Dancing in Memories

Elara's boots kissed the earth at the edge of the Whispering Woods, her gaze tracing the veiny roots that snaked across the forest floor. The mid-afternoon sun hung low in the sky, its rays streaking through the towering canopy, playing with light and shadow. A sharp breath escaped her as the cool and promising air embraced her, bringing a symphony of rustling leaves and hushed murmurs from the unseen.

With each shiver that danced down her spine, Elara's fingers clenched the fabric of her cloak, drawing it closer as if to shield herself from the secrets the woods dared to share. She unfurled the map once more, eyes scanning across the parchment. It crackled a delicate whisper against the chorus of the forest.