The trees at the edge of Luma Hollow stood like giants, whispering secrets to one another in the wind. No one went past them after sunset. But tonight, Mela and Eli did.
Mela held a small lantern, though it barely lit the path. Eli held his notebook close to his chest, jotting down everything he noticed. The air smelled like moss and stardust.
"This is where the Starwhisps come from," Mela whispered. "I just know it."
"But why would they stop?" Eli asked. "Something had to scare them off…"
Suddenly, a soft giggle echoed through the trees.
Mela froze. "Did you hear that?"
Eli nodded slowly. "We're not alone."
Then, from behind a tree, a flicker of golden light appeared. It floated gently like a Starwhisp, but bigger, and shaped like… a butterfly?
The light fluttered toward them, then zipped off the path, deeper into the woods.
"It wants us to follow," Mela said.
"I think it's a trap," Eli said. "But I also think we're going to follow it anyway."
And so they did.
Through thorns that whispered their names, past glowing mushrooms that lit the way, they followed the butterfly-light until they reached a clearing with an ancient stone table in the middle.
Etched into the stone was a glowing map. It shimmered with magic.
Mela reached out, and as her fingers touched the map… it lit up brighter.
Only she could activate it.
Eli gasped. "Mela… I think you're connected to the Starwhisps."
And from the shadows behind the trees, something… or someone… was watching.