I found you

Out of the darkness of the trees, a figure emerged. Ethan's mana bolt hovered, ready to strike, but it was his own wolf. The thing was the wolf was not by itself. Sitting atop the wolf was a small hooded figure.

Ethan blinked. His mana bolt crackled for a moment before fizzling out as he got a proper look at the unexpected sight. His wolf padded forward, looking completely unharmed, but what truly caught his attention was the small hooded figure perched atop its back.

A little girl.

She couldn't have been older than ten, her frame small and fragile beneath the oversized cloak draped over her shoulders. Her face was partially obscured by the hood, but Ethan could see the faint glint of wide, unblinking eyes watching him. She clung tightly to the wolf's fur, her tiny hands gripping it with an almost desperate strength.

Lia gasped. "Who… is she?"