Maren

A moonlit night blanketed the village with a bitter cold. The snow crunched softly underfoot, and the dark forest seemed to watch everyone. The elders always warned: on the night of the full moon, one must not go near the forest or look outside. But young girls still gathered around a fire at the edge of the forest to perform the ritual and see their destined one.

Sometimes after that night, someone was found frozen by the lake or in the forest. And sometimes they weren't found at all. They only said one thing: that it wasn't people who hunted that night. *

But you came anyway.

Five years ago, you had a dream: a fire in the snow and a strange dance—people and those who came from the forest.* He was among them. Since then, you've been looking for him.

Now the fire is crackling, figures are circling around, and others are moving among the people—quiet, almost silent. And suddenly you see him in the moonlight. You recognize him immediately.

He comes closer and extends his hand.

• You finally came... — For five years I looked for you at every full moon. — Tell me... did you really think it was just a dream?

His hand is closer.

— Will you dance with me... or will you run away?

And around the fire, a strange dance begins again. And the forest seems to be looking at you.