Once Upon a Choice

Previously

…Without a second thought, she was there, kneeling, her hands gentle as she brushed the grit from his tear-streaked face. She offered him a small, dried berry she had saved, a meager offering, but one met with a grateful smile. It was a small act, a fleeting moment of comfort, but it was a reminder of what she was fighting for. The faces of the villagers, etched with worry and hope, were etched into her heart. The drought’s grip was tightening, but Elara’s resolve had just begun to bloom. The map, hidden in her satchel, felt like a burning ember against her side, a silent promise of a perilous journey, a choice yet to be made, and a hope that flickered against the encroaching darkness.