Spellbound [wlw]

4

Years passed, and as Amari grew, so too did her sense of adventure. No longer the timid child that Gabriella and Astrid had first found themselves caring for, Amari had blossomed into a young woman, strong and curious. Her mothers had taught her how to hunt and forage, and she often accompanied them on their trips into the forest, her senses sharpened by experience.

As autumn descended upon the forest once again, the canopy of trees transforming into a myriad of colors, Amari stood at the edge of the clearing, gazing towards the horizon.

The breeze rustled through the leaves, filling the air with their sweet, earthy scent. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Amari realized it was time to return to her mothers. But as she turned, her gaze caught on something in the distance: a faint smudge of smoke rising from beyond the trees.

Curiosity tugged at her. "Momma G and Astrid must have made a mistake," she thought. "They said there was no civilization nearby." With a determined step, she set off in the direction of the smoke.

As she ventured further into the forest, the smell of smoke grew stronger, mingling with the familiar scents of moss and bark. The underbrush thickened, and branches scratched at her arms and legs, but she pressed on, her curiosity burning brighter with each step.

At last, the trees parted, and Amari emerged into a small village. Wood and stone houses lined the streets, with colorful lanterns hanging from posts. People bustled about, some carrying baskets of goods, others chatting with neighbors.

Amari froze in her tracks. She had never seen anything like this before.

The people in the village seemed unaware of her presence, but Amari knew she couldn't stay for long. She needed to tell her mothers about this discovery and make sense of it herself. With a deep breath, she turned to retrace her steps back to the clearing, only to realize that the forest had closed in behind her, obscuring the way she came.

She cursed under her breath. How was she going to get back to her mothers now? With no choice but to venture deeper into the village, she made her way down the cobblestone streets, keeping to the shadows, trying to stay hidden.

Most of the people she passed by always gave her questionable looks but she ignored them all. Amari had indeed inherited her father's height and sturdy build, standing at a formidable 5'10, with a wiry strength that belied her youth. Her hair, which had once been a mass of brown curls, had been carefully trimmed to shoulder length by her mothers and now swung sideways as she walked. As she crept through the village, her golden eyes darted from side to side, taking in every detail.

At 17, Amari was no longer the child she had once been, but she still had much to learn about the world beyond the forest.

As she neared the village square, the scent of roasting meats and fresh baked bread wafted towards her, and her stomach grumbled. It had been hours since her last meal, and the tantalizing aromas were hard to resist. But she knew better than to draw attention to herself.

Instead, she skirted around the edge of the square, heading towards what looked like a general store. She peeked into the window, and her eyes fell upon the shelves lined with all manner of goods. Bottles of spices, bolts of colorful fabric, and even bottles of ink and quills.

Amari's curiosity burned brighter, but she knew she couldn't risk going inside. Instead, she crept around the side of the store to find a back entrance. As she rounded the corner, she caught sight of a small group of people chatting by a well, and she froze. Had they seen her?

The group laughed and continued their conversation, unaware of her presence. With a sigh of relief, she pressed on, finding the back door of the store unlocked.