Bc_brooke_belle_159 Today

Brooke stopped, raising her hands to show they were empty except for the small wooden vial. "I know you are hurting," she said, her voice clear and steady in the silent clearing. "And I know you need the light to stay alive. But our people need it too. Let us help you heal your wound, and then we can share the warmth."

Brooke gripped the handle of her walking stick until her knuckles turned white. They had been tracking the creature for three days, ever since it had slipped into their village under the cover of a storm and stolen the Sunstone. Without the ancient artifact, their village would freeze before the winter solstice, which was now only a week away. The weight of their entire community's survival rested on their shoulders. bc_brooke_belle_159

The creature looked at Brooke and Belle for a long moment. Then, it carefully placed the Sunstone on the ground between them. The artifact immediately began to glow brighter, its warm, golden light flooding the clearing and chasing away the bitter cold. The beast bowed its head to them in silent gratitude before turning and melting back into the shadows of the deep forest. Brooke stopped, raising her hands to show they

Belle lowered her bow slightly, her brow furrowing. "But if it keeps holding it, the stone will go dark. Our people will die." But our people need it too

Leaving her walking stick behind to show she meant no harm, Brooke stepped out onto the black rock. The creature's head snapped over instantly. A low, thunderous growl rolled across the clearing, shaking the very stones beneath Brooke's boots. The white star eyes locked onto her.

The creature tilted its massive head, the growl subsiding into a low rumble. It looked down at the fading Sunstone in its hands, then back at the small human brave enough to stand before it. Slowly, with a grace that defied its massive size, the beast lowered itself to the ground and extended its injured side toward Brooke.

"We don't have to fight it to save our village," Brooke said, a plan forming in her mind. She reached into her own pack and pulled out a small wooden vial containing a glowing green paste made from crushed healing herbs and forest sap. "We help it heal, and then we ask for the stone back."