Echoes of the wild

Liora stood before the cracked mirror, her fingers trembling as she touched the spot on her wrist. For weeks, the strange sensation had been there, an itching warmth that never seemed to fade. The quiet hum of her thoughts whispered that something was wrong, but she couldn’t place it. The mark had appeared so suddenly, so silently, that for a moment, she had thought it was just a trick of the light. But the mark was real, undeniable.

The mirror reflected a pale girl with tousled brown hair and dark eyes, her face always hidden behind a curtain of uncertainty. Her gaze lingered on the symbol etched into her skin—an intricate pattern of swirling lines that looked like a wolf’s paw intertwined with curling tree roots. It had appeared during her birthday celebration, right after the clock struck midnight, and it was still burning faintly with a golden glow, as though it had just been branded into her skin.

“Mom?” Liora called, her voice barely above a whisper. She stepped back, glancing nervously over her shoulder at the door. Her mother’s footsteps could be heard faintly in the hallway, the soft click of heels echoing on the wooden floor.

The door creaked open. “What is it, sweetie?” Her mother’s face appeared around the corner, her expression soft and tired. But when she saw Liora’s wrist, her face froze.

Liora tried to smile, but the tension in the room was palpable. “I... I think something’s wrong. Look.” She held her wrist out, but her mother didn’t take it. Instead, her eyes locked onto the symbol, and the color drained from her face.

“Liora... no. It can’t be.” Her mother’s voice quivered with something close to fear.

Liora frowned, confused. “What do you mean? What’s going on?” She felt an overwhelming need to understand, but her mother seemed lost for words. “Mom?” she repeated, more urgently now.

Her mother stepped back, her hand reaching for the doorframe to steady herself. She swallowed hard. “You’ve been marked, Liora. You’ve been chosen.” Her voice was strained, almost hoarse, as if speaking the words caused her physical pain. “The Wild Heart has found you.”

“The Wild Heart?” Liora echoed, incredulous. “What are you talking about?” The words sounded like nonsense—like something from a fairytale or the old stories her grandmother used to tell her when she was a child. “Mom, you’re scaring me. What is this about?”

Her mother sighed deeply, stepping into the room. She closed the door behind her, lowering her voice as if to ensure no one else would hear. “It’s time you knew the truth,” she said softly. “The Wild Heart isn’t just a legend. It’s real, Liora. And it has chosen you.”

Liora blinked, struggling to grasp the enormity of her mother’s words. She had grown up hearing the stories—the ones about the enchanted forest at the edge of the kingdom, where strange creatures roamed and time seemed to slow. She had dismissed them as nothing more than myths, tales spun by old people with too much time on their hands. But now, standing before her, her mother’s words held an unmistakable weight.

“You’ve heard the stories of the Wild Heart, haven’t you?” Her mother’s tone was softer now, a hint of sadness lacing her voice. “It’s the guardian of the forest, the creature that keeps the balance between the kingdom and the land. Every century, it chooses a companion. A human. Someone with a bond to the forest.” She paused, swallowing. “And now it has chosen you.”

Liora felt a knot form in her stomach. “But why me? I don’t understand.” Her fingers instinctively curled around the mark on her wrist, the heat of it pulsing beneath her touch. It felt like an invitation, but also a warning. “What does this mean?”

Her mother sighed, her eyes distant. “It means you’re the next one, Liora. The next to take on the role of the Wild Heart’s companion.” She turned away, walking slowly to the window and staring out at the kingdom in the distance. “It’s a responsibility that changes everything. You won’t be able to stay here. You’ll need to go to the forest, where the Wild Heart lives.”

Liora’s heart raced, a whirlwind of questions and disbelief clouding her mind. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She was a normal girl—quiet, reserved, someone who had always stayed in the shadows. Why would the Wild Heart choose her? There had to be some mistake.

Her mother turned back to her, her face pale and weary. “I wanted to tell you before the mark appeared, but I couldn’t. I thought I could protect you, but it’s too late now. You’re the chosen one.”

“But I’m not ready for this,” Liora protested, panic rising in her chest. “I don’t even know what this is! What’s the Wild Heart? What do I have to do?”

Her mother’s expression softened, but there was no denying the gravity in her eyes. “The Wild Heart is a protector. A creature born of ancient magic. It’s been guarding the enchanted forest for centuries, ensuring that the balance between nature and man is maintained. It can sense those with a connection to the land. And you... you are the one it has chosen.”

Liora’s eyes flickered to the symbol again. She reached out, touching it gently, but the mark burned beneath her fingers, sending a jolt of warmth through her arm. She flinched, pulling back, her heart pounding faster now. “I don’t know how to do this. I’m not... I’m not special.”

Her mother shook her head. “You are, Liora. You are more special than you know.” She paused, then spoke more quietly. “You are the Wild Heart’s companion. Your bond with the forest is stronger than any of us realized.”

“Then what do I do now?” Liora asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “What happens next?”

Her mother looked at her with sorrowful eyes. “You have to go. The forest is calling for you. You must leave before the kingdom realizes what’s happening. They’ll come for you soon, trying to control the magic, and you can’t let them. You’re the key to keeping the balance. You must protect the Wild Heart... or everything will be lost.”

