Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMMECTQ6HXATH8ZEA0FX83S

Aurora Carter stood at the edge of the Fae Grove, the ancient oak standing stones looming like silent sentinels in the moonlight. The air was thick with the scent of wildflowers, their vibrant colors muted in the silvery glow. She adjusted the strap of her messenger bag, the Heartstone Pendant tucked safely inside, and took a deep breath. The Grove had always been a place of mystery, a hidden clearing that existed in a pocket between Earth and the Fae realm. Tonight, it felt different. The usual hum of magic was tinged with something darker, something that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Rory had come here at Eva's insistence. Her childhood friend had been cryptic, as always, but the urgency in her voice had been unmistakable. "You need to find the Heartstone," Eva had said. "It will guide you." Rory had found the pendant in an old jewelry box, its deep crimson gemstone pulsing faintly with warmth. Now, as she stepped into the Grove, she felt the pendant's warmth increase, a steady thrum against her chest. The Grove was eerily quiet. No rustle of leaves, no chirping of crickets. Just the sound of her own footsteps crunching on the soft earth. She glanced around, her bright blue eyes scanning the shadows. The standing stones cast long, twisted shapes that seemed to move when she wasn't looking directly at them. She shook her head, trying to dispel the unease that had settled in her stomach. "Get a grip, Rory," she muttered to herself. "It's just a grove. You've been here before." But had she? The Grove seemed different tonight, as if it had shifted in some subtle, unsettling way. The wildflowers, usually a riot of color, seemed to lean towards her, their petals whispering secrets she couldn't quite hear. She quickened her pace, heading towards the center of the clearing where a large, flat stone lay. It was said to be a portal, a place where the veil between worlds was thinnest. As she approached the stone, she heard a faint rustling behind her. She spun around, her heart pounding. Nothing. Just the standing stones and the wildflowers, swaying gently in the breeze. She let out a shaky breath and turned back to the stone. The pendant was warm against her skin, its faint inner glow casting a soft light. She reached out to touch the stone, her fingers brushing its cool surface. The moment she made contact, the air around her seemed to thrum with energy. The pendant's glow intensified, casting eerie shadows that danced around her. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on the task at hand. She needed to find the portal, to understand why Eva had sent her here. A sudden, sharp crack echoed through the Grove. Rory's eyes snapped open, her heart leaping into her throat. She turned, scanning the darkness. The standing stones seemed to loom closer, their twisted shapes more menacing. She took a step back, her foot catching on a root. She stumbled, her hand shooting out to steady herself against the stone. "Who's there?" she called, her voice trembling. "Show yourself!" Silence. Then, a low, guttural growl. Rory's blood ran cold. She had heard stories of creatures that lurked in the Fae-touched places, beings that were neither human nor Fae. She had always dismissed them as myths, tales to scare children. But now, standing alone in the Grove, she wasn't so sure. She reached into her bag, her fingers closing around the hilt of the small knife she always carried. It wasn't much, but it made her feel a little safer. She held it out in front of her, her eyes darting around the clearing. The growl came again, closer this time. She could see movement at the edge of her vision, shadows that seemed to slither and writhe. "Stay back," she warned, her voice steadier than she felt. "I'm armed." The shadows paused, then began to move again, circling her. Rory's breath came in short, sharp gasps. She could feel the weight of the pendant against her chest, its warmth a small comfort. She had to get out of here, had to find the portal and leave this place. She took a step towards the stone, then another. The shadows followed, their movements growing more frantic. She could hear whispers now, low and insistent, like the rustling of leaves in a storm. She tried to block them out, to focus on the stone. She reached out, her fingers brushing its surface once more. The pendant flared with heat, a searing pain that made her cry out. She stumbled back, clutching her chest. The whispers grew louder, more urgent. She could see shapes now, twisted forms that seemed to melt and reform in the darkness. They were closing in, their eyes glowing with an unnatural light. Rory's mind raced. She had to think, had to find a way out. She remembered Eva's words: "The Heartstone will guide you." She looked down at the pendant, its crimson glow pulsing in time with her racing heart. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, focusing on the warmth, the rhythm. The whispers grew louder, the shadows pressing in. She could feel their cold breath on her skin, their claws reaching for her. She held the pendant tightly, willing it to show her the way. The warmth spread, a comforting heat that seemed to push back the darkness. She opened her eyes, and the world shifted. The shadows recoiled, the whispers fading to a distant murmur. The standing stones seemed to glow with an inner light, their twisted shapes straightening. The wildflowers bloomed in vibrant colors, their petals reaching towards her. Rory took a step forward, then another. The pendant's glow guided her, a beacon in the darkness. She could see the portal now, a shimmering doorway in the center of the stone. She reached out, her fingers brushing the surface. The air around her hummed with energy, the pendant's warmth a steady thrum. She stepped through the portal, the world dissolving into a swirl of light and color. The last thing she heard was the faint, echoing growl of the creatures she had left behind. Then, there was nothing but silence. Rory stumbled out of the portal, her feet hitting solid ground. She looked around, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She was back in Richmond Park, the familiar sights and sounds a welcome relief. She sank to her knees, the pendant still warm against her chest. She had made it. She was safe. For now.