Chapter 61: A Morning Walk

Dawn crept over the Whispering Woods like a shy creature, tentative rays piercing the canopy in slender spears of light. Elara's breath misted in the chill as she traced the path to her glade, each footfall a silent word in the forest's ear. The glade welcomed her with open arms, the ancient trees standing sentinel to her solace.

She paused, letting the serenity seep into her bones. Sunlight dappled the ground, painting mosaics on the mossy floor. Birds warbled their morning hymn, and somewhere, a brook murmured secrets to the stones. This was her retreat, where thoughts unfurled like ferns in the understory.

Elara closed her eyes momentarily, seeking the pulse of the woods—the subtle thrum that spoke of life in its purest essence. The air tasted of dew and the promise of a day yet written. She exhaled, grounding herself in the here, the now.