Azura's fingers moved mechanically, weaving the moonwhisper reeds into intricate patterns as her mind swirled with the elder's words. The village of El'goreth seemed to hold its breath, the twilight sky deepening to a rich, velvet hue.
Lyra nudged her gently. "Azura, you're done... again."
Azura blinked, focusing on the perfectly woven basket in her hands. "Sorry, I—"
"No apologies needed," Lyra said with a smile. "You've got stars in your eyes today."
Azura laughed, a soft, self-conscious sound, and handed the basket to their mother, Kaelin, who was arranging offerings for the night's ritual. The air was thick with the scent of blooming firelilies, and the soft chanting of the village's spiritual ones began to weave through the mist.
As dusk deepened, Azura slipped away, drawn to the edge of the forest. The trees whispered secrets to each other, their branches swaying in a language only the wind understood. She felt him near, the boy from her dreams, his presence a gentle tug on her heartstrings.
"Azura," a voice whispered, like the rustle of leaves.
She turned, her breath catching. He stood before her, his eyes like stars on a moonless night, his hair like the shadows of the forest. "I've found you," he said, his voice low, his words sending shivers down her spine.
"I... I've seen you," Azura stammered, her heart racing.
He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "In dreams, we've danced among the stars. I've waited for you, Azura."
As he spoke, the forest around them began to blur, like the edges of a dream. Azura felt herself falling into his eyes, into the unknown...
Suddenly, a dark shape swooped from the shadows, a winged creature with eyes like burning embers. The boy's face twisted in a snarl, and he pushed Azura behind him. "Run!"
The creature's claws raked the air, and Azura screamed...