them, their swords flashing in the morning light. Buildings were on fire, the sound of screams and sobs filling the air.

Adra felt a surge of fear and anger rise up within her. This was her home, her family. How dare they attack them like this?

She turned to her mother, who was now at her side. "We have to do something," she said, her voice firm. "We have to fight back."

But her mother's eyes were filled with tears. "No, little bird," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We have to run. We have to run to the forest and hide."

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Adra's heart raced as she saw the fear in her mother's eyes. Her grip on her hand tightened when they began to run towards the forest. As they were getting closer, the sound of footsteps behind them made it clear that they were being followed. Suddenly, an arrow whizzed past them, missing them by a hair's breadth, and lodged itself into a tree trunk.

Adra turned around to see where the arrow had come from, and her heart sank as she saw a group of armored soldiers charging towards them. Her mother's eyes widened in fear as she saw the approaching army, and she urged Adra to run faster.

But it was too late. As they reached the edge of the forest, an arrow pierced through her mother's back, and she fell to the ground. Adra turned back to help her, but she could see the life slipping away from her eyes. Her mother's voice was barely above a whisper as she begged Adra to keep running and hide in the forest.

Adra hesitated for a moment, but she knew that she had to obey her mother's wishes. She tore her hand away from her grip and ran into the forest as fast as she could, with tears streaming down her face. She could hear the soldiers getting closer, their footsteps thudding against the forest floor. She knew that she had to find a place to hide, and fast.

As she ran deeper into the forest, she could hear the sounds of battle and screams of her fellow villagers echoing in the distance. She didn't know what was happening, but she knew that she was all alone now. She could hear her mother's voice echoing in her mind, urging her to keep going and survive.

Adra stumbled through the underbrush, tripping over roots and branches, but she didn't stop. She kept running until she found a small cave tucked away in a corner of the forest. She crawled inside and huddled in the darkness, her heart pounding with fear and grief.

She was alone, scared, and lost. But she knew that she had to be strong. She had to survive. And so, with the memory of her mother's love and her own determination to live and avenged what happened that day, Adra closed her eyes and waited for the night to come.

Adra woke up alone in the forest, her body sore and her stomach empty. She tried to recall how she had gotten there but her mind was a blur. All she could remember was the chaos and destruction of her village. She had been running for hours until she found herself deep in the woods, far away from the attackers.

Her first priority was to find food and water. Adra remembered the survival skills her mother had taught her and began to look for edible plants and fruits. It was a slow process, as she had to be careful not to consume anything poisonous. She found some berries and nuts but they did little to ease her hunger.

As the days passed, Adra's situation grew more dire. She had no shelter and had to sleep under the stars, exposed to the elements. She suffered through bouts of hunger and dehydration, and her body grew weaker with each passing day. She longed for the safety and comfort of her home, but knew that it was no longer an option.

Adra crept slowly through the forest, her stomach rumbling with hunger. She had been searching for food for hours, but every time she thought she had spotted something edible, it either turned out to be poisonous or scurried away before she could catch it.

Just as she was about to give up hope, she spotted a small, plump rabbit hopping along a game trail. Adra's heart leaped with excitement. This was her chance to finally get some real sustenance.

She moved slowly, carefully inching her way closer to the rabbit, making sure not to make any sudden movements that might scare it off. She was so close now, she could almost reach out and grab it.

But just as she reached out to snatch the rabbit, it darted away, its quick movements sending it scurrying into the underbrush. Adra cursed softly under her breath. She had come so close, but once again, her hunger would go unsatisfied.

Frustrated and tired, she collapsed onto the ground, her head in her hands. She had no idea how much longer she could keep this up. The forest was a harsh and unforgiving place, and Adra was beginning to wonder if she would ever make it out alive.

She was on the brink of giving up when she heard a soft rustling in the leaves. It was a gentle breeze, carrying with it the scent of pine and the sound of rustling leaves. She couldn't help but smile as she felt a wave of comfort wash over her. It was as if the wind was telling her that everything was going to be alright.

Adra closed her eyes and took a deep breath, focusing all of her energy on the sensation of the wind. She extended her hand, and to her surprise, a small gust of wind swirled around her palm. It was weak, barely a whisper, but it was enough to make her heart race with excitement. For the first time in days, Adra felt a glimmer of hope.