(Lyra's POV)
Darkness. That's all I knew at first. A heavy, oppressive darkness that seemed to press in on me from all sides. But slowly, ever so slowly, I became aware of other sensations. The rhythmic jostling of movement. The rush of wind against my skin. Voices, low and urgent, speaking words I couldn't quite make out.
"...faster... they could be right behind us..."
"...she's stirring... should we stop?"
"...not safe... keep going..."
The voices faded in and out, like waves lapping at the shore of my consciousness. I tried to open my eyes, to make sense of what was happening, but my body wouldn't obey. I was trapped in this strange twilight state, aware but unable to fully wake.
Suddenly, a flash of memory burst behind my closed eyelids. A moonlit clearing. Two figures approaching from opposite sides. One with piercing blue eyes, the other with wild green ones. Both reaching out to me, calling my name.
