The sun hung low in the sky as Princess Aylania and Prince Sabian arrived at the dry riverbed toward the edge of the forest.
The wind barely moved.
The stones in the river glinted under the fading light, but there was no sound of water - only stillness.
Aylania knelt beside a patch of cracked earth. Her fingers touched the dust where water should have flowed. "There's no sign of what caused it,"
she murmured.
"No broken rocks. No fallen trees. Just… gone."
Sabian narrowed his eyes and looked around.
He stepped quietly toward a patch of brambles, where a pair of ears peeked out.
A small rabbit hopped forward, nose twitching.
"What happened here?"
Sabian asked gently, using the soft voice he'd learned from the forest animals.
The rabbit looked around nervously.
"The beavers at the river's source… they've changed. They built a dam - not for shelter, but something else. Huge. Blocking all the water."
Sabian leaned in.
"Can't you talk to them?"
"We tried,"
the rabbit said.
"But their eyes glowed red. They didn't listen. They got angry. Like something's controlling them…"
He and Aylania exchanged a glance.
"Let's go back to the farm for now,"
he said.
"Something strange is coming from the rainforest."
Back at the edge of the village fields, Aylania knelt beside the wilted crops. She placed her small hands on the soil and closed her eyes. A soft green light glowed from her fingertips.
"Grow, little ones,"
she whispered kindly.
Next to her, Sabian stayed alert.
Birds circled overhead, calling in short, sharp bursts. Rabbits crouched low in the grass, listening.
Magic flowed from Aylania's hands into the ground.
Slowly, the plants lifted their heads. Wilted leaves turned green. Tired vegetables straightened as if they'd just drunk from a deep spring.
"It's working!"
a farmer called out.
Sabian grinned.
"You're amazing, Ayla!"
But Aylania wobbled as she stood. Her face had turned pale. She swayed like a flower in the wind.
"I'm just… a little tired,"
she said softly.
Sabian rushed to her side.
"You used too much magic. You need to rest."
She nodded and leaned against him.
That's when it started.
A loud buzzing sound filled the air - sharp, fast, and growing louder by the second. The sky dimmed. A swarm of huge bugs with shiny wings and snapping jaws burst through the trees, their shadows rippling over the fields.
"Ayla, behind me!"
Sabian shouted.
The bugs dove down and landed across the crops. They chomped and chewed, undoing all Aylania's hard work in moments.
Sabian whistled to the sky. A black crow glided down, landing near him.
"What are they?"
Sabian asked.
"They came from the rainforest,"
the crow cawed.
"Something old is stirring. Something strange."
Sabian stared into the distance, toward the misty edge of the rainforest.
"Just like the beavers,"
he muttered.
"It all leads back there."
He looked at Aylania. She sat on the ground, her head on her knees. Her breathing was slow and shallow.
"We need help,"
Sabian said softly.
"And we need answers."
Aylania lifted her head.
"So we go… to the rainforest?"
Sabian nodded.
"Yes. But only after you rest."
Aylania gave him a tired smile.
"Okay. But only if you promise we go together."
Sabian knelt beside her.
"Always."
The sun dipped behind the hills. Around them, villagers began to chase away the bugs with smoke and cloths. The farmers didn't blame Aylania - they thanked her.
Even a little healing had given them hope. Aylania rested her head on her brother's shoulder. Sabian stared toward the forest, wondering what waited for them beyond the trees.
The crops could wait one more day. For now, his sister needed care - just like the plants did. Because even brave heroes need time to rest