"Authority is not taken—it is given, freely, by those who believe in you."
Evanna's heart raced as her eyes darted around the shadowy trees surrounding her makeshift camp. The strange voice from the night before echoed in her mind: "Glad to have you back, our queen." But no matter how hard she searched the darkness, there was no one there.
Glow growled low, standing protectively by her side, while Shadow sniffed the air, his glowing yellow eyes scanning for any threat.
"Whoever you are, stay away," Evanna muttered, clutching the warm pendant against her chest. But the forest gave no reply—only the soft rustle of leaves in the night wind.
Eventually, exhaustion won over her fear, and she drifted into a restless sleep.
The third day began with a strange stillness in the air. As the first light of dawn filtered through the trees, Evanna woke to an unusual sight.
All the beasts she had tamed over the past two days—Glow, Shadow, the shimmering birds, even the burrowing mole-like creatures—were gathered around her camp. They sat silently, heads bowed low as if in reverence.
Evanna sat up, blinking in disbelief. "What… what are you all doing?"
Glow barked softly and nudged her hand, while Hopper hopped onto her lap, looking unusually dignified.
"Okay," she said, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "This is weird, even for you guys."
Shadow stepped forward, his massive form towering over her. He lowered his head until his nose nearly touched the ground, a gesture of submission.
Evanna frowned. "What is going on with all of you?"
Something inside her stirred—a strange warmth, like the feeling she'd had when she first tamed them. She stood, the pendant against her chest glowing faintly once more.
"Alright, listen up," she said, trying to sound confident despite her confusion. "I don't know why you're all acting like this, but… if you're here, we're going to make the most of it. Today, you're not working. You're playing."
The animals lifted their heads, ears perking up as if they understood her words.
Evanna grinned. "You heard me. Go have fun! Run, jump, chase each other—whatever it is you guys do for fun."
At her command, the beasts sprang to life. The birds soared into the sky, chirping happily as they weaved between the treetops. Glow barked and darted after Shadow, the two racing each other around the camp. Even the mole-like creatures joined in, digging playful trenches and popping up in unexpected places.
Evanna laughed, watching the scene unfold. It was a rare moment of peace, and for the first time since she'd been left in the Wildlands, she felt genuinely happy.
By midday, the abandoned village had transformed into a lively haven. The beasts played together in harmony, their movements guided by some invisible rhythm that Evanna could almost feel.
She spent the day walking through the forest, occasionally finding herself surrounded by animals she hadn't tamed yet. They didn't attack or flee—instead, they simply watched her with curious eyes, as if sensing something different about her.
At one point, she came across a shallow stream, where Glow and Shadow were splashing each other like unruly children. Hopper perched on her shoulder, twitching his nose in disapproval of their antics.
"This has to be the weirdest thing I've ever seen," she said, shaking her head with a laugh.
Glow barked and wagged his tail, clearly unbothered by her judgment.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Evanna sat in the center of the village, surrounded by her new companions.
"This isn't so bad," she said, leaning back against a tree. "I could get used to this."
Glow settled beside her, resting his head on her lap, while Hopper dozed off on her shoulder. Shadow curled up nearby, his watchful eyes scanning the perimeter of the camp.
Evanna fingered the pendant around her neck, the faint glow within it pulsing steadily.
"What are you, really?" she whispered, staring at the small star-like light inside. "Why do you feel… familiar?"
The pendant didn't answer, of course, but its warmth was comforting nonetheless.
Night fell quickly, and Evanna was just beginning to relax when the sound of slow, deliberate clapping echoed through the clearing.
She froze, her heart pounding as the firelight flickered around her. The animals all turned toward the sound, their playful energy shifting into tense alertness.
"Well done," a deep, mocking voice said from the shadows. "I must admit, you're full of surprises, Evanna."