Bc_brooke_belle_159 ⚡

Leaving her walking stick behind to show she meant no harm, Brooke stepped out onto the black rock. The creature's head snapped over instantly. A low, thunderous growl rolled across the clearing, shaking the very stones beneath Brooke's boots. The white star eyes locked onto her.

Brooke gripped the handle of her walking stick until her knuckles turned white. They had been tracking the creature for three days, ever since it had slipped into their village under the cover of a storm and stolen the Sunstone. Without the ancient artifact, their village would freeze before the winter solstice, which was now only a week away. The weight of their entire community's survival rested on their shoulders. bc_brooke_belle_159

The morning sun cut through the heavy gray fog of the Whispering Woods, illuminating a narrow dirt path. Brooke adjusted the straps of her heavy leather backpack and looked over at her sister. Belle was kneeling by a patch of moss, inspecting a set of strange, glowing blue footprints that pressed deep into the earth. Leaving her walking stick behind to show she

Brooke stopped, raising her hands to show they were empty except for the small wooden vial. "I know you are hurting," she said, her voice clear and steady in the silent clearing. "And I know you need the light to stay alive. But our people need it too. Let us help you heal your wound, and then we can share the warmth." The white star eyes locked onto her