As they stood at the edge of the forest, the trees seemed to loom over us, casting long, ominous shadows in the fading light. The wind rustled through the leaves, creating an eerie whisper that sent shivers down my spine. "I don't know if this is a good idea," Rose said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We should have told the elders and come prepared." "But we can't turn back now," Sophia argued. "We have to know the truth." I took a deep breath and looked at my friends. We had always been a team, and I knew we could face whatever lay ahead together. "You're right," I said, my voice firm. "We have to do this. I held out my hand, and Rose and Sophia placed theirs on top of mine. "Together, we can do everything," we said in unison. Suddenly, a faint light appeared in the distance. We exchanged nervous glances and moved towards it, our hearts racing with anticipation. What we found was a clearing, and in the center of it stood an ancient cottage, surrounded by a garden filled with strange and exotic plants. Smoke drifted from the chimney, and the door creaked open as if inviting us in. To find out what happens ,dive into the story