Elira walked beside the silver wolf, her small feet stepping carefully through the soft grass. The forest was quiet, but it didn't feel scary. The trees swayed gently, and the leaves whispered to one another like they were sharing secrets.
The wolf's fur shimmered under the moonlight. Elira wanted to reach out and touch it, but she kept her hands close to her chest. She still wasn't sure if this was a dream… or something real.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"To the Forest of Whispers," the wolf replied. "It's a place where old magic still lives. A place where you can begin to remember who you really are."
Elira looked around. The trees here were taller, older, and their bark had strange swirls like painted letters. The air smelled sweet, like flowers and rain.
"Will the forest talk to me?" she whispered.
"It already is," said the wolf. "Can you hear it?"
Elira closed her eyes. She heard soft rustling, like voices made of wind. One voice sounded like a lullaby her mother used to hum… or maybe she had only dreamed it.
"I think I hear it," she said.
The wolf nodded. "Good. You are beginning to listen with your heart."
They walked until they reached a clearing. In the middle was a small pond, and beside the pond stood a tree with silver leaves. The tree sparkled, just like the wolf's fur.
"This is the Heart Tree," the wolf said gently. "Sit with me, Elira. There is something I must show you."
Elira sat on the soft moss. The wolf curled beside her, warm and calm.
"Close your eyes," the wolf said.
Elira did. And in the darkness behind her eyelids, she saw something. A house with wooden steps… a woman laughing… and then—a sudden flash of fire. Smoke. Someone calling her name.
"Mama?" she whispered.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
The vision faded, and she opened her eyes. The forest was quiet again.
"I saw her," Elira said. "My mama. She was happy."
The wolf lowered its head. "Yes. She loved you very much. She tried to protect you when the fire came."
"Why did the fire come?" Elira asked, her voice trembling.
"That is a question for another night," the wolf said. "The past is heavy, and your heart is still growing strong."
Elira wiped her tears and looked up at the silver leaves.
"I want to be strong," she said. "Even if I'm scared."
The wolf smiled. "You already are. You came into the forest. You listened. And you remembered a little piece of who you are."
Elira looked at her scar again. This time, she didn't feel sad. She felt… brave.
"I want to remember more," she said. "Even the scary parts."
"And you will," said the wolf. "But for now, let the forest sing to you. Let your heart rest."
Elira lay down beside the Heart Tree, her eyes growing heavy. The leaves above her danced and whispered lullabies. The silver wolf stayed close, watching over her.
And as Elira drifted to sleep, the moon peeked through the branches and wrapped her in light.