In just a few months, everything had changed.
Thane's days used to follow a strict rhythm: breakfast, studies, music practice, then lunch. After that, he would sit in on his father's meetings , he was now past eighteen and considered an adult so he had to learn the ropes. Sword practice followed. Then dinner, reading, and sleep.
Order. Routine. That was his life.
But that was before the rebel army rose.
Now, it was gunfire. Raids. Hiding. Fighting.
And now they were running.
"Hurry, Thane!" his mother urged, her voice sharp with fear.
"What about Father?" Thane asked, stumbling over roots as they fled through the darkened corridors.
"He'll be right behind us," she said, not meeting his eyes.
They reached a concealed door behind a tapestry in the cellar one Thane had only seen once before, years ago. His mother pushed it open, revealing a narrow tunnel carved from stone and earth, lit only by their dim lantern.
They moved quickly through the passage, their footsteps muffled by the soft dirt beneath them. When they emerged, they were just outside the forest, the manor already distant behind trees.
She stopped.
"Thane," she whispered, turning to him. "Listen to me. I need you to hide here, beneath the leaves. Stay down. Don't move until you can't hear anything, do you understand?"
Thane's breath caught. "But.."
"No. Don't ever come back." Her voice trembled. She cupped his face in both hands. "Always remember that I love you. No matter what happens."
Then she pressed a kiss to his forehead, tucked him into the thick underbrush, and ran.
Thane didn't call after her.
He just listened to the wind, to the crack of distant gunfire and waited.
Thane lay in silence, his mind racing.
Had they made it? Was his father still alive? Would his mother come back for him?
He replayed her last words over and over in his head: Don't move until you can't hear anything. Don't come back. And always remember that I love you.
She had said it so clearly, so firmly. Like she knew it was goodbye.
Gunfire had been constant before relentless and sharp, echoing in his chest like a second heartbeat but now it was gone. The silence that replaced it was thick, unnatural. For a moment, Thane feared he had gone deaf. Until he heard a sound.
It was birds. Their song was unfamiliar, high pitched and lilting, but unmistakably birdsong.
He sat up slowly, blinking at the world around him.
Everything was strange.
The trees were impossibly tall, stretching high above like cathedral spires. Their leaves shimmered in shades of green tinged with a blue shimmer. The sky overhead was not blue, but a soft, dreamlike teal. Insects flitted between the trees, their bodies glowing with faint, golden light. Even the air smelled different.
Did she know this would happen? he wondered. Was this where she meant for me to go?
He stood carefully, brushing dirt from his trousers, and took a long look around. He didn't know where he was or what this place was but he was alive. That was enough for now.
Thane decided to study his surroundings first. He needed to understand this world before making his next move.
He walked for a decent amount of time before he came across a strange animal. It looked like a stag, but not like any he had ever seen.
This one was luminous its form gently glowing with a soft, ethereal blue light. Its antlers were prominent and intricately branched, shimmering faintly in the air. The creature's body had a wispy quality, almost like smoke held in shape, yet solid enough to move with grace through the underbrush.
Thane froze. He didn't approach. He had no idea what kind of danger this creature might pose, and his only weapon was a small dagger at his side. He stood silently, watching.
The stag paused, ears flicking in his direction. Then, with unhurried steps, it turned and wandered deeper into the forest, disappearing behind the towering trees.
Thane decided not to dwell on the stag and pressed forward, letting the strangeness of the encounter fade into the back of his mind. Before long, the soft sound of moving water reached his ears. He followed the sound, pushing through thick brush and tall, glistening ferns until he came upon a stream.
It was unlike any stream he'd ever seen wide and slow-moving, as clear as glass. Smooth, colorful stones lined the bottom, and the banks were dotted with strange, twisting flowers that pulsed gently with light.
He crouched down beside it. The water looked clean too clean, perhapsb but his throat was dry and his head was starting to ache. He dipped a hand in. It was cool and crisp. Without further hesitation, he cupped his hands and drank deeply.
As he wiped his mouth, voices drifted toward him close.
Startled, Thane slipped behind a nearby tree, crouching low.
"Do you think we can find anything to eat around here?" a boy asked, emerging from the trees nearby. He had a head of messy, auburn curls and striking green eyes. His frame was lean, almost wiry, his clothes slightly ragged but neatly kept.
"We'll probably find something near the water," replied a girl. Her voice was steady, practical. Her dark hair was pulled into a tidy braid, and her hazel eyes scanned the area as she stepped carefully toward the stream. Her skin was a deep olive tone, and she carried another girl on her back a smaller one with a mop of tangled blonde curls. The younger girl appeared to be asleep, her leg bound with a strip of cloth.
"We've been walking for hours," the boy complained, kicking at a stone near the water's edge. "If there was something here, we would've found it by now."
He turned toward the trees. "We should check deeper in the forest."
"And risk getting lost?" the girl shot back, her tone edged with exhaustion. "No. We stay near the stream. It's the only thing here that makes sense."
The boy huffed but didn't argue further.
It was then that Thane stepped forward from his hiding place, his voice clear and formal: "Hello. My name is Thane Albrecht, and I am in need of your assistance."