AstronautFlute
Rowan has never been good at wanting small things.
In the dusty village of Greymill, her endless curiosity has only ever made her strange, isolated, alone. But beyond the forest lies the Gilded with golden gates, impossible wealth, a world she was never meant to see.
When Rowan slips inside and is mistaken for one of the chosen children, she doesn't correct anyone. She's told there's a prize. She's told there are rules. She's told no one leaves until it's over.
She stays anyway.
A standalone fantasy about curiosity, belonging, and what happens when wanting more finally costs everything.