Chapter63: The Friends in the Village

*Roxy* The trees thin just as the sky begins to blush with morning light. I blink against the golden haze spilling through the forest, and then suddenly, it’s there. Moon River Village. Nestled between two hills, it’s the most peaceful, beautiful place I’ve ever seen. Neat rows of cottages with moss-covered roofs and flower boxes line the winding paths. Smoke puffs lazily from the stone chimneys, and a gentle stream winds through the heart of it all, sparkling in the dawn. Everything about it feels right, like I’ve been waiting for this place my whole life. I slow without realizing it, taking in the scene. It’s nothing like the cold stone tower I came from. The village feels warm and alive. Quilts hang from open windows, chickens peck along a garden path, and somewhere nearby, someone is singing. The three wolves who escorted us, sleek and graceful, each of them beautiful in their own wild way, pad a few steps ahead of me and Leo. Their fur glows gold in the morning sun as they come to