"True strength isn't about domination; it's about unity."
The first rays of dawn crept through the crumbling rooftops of the abandoned village, painting the broken walls in hues of gold and orange. Evanna stretched under the tree she'd slept beneath, Hopper nestled on her lap, and Glow snoring softly by her feet.
"Day two," she muttered, rubbing her eyes. "Let's hope it's less terrifying than day one."
The low growl of a beast nearby reminded her she wasn't out of danger yet.
The village felt oddly alive as she wandered through it that morning. The birds chirped louder, the wind rustled the trees more playfully, and even the broken buildings seemed less foreboding. Evanna nibbled on a piece of fruit, her thoughts drifting to the encounter from the previous night.
"You really are something," she said to Glow, who padded beside her, tail wagging.
As they rounded a corner, she stopped in her tracks. The black cat-like beast from the night before crouched at the edge of the clearing, its glowing yellow eyes fixed on her.
"Oh, you again," she said, cautiously stepping closer.
The beast didn't move, its gaze unblinking.
Evanna crouched down, keeping her movements slow. "Alright, big guy. Let's make a deal. You don't eat me, and I won't…" She glanced at the knife on her belt. "Well, I won't do much, but I'll try."
The beast let out a soft rumble, more curious than threatening. Glow barked twice, stepping forward confidently. To Evanna's amazement, the two creatures sniffed each other before Glow wagged his tail and the larger beast relaxed.
"You're kidding," she said, blinking. "Glow, did you just…?"
The fox-beast barked again, as if to say, Of course I did.
Something stirred inside Evanna then—a strange pull, like a thread connecting her to the creatures before her. Without thinking, she reached out her hand, not to touch the black beast but to focus on it.
"Stay," she whispered, the word coming out with an unnatural resonance.
The beast froze, its muscles tense but obedient.
"What… was that?" Evanna murmured, staring at her hand.
The black beast let out a low growl, not of anger but acknowledgment. It stepped forward and bowed its massive head slightly, as though submitting to her.
The morning passed in a blur. The strange connection she felt with the beasts only grew stronger. A pair of bird-like creatures with shimmering feathers appeared near the fruit trees, and Evanna found herself guiding them to build nests in the village's broken roofs.
By midday, she had managed to tame three more creatures: the black beast, the shimmering birds, and a small, burrowing animal that reminded her of a mole. Together, they began to repair the village—dragging fallen branches, clearing rubble, and even reinforcing one of the larger huts.
Evanna watched in awe as the creatures worked together, following her soft commands.
"This is insane," she said to Glow, who was busy digging a hole for some reason only he understood.
Glow barked and wagged his tail, clearly pleased with himself.
"Okay, fine," she said, laughing. "You're in charge of… landscaping."
By late afternoon, the village looked almost livable. The roof of one hut had been patched with leaves and vines, and a small clearing had been tidied up for a fire pit.
Evanna stood in the middle of the village, hands on her hips. "Not bad for a day's work, huh?"
Hopper wiggled his nose in agreement, perched on her shoulder like a fluffy sentinel.
She glanced down at her clothes, grimacing at the dirt and sweat clinging to her skin. "Alright, team, I think I've earned a bath."
A shallow stream ran through the edge of the forest, its crystal-clear water reflecting the golden light of the setting sun. Evanna knelt by the water, letting its coolness run over her hands before splashing her face.
"This is heaven," she muttered, wading into the stream and letting the water rush over her legs.
Glow barked from the shore, wagging his tail but refusing to come closer.
"What? Don't like water?" she teased.
The fox-beast huffed and sat down, clearly uninterested in getting wet.
Evanna peeled off her outer layer of clothes, leaving herself in her slip as she sank deeper into the water. The coolness against her skin washed away the grime and tension of the past two days.
For a moment, she closed her eyes, letting herself forget about the beasts, the castle, and Kael.
But as the stream's gentle current tugged at her, she felt a strange warmth pulse against her chest. Her eyes snapped open, and her hand instinctively reached for the pendant hidden beneath her slip.
"What in the…?"
The pendant had begun to glow faintly, its surface warm against her skin. She pulled it out, staring as a tiny star-like light flickered within its center.
Evanna frowned. "Why are you doing that?"
The pendant didn't answer, of course, but the light continued to pulse, brighter with each passing second.
"Alright, that's enough weirdness for one day," she muttered, tucking the pendant back under her slip and stepping out of the water.
Night fell quickly, the forest coming alive with its usual symphony of sounds. Evanna sat by the fire pit, surrounded by Glow, Hopper, and the black beast, whom she had started calling Shadow.
She toyed with the pendant absentmindedly, its faint warmth a strange comfort.
"This thing is important," she said softly, looking at Glow. "I just don't know why yet."
The fox-beast tilted his head, as if considering her words.
Hopper wiggled his nose in agreement, settling into her lap.
Evanna leaned back, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. "Okay, day two is done. One more day to go, and I—"
Before she could finish her thought, a voice echoed from the shadows.
"Glad to have you back, our queen."
Evanna shot up, her heart pounding. "Who's there?"