Leina walked carefully through the jungle, her bare feet sinking slightly into the damp soil. She had lived here all her life, so she knew every river, every hidden path, and every tree that could hide danger. Today, like most days, she was gathering herbs and checking on the secret trails she often used — small duties that kept her connected to the jungle she loved.
But something felt different. The air was heavy, smelling of wet leaves and flowers, and a strange whisper floated on the wind. It was not like any animal she had ever heard. Soft, urgent, almost human… yet it carried a power that made her heart pound.
Leina paused, scanning the shadows. Her life had always been quiet, predictable, but now her instincts screamed that something extraordinary was near.
She followed the sound until she came to a clearing. And then she saw him.
He lay on the ground, drenched by the leftover rain, his silver wings spread and torn, as if some great storm had thrown him down. His hair clung to his face, wet and dark, and his eyes… his eyes were unlike anything she had ever seen. Bright, burning with pain, yet glowing with a strange light that made her heart stop.
For a moment, Leina froze. She had heard stories from old travelers about strange beings that sometimes visited the jungle. But she had never believed them. Now, staring at this man with wings like a fallen star, she could not deny the truth.
The man moved slightly and opened his eyes. He looked straight at her.
"Leina," he whispered, his voice hoarse but commanding.
Leina's breath caught. "How… How do you know my name?" she asked, her voice trembling.
He did not answer immediately. His hand reached up slowly, trembling, as if asking for help. Leina hesitated for a second — a thousand thoughts racing through her mind. But something in him drew her closer. Something pure, powerful, and dangerous all at once.
When her fingers touched his hand, the jungle seemed to change. Flowers at her feet bloomed instantly, glowing softly even under the cloudy sky. The wind stirred gently, carrying whispers that she could almost understand. Even the rain seemed to slow, falling in delicate drops like a blessing rather than a storm.
Leina's heart pounded. She had never seen anything like this. Her whole life, she had believed the jungle was alive, but now she realized there were deeper powers she could not understand — powers older than her own life, older than the trees themselves.
The man's eyes held hers, burning with questions and secrets. "You… you were meant to find me," he said, struggling to sit up. "The time has come…"
Leina blinked, unsure if she heard him right. "Me? Why me? I don't understand."
He tried to speak more, but pain forced him to stop. His wings twitched as if sensing something dangerous nearby. And indeed, when Leina looked into the shadows at the edge of the clearing, she noticed movement — something large, something that made her stomach tighten with fear.
Instinctively, she grabbed a sturdy branch from the ground and held it tightly. She had learned long ago that the jungle had dangers she could not always see. But this… this was different. The eyes in the shadows were not animal eyes. They glowed faintly, red and cruel, watching her and the fallen man with a hunger she could not explain.
The man reached for her hand again. "You must… protect me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Before… they come…"
Before she could ask who "they" were, a low growl rumbled through the jungle. The shadows shifted, and two large creatures stepped forward. They looked like wolves, but bigger, stronger, and darker than any she had ever seen. Their eyes burned red, and their teeth gleamed even in the faint light.
Leina's heart raced. She had faced wild beasts before, but never like this. Something about these creatures felt unnatural — as if they were born from anger, from darkness itself. She tightened her grip on the branch, ready to fight.
The man tried to rise, but the pain in his wings was too great. "Quickly… trust yourself…" he said, his hand brushing hers. A shock ran through her, warm and strong, as if his energy flowed into her. She gasped, startled by the sensation, but she also felt courage she had never known before.
The creatures lunged. Leina swung the branch with all her strength. The first beast snarled and dodged, but the second one tripped on a root, giving her a moment to act. She kicked it hard, and it stumbled backward with a growl.
Then something incredible happened. The man's eyes flared with light. A soft golden glow spread from his chest, surrounding him and her in a protective warmth. The creatures froze, snarling in confusion, unable to step closer. The jungle around them seemed to hum, as if acknowledging his power.
Leina stepped closer to him, awe and fear mixing together. "Who… what are you?" she whispered.
He smiled faintly, though pain still lingered in his eyes. "I am… no longer fully of your world," he said. "But I am here… because of you."
Before Leina could ask more, a voice echoed through the clearing — a whisper like the wind, soft but commanding: "The child of earth and sky has been awakened. Protect… or lose everything."
Leina's mind spun. She did not understand. A man with silver wings, creatures of darkness, glowing energy — and now some mysterious warning. Everything she had known about the jungle, about her life, seemed to vanish in an instant.
Her thoughts raced. Could this be real? Was she dreaming? Her hands shook as she looked at the man, at the glowing flowers, at the shadows lurking at the edge of the clearing. Yet amidst all her fear, a spark of excitement ignited. She had always wondered if life had something more for her, something beyond the rivers and trees she had known. And now… maybe she had found it.
Yet despite the fear, despite the confusion, she felt a strange pull in her heart. She knew — somehow, she knew — that meeting this fallen being would change her life forever.
The man reached for her again. "Leina… we have little time. You must trust me, trust yourself. They will return. And when they do… everything will begin."
Leina nodded, gripping the branch tighter. Her eyes flicked to the shadows where the creatures had disappeared, their growls fading. She felt a strange determination rising inside her.
Whatever this being was, whatever power he had, she would not run. Not now. Not ever.
The jungle waited. And so did destiny.