ELLA

It was time to train, and Lyla was nowhere to be found. This was the first time she had ever been late for anything we had scheduled.

I was a little worried but decided to chalk it up to something keeping her behind schedule. So, I settled on the grass to read a book.

I had found the clearing in the woods where she told me to meet her. I could see why she had chosen this place. It was quiet, detached from the town, and had an air of serenity unlike other parts of the woods.

On my own, I would have never found somewhere like this. If...