Liora’s thoughts were spinning, and she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. How could she be the chosen one? She had no idea what that even meant. All she wanted was to be ordinary, to finish her studies and live a quiet life. But now, with the mark burning on her wrist, she knew she couldn’t turn back.

Her mother placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s time, Liora. You have to go to the forest. The Wild Heart is waiting.”

Liora’s chest tightened as her mother’s words sank in. The Wild Heart was waiting. The weight of it was unbearable, and she felt like she was drowning in uncertainty. She looked down at the mark again, still glowing faintly, like an ember that refused to fade. How could she be the one chosen? She had never been brave, never been anything special. She wasn’t even sure she believed in magic, much less in guardians and enchanted forests.

“But... I don’t understand,” Liora stammered, her voice breaking as she struggled to process it all. “Why now? Why me? I’ve never even—” She stopped herself, biting back the lump in her throat. Her words felt small, inadequate in the face of what her mother was asking of her.

Her mother’s face softened, and she walked over to Liora, taking her hand. “The mark was meant to appear when you were ready, when the time was right. The Wild Heart chooses only those with a deep connection to the land. You might not realize it, but you’ve always been linked to the forest. Ever since you were little, you’ve had a strange sense of belonging when you’re near it. Haven’t you?”

Liora frowned, recalling the times she’d wandered near the edge of the forest, the way the trees always seemed to whisper to her, as if beckoning her closer. She had always brushed it off as mere imagination, but now, it felt like the pieces were slowly coming together. But none of it made sense. How could a connection to the land be enough to make her the chosen one of the Wild Heart?

“I don’t know,” Liora admitted quietly. “I don’t know what’s real anymore.” Her voice cracked as the weight of her mother’s expectations settled on her chest. “What do I do? Where do I even begin?”

Her mother’s eyes grew distant, as if she were remembering something from the past. She took a deep breath before answering. “You begin by going to the forest. The Wild Heart will guide you, but you must listen. It’s not just a creature, Liora. It’s a force, a spirit that exists to protect the balance between nature and the kingdom. And it will need you to protect it, too.”

“Protect it from what?” Liora asked, her brow furrowed. “I don’t even know what I’m protecting it from. What’s going on? What’s happening in the kingdom?” Her voice grew more frantic, the questions tumbling out faster than she could process them.

Her mother hesitated, glancing towards the door as if making sure they weren’t being overheard. “There are those in the kingdom who would exploit the forest’s magic. They want to control it, bend it to their will. The king... he has been seeking to conquer the forest for years. He knows the Wild Heart is the key to the land’s power, and if he can harness it, he’ll control everything.” Her mother’s voice dropped to a whisper. “That’s why you must go. You can’t let the kingdom get to the Wild Heart before you do. If they do, everything will be lost. The balance will be broken, and the kingdom will fall into chaos.”

Liora’s pulse quickened. The king? Exploiting the forest? She had heard rumors over the years, whispers about the ruler’s greed, his obsession with power, but she had never taken them seriously. Now, her mother’s words painted a darker picture—one that suggested much more than simple ambition. The fate of the kingdom itself hung in the balance, and somehow, it was up to her to stop it.

“But I’m not ready!” Liora protested, her hands shaking. “How am I supposed to stop anything? I’m just a girl who’s never even left the city! I don’t know anything about magic, or... or guarding anything! I can’t do this. I—”

“You’re stronger than you know,” her mother interjected gently, taking her hands in her own. “The Wild Heart doesn’t choose weak hearts, Liora. It chose you because you have what it takes—courage, strength, and a deep bond to the land that no one else has. You may not see it now, but in time, you will understand.”

Liora’s throat tightened as she looked up at her mother, searching for some glimmer of reassurance, some sign that things would be okay. But there was none. Her mother’s eyes were filled with a sadness that was hard to read, a sadness that made Liora feel small and powerless. The enormity of the task ahead of her pressed down on her like a weight she could never lift. And yet, the mark on her wrist burned still, a constant reminder of the promise that had been made.

“How do I get to the forest?” Liora asked softly, her voice heavy with defeat.

Her mother’s eyes darkened, and she stepped back, glancing toward the window again. “You’ll have to leave tonight,” she said quietly. “The forest is waiting, and you can’t delay. The longer you wait, the more danger you’ll be in. The kingdom has spies, people who will try to find you once they realize what’s happening. They’ll come for you, Liora. You have to go now, before it’s too late.”

Liora’s heart raced as she turned toward the window, looking out at the moonlit kingdom. It seemed so ordinary from here—the cobblestone streets, the soft glow of lanterns, the quiet hum of life going on as usual. How could anything so dark and dangerous be hidden beneath this calm façade?

Her mother’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Take only what you need. Don’t trust anyone. The forest will help you, but you must be careful. And remember, Liora... you’re never alone. The Wild Heart will guide you.”

Liora felt a strange sense of calm wash over her. The weight of the situation hadn’t lifted, but somehow, in that moment, she understood something deeper. This was her path, her destiny. There was no going back now.

With a final, lingering glance at her mother, Liora took a deep breath and walked toward the door. Her heart was racing, but there was a new fire within her now. She wasn’t sure what awaited her, but she knew she couldn’t stay behind. She had a purpose to fulfill. And the forest... the Wild Heart... were waiting for her.