Prologue
None of us knew the reason why the ships never returned, but after the first year of our arrival, it became clear we were alone in a new continent. Or, should I say, not alone, as we very soon found out.
We called the new land Aurora, an ancient word that meant Dawn, reflecting the hopes we carried. Our original home was destroyed by war and plague. As a last resort, ships set to the uncharted seas in search of a place to start anew.
A little more than a hundred settlers stayed behind, while others on the ships started the journey back, carrying the good news, while we waited.
For some reason, they never returned.
Aurora was beautiful and strange. The seasons didn't work the same way. It was covered by a huge, ancient rainforest. An unsettling mist came without warning sometimes, carrying whispers in the night. We felt observed. We heard songs in the distance. We saw lights dancing in the dark.
We were not alone.
