Run: 2026-02-20-01KHYA2HAXGFPJGR2D49GWTGT4

The air smelled like damp earth and something sweet, like overripe fruit left too long in the sun. Aurora Carter stepped forward, her boots sinking slightly into the soft, golden moss beneath her feet. The pendant at her throat pulsed faintly, warm against her skin. She didn’t dare look at it too closely—she’d felt its heat before, a warning, a promise. Beside her, Nyx moved like a shadow given form, their silhouette stretching and contracting as if testing the boundaries of the space. The Shade’s violet eyes flickered with something unreadable, but their voice was a whisper carried on the wind. *"This is not Earth."* Aurora exhaled slowly, her breath curling in the unnaturally still air. "No. It’s not." The grove opened before them, a hidden clearing where time moved differently. The ancient oaks loomed like sentinels, their bark etched with runes that seemed to shift when she stared too long. Wildflowers bloomed in clusters, their petals shimmering with an inner light, pulsing in time with something unseen. The air hummed, a low vibration that thrummed in her bones. Isolde stood at the center of the clearing, her silver hair catching the dappled light like spun moonlight. She didn’t turn as they approached, her pale lavender eyes fixed on the horizon. "You’ve come," she said, her voice like the rustle of leaves in a forgotten wind. Aurora swallowed. "You knew we would." Isolde finally turned, her lips curling into something that wasn’t quite a smile. "The Veil thins at the solstice. The world leans closer." She gestured vaguely toward the standing stones marking the boundary. "Cross them, and you step beyond what you know." Nyx stepped forward, their form flickering like a candle flame in a draft. "And what do we find beyond?" Isolde’s gaze flicked to them, sharp as a blade. "The truth. Or the lie of it. There is no difference here." Aurora’s fingers twitched toward the dagger at her belt—the Fae-forged blade, cold and heavy against her thigh. She hadn’t drawn it yet, but the weight of it reassured her. "We’re looking for something specific." Isolde tilted her head, her silver hair catching the light. "And what is that, child of two worlds?" Aurora hesitated. "A way back." The seer’s laughter was soft, almost sad. "Oh, there are many ways back. But none of them are easy." She stepped closer, her bare feet leaving no imprint in the moss. "The Veil is thin, but it is not broken. And where it is thin, the hungry things gather." Nyx’s form rippled, their voice a whisper. *"Hungry things?"* Isolde’s eyes darkened, her voice dropping to a murmur. "The ones who feed on doubt. On fear. On the cracks between what is and what could be." She reached out, her fingers brushing the nearest standing stone. The wood groaned, splitting slightly, as if alive. "This place is a wound in the world. And wounds draw attention." Aurora’s pulse quickened. "Then we move quickly." Isolde’s gaze snapped to her, sharp as a blade. "Quickly is how you get caught. Slowly is how you survive." She turned, her silver hair shimmering like liquid silver in the dim light. "Follow me." The first stone loomed ahead, its surface carved with symbols that seemed to shift when she looked at them. The air grew heavier, the humming in her bones turning into a low, throbbing pulse. The wildflowers here were brighter, their petals glowing faintly, as if lit from within. The scent of overripe fruit thickened, sweet and cloying, like honey left too long in the sun. Aurora’s stomach twisted. "Is that—?" Isolde didn’t answer. She simply stepped forward, her bare feet pressing into the moss without leaving a mark. The stone groaned as she passed, the symbols on its surface flickering like embers in a dying fire. Nyx moved beside her, their form flickering like smoke caught in a draft. *"What is this place?"* Aurora’s voice was tight. "A pocket. Between worlds." Isolde’s laughter was soft, almost amused. "No. This is the edge. The place where the Veil is weakest. Where the hungry things wait." The next stone was taller, its surface carved with images of feasts and excess. The air here was warmer, thick with the scent of roasting meat and spiced wine. The wildflowers here were darker, their petals blackened at the edges, as if scorched by some unseen fire. Aurora’s breath hitched. "Dymas." Isolde’s eyes gleamed. "The realm of gluttony. Where the hungry things feast." Nyx’s form flickered, their voice a whisper. *"And what do they feed on?"* Isolde’s voice was a murmur. "On the cracks between worlds. On the fear of those who cross. On the doubt of those who wander too far." Aurora’s fingers tightened around the hilt of the dagger. "Then we don’t linger." Isolde’s gaze was steady. "No. We don’t." The third stone was the largest, its surface carved with images of feasting and revelry. The air here was thick with the scent of spiced wine and roasting meat, the heat pressing down on them like a physical weight. The wildflowers here were blackened, their petals curling in on themselves, as if dying. Aurora’s stomach twisted. "This isn’t right." Isolde’s voice was calm, almost amused. "No. It’s not." Nyx’s form flickered, their voice a whisper. *"What is happening?"* Isolde’s gaze was steady. "The Veil is thinning. The hungry things are feeding." Aurora’s breath came faster. "Then we move. Now." Isolde nodded, her silver hair shimmering like liquid silver in the dim light. "Follow me." The stone groaned as she passed, the symbols on its surface flickering like embers in a dying fire. The air grew heavier, the heat pressing down on them like a physical weight. The scent of spiced wine and roasting meat thickened, cloying and overwhelming. Aurora’s fingers tightened around the hilt of the dagger. "Isolde—" The seer didn’t turn. "Trust the path." The next stone was ahead, its surface carved with images of feasting and revelry. The air here was thick with the scent of spiced wine and roasting meat, the heat pressing down on them like a physical weight. The wildflowers here were blackened, their petals curling in on themselves, as if dying. Aurora’s breath came faster. "Isolde—" The seer turned, her pale lavender eyes gleaming. "The hungry things are near." Nyx’s form flickered, their voice a whisper. *"What do we do?"* Isolde’s voice was calm, almost amused. "We run." Aurora didn’t hesitate. She stepped forward, her boots sinking into the soft, golden moss. The stone groaned as she passed, the symbols on its surface flickering like embers in a dying fire. The air grew heavier, the heat pressing down on them like a physical weight. The scent of spiced wine and roasting meat thickened, cloying and overwhelming. The wildflowers here were blackened, their petals curling in on themselves, as if dying. Aurora’s fingers tightened around the hilt of the dagger. "Isolde—" The seer didn’t turn. "Trust the path." The next stone was ahead, its surface carved with images of feasting and revelry. The air here was thick with the scent of spiced wine and roasting meat, the heat pressing down on them like a physical weight. The wildflowers here were blackened, their petals curling in on themselves, as if dying. Aurora’s breath came faster. "Isolde—" The seer turned, her pale lavender eyes gleaming. "The hungry things are near." Nyx’s form flickered, their voice a whisper. *"What do we do?"* Isolde’s voice was calm, almost amused. "We fight." Aurora didn’t hesitate. She drew the dagger, the cold metal biting into her palm. The blade hummed in her grip, the faint glow of moonsilver casting eerie shadows around them. The first shadow moved.