Chapter 3: The First Step

Kena trudged along the riverbank, her wet boots making squishy sounds with every step she took.

Her jacket dripped water all over the place, and her hair stuck to her face like glue.

She felt cold deep in her bones and mad at everything around her, but she kept walking anyway.

Hope stayed a few steps ahead of her, his iron mask glinting in the odd purple light that filled the sky.

He didn't talk much, and that annoyed her even more than the soggy clothes she wore.

"How far is this town?" she asked, kicking a small rock into the river with a flick of her foot.

It splashed loud when it hit the water, scaring off a strange fish with wings that fluttered away fast.

"Not far," Hope said in his usual calm way. His voice was steady, like nothing ever bothered him at all. "We'll get there soon."

"Soon," Kena muttered under her breath, her tone sharp. "Great. That's super helpful."

She crossed her arms tight over her chest and glared at his back as he walked on.

She didn't like him leading the way one bit, but she didn't know where else to go in this weird place.

The photo tucked in her pocket felt heavy against her leg, like it was counting down the time she had left to figure things out.

The forest around them was full of strange noises that never stopped.

Birds chirped in funny little patterns, not like any birds she'd heard before. Leaves rustled high in the trees even though there was no wind to move them.

Once, Kena saw a flower snap shut on a bug that flew too close, like it was eating it alive. She jumped back quick, her heart thumping hard in her chest.

"This place is creepy," she said, her voice shaky.

"It's Velmoria," Hope replied simply, like that one word explained it all. He didn't even turn his head to look at her.

Kena rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt. "Yeah, I got that part. Thanks, Captain Obvious."

She wanted to yell at him, to let out all the frustration bubbling inside her, but she bit her tongue instead.

He'd saved her from drowning in the river earlier, after all. She owed him something for that, even if she hated admitting it to herself.

They walked on and on for what felt like hours and hours. The river twisted and turned beside them, winding through the land like a snake.

The trees grew thicker as they went, their branches tangling together overhead.

The purple sky slowly faded into a deep, dark blue, and little lights started popping up all around them—flowers glowing bright like tiny lanterns in the dusk.

It was pretty, in a strange sort of way, but Kena wasn't in the mood to enjoy anything right then.

Her stomach growled loud, a deep rumble that echoed in the quiet. Hope stopped walking and turned to face her.

"Hungry?" he asked, his voice still calm as ever.

"What do you think?" Kena snapped back, her patience gone. "I haven't eaten since that stupid candy bar, and that was way before I got cursed with this mess."

She waved a hand at herself, at the wet clothes and the mud caked on her boots.

Hope reached into his long cloak and pulled out a small pouch made of rough cloth. He tossed it to her without a word.

"Eat this," he said.

Kena caught the pouch with both hands and untied the string to peek inside.

There were little round things that looked like berries, but they were a bright, sunny yellow.

She held the pouch up and sniffed them carefully. They smelled sweet, like honey fresh from a beehive.

"Are these safe?" she asked, squinting at him with suspicion.

"Yes," Hope said simply. "They grow here. They'll fill you up."

Kena stared at the berries for a moment, unsure. Then she shrugged and popped one into her mouth.

It burst with flavor as she bit down—sweet and tangy all at once, better than any candy she'd ever tasted back home.

She grabbed a handful and ate them fast, feeling her mood lift just a tiny bit.

"Okay, these are good," she said, wiping her sticky hands on her damp jacket. "Thanks."

Hope nodded once and turned to keep walking. Kena followed behind him, chewing the last berry slowly.

She felt a little better with something in her stomach, but she still didn't trust him completely.

Why was he helping her like this? What was he hiding under that iron mask? She pushed the questions out of her mind for now.

She had bigger problems to deal with—like finding the guy in the photo before it was too late.

The riverbank turned muddy under her feet, and Kena's boots sank deep with every step she took. She groaned loud, the sound full of annoyance.

"This is disgusting," she said, lifting one foot to see the thick mud clinging to her boot. "Can't we walk somewhere else? Anywhere else?"

"No," Hope said firmly. "The river's the safest path. The forest is worse."

"Worse how?" Kena asked, her curiosity spiking.

But before he could answer, her foot caught on a twisted root sticking out of the ground. She tripped hard and fell face-first into the mud with a wet splat.

It splashed everywhere—on her hands, her jacket, even her face. She screamed, loud and angry, her voice cutting through the air.

"Are you kidding me?" Kena asked.

Hope turned back and knelt down beside her in the muck.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly.

His voice stayed very calm, but she thought she saw his eyes crinkle a tiny bit behind the mask, like he might be quietly laughing at her.

"Do I look okay?" Kena shouted loudly, her temper burning hot.

She sat up slowly, wiping thick mud from her face with the back of her dirty hand. The mud smelled like wet dirt mixed with something sour and gross, and it made her nose wrinkle in disgust.

"This is the worst day ever!" Kena groaned loudly. "Hands down, no question!"

Hope stood up tall and held out a helping hand to her. "Come on, Kena," he said gently. "We're so close to getting there."

Kena stared hard at his open hand for a long moment, then took it slowly, not happy about it. He lifted her up easily, as if she was light as a feather.

She brushed off as much sticky mud as she could, shaking it from her fingers, and trudged behind him with loud, heavy steps.

"You better be right about this," she grumbled quietly under her breath, her voice soft and full of grumpiness.

They strolled a bit further, the soft, wet mud squishing loudly under their shoes. Suddenly, the tall trees split apart, like a big curtain pulling open.

Kena froze in place, her jaw falling wide with surprise. Right in front of them lay a small town, but it looked nothing like any town she had ever laid eyes on before.

The houses were made from rough, gray stone and old, weathered wood, with roofs that shone softly, just like the bright flowers glowing in the dark forest.

Lanterns hung in the air all by themselves, floating gently, bobbing up and down as if they were alive and breathing.

People walked through the narrow streets—some had wings growing from their backs, flapping lightly, others had long tails swaying behind them.

The place was noisy, colorful, and so very odd.

"Is that it?" Kena asked, pointing a muddy finger at the town.

"Yes," Hope said, his tone sure. "That's Elmwick. We'll find answers there."

Kena stared at the town, her heart beating fast in her chest.

It was her very first true step toward finding the man in the picture, the one she had been searching for all this time.

She had no idea what would happen next, no clue what she would encounter in that bright, loud place.

But deep in her heart, she felt a tiny spark of something—not hope, not quite yet, but perhaps a strong will to keep moving forward.

"Okay," she said, her voice calm and steady for the first time in many hours. "Let's go."

She took a slow step forward, her heavy boots sinking deep into the thick, sticky mud one final time.

Hope stayed close, following right behind her, his worn mask gleaming faintly as it caught the bright light from the small town just ahead.

The calm river sparkled brightly beside them, its clear water shining with reflections of the glowing rooftops and soft, floating lanterns.

It flowed steadily, stretching out like a quiet guide, leading them straight toward the strange, unknown place.

Kena squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and kept walking, whether she felt ready or not.

The little town of Elmwick sat waiting for them, filled with hidden secrets she was absolutely determined to find out, no matter how hard it might be.