The cave was quiet, but the air was tense. Lyra, Eryan, and Seraphina were making a plan. They knew they couldn't stay in the cave for long. Soon, the King's soldiers would be close.
"We need to leave now," Lyra said quietly, looking at the cave entrance. "We'll take the hidden paths in the forest to stay safe."
Seraphina stood up, her mind still full of the prophecy. She couldn't believe that her bond with Eryan was part of something so big. But there was no time to think. They had to leave.
Eryan packed a small bag. He was ready, but something didn't feel right. "Are you sure this path is safe?" he asked.
Lyra nodded. "It's the safest way, but we need to move fast."
They left the cave, and the night air felt cold. Seraphina heard the sounds of the forest, but something didn't feel right. They were being watched.
As they walked deeper into the forest, the trees grew thicker, and it got darker.
Then, Seraphina heard it. A sound. She stopped.
"What was that?" she whispered.
Lyra held up her hand to signal them to stop. "Be quiet."
The sound came again. Hoofbeats. The soldiers were close.
"We need to hide," Eryan said. He pulled Seraphina and Lyra behind a large tree.
They stayed still, trying not to make a sound. The soldiers were very close now. Seraphina could feel her heart beating fast.
Then, suddenly, she felt something strange. It was like a power inside her was waking up. Her fingers tingled, and the air around her seemed to change.
"What's happening?" Seraphina whispered.
Lyra looked at her, surprised. "It's your power. You've unlocked it."
Seraphina was confused. "Power? What power?"
Lyra stepped closer. "You can control the elements, Seraphina. You can use nature to protect yourself. It's part of the prophecy."
Seraphina's heart raced. Could she really control nature? She had always felt something different inside her, but she didn't know it was a power like this.
The soldiers were almost right on top of them. They could hear their voices now.
Without thinking, Seraphina raised her hand. The ground beneath her shook, and the wind suddenly picked up. It was strong and loud, moving through the trees.
The soldiers stopped. They looked around, trying to figure out what was happening.
Lyra stared at Seraphina. "You're controlling the wind! That's your power!"
Eryan looked at her in surprise. "You did that?"
Seraphina nodded, still shocked. "I didn't mean to."
Lyra smiled. "That's just the beginning. You have more power, but we need to keep moving before the soldiers figure out what just happened."
They quickly ran deeper into the forest. Seraphina was still trying to understand what had just happened. She always knew she was different, but this was something she never expected.