Moonbound Hearts – Episode 1: Whispers of the Forest
The scent of pine and damp earth filled Amara's lungs as she stepped onto the narrow trail that led into Elmwood Forest. The sky had just begun to darken, casting a silver hue over the village. The woods loomed ahead, vast and quiet almost too quiet.
Amara tightened her grip on the strap of her leather satchel, its familiar weight steadying her. Her camera nestled inside, ready to capture the hidden corners of the forest. As a photographer, she'd explored landscapes across the region, but Elmwood was different. It held memories ghosts of the past she couldn't forget.
Twenty-two years old and recently returned to her late grandmother's cottage, Amara was still trying to adjust to the silence of village life. Her parents had disappeared here nearly two decades ago, vanishing without a trace during a nature retreat. She was barely three when it happened, too young to remember them clearly. Only fragments remained her mother's laugh, the warmth of her father's hand, and the bedtime stories of glowing eyes and guardians of the forest.
No one in Elmwood liked to talk about that night. They spoke in hushed tones when she passed, offering polite smiles that never reached their eyes. But Amara had never stopped wondering what really happened.
The forest had called to her ever since she returned. Not in words, but in whispers rustling leaves with no wind, the feeling of being watched, dreams of silver eyes glowing in the dark.
As she moved deeper into the woods, the sunlight faded behind thick canopies. A sudden chill passed through her, and she paused, rubbing her arms. The trees seemed to lean in closer, their branches curling like fingers. A strange energy hung in the air, like the moment before a storm.
Snap!
Amara spun around, heart pounding. "Hello?" she called, forcing confidence into her voice.
No response.
She laughed nervously to herself. "Get it together, Amara. You've walked these paths before." But even as she said it, her fingers trembled slightly.
Then she saw itj ust beyond the curve of the trail. A large, dark shape moved between the trees. Her breath caught in her throat. A wolf.
Massive, with sleek fur and piercing silver eyes that locked onto hers.
She froze.
Wolves weren't common here. Most said they were just legends old tales told to scare children. But this was real. The creature stood tall and unafraid, watching her with unnerving intensity.
Amara should have run, screamed, anything but she didn't. Something in its gaze held her in place. Not fear. Recognition.
Moments passed like lifetimes before the wolf stepped back, vanishing into the shadows.
Amara rushed forward, drawn by instinct more than logic. She reached the spot where it had stood but it was gone. Only silence and the faint scent of musk and pine remained.
Then, a voice.
Soft, deep, and entirely human.
"You shouldn't be here."
She turned sharply. A man stood a few feet away, half-hidden by trees. He was tall, with tousled dark hair, and most striking eyes the exact shade of silver as the wolf's.
"Who... who are you?" she asked, breathless.
He didn't answer, only stared at her, as if weighing a decision he'd already made.
"You're not safe here, Amara."
Her heart skipped a beat. "How do you know my name?"
The man stepped closer. "There's more to this forest than you know. And more to your past than anyone has told you."
The forest rustled behind him, whispering secrets she wasn't ready to hear.