Lyra and her companions cautiously make their way through the mysterious and shadowy depths of the forest, their footsteps barely audible as they walk on the soft earth beneath their feet.

The only light source is Azure's coat glowing in the ethereal night. The trio moves in silence as if wary of waking the sleeping creatures of the forest.

"What book are we in?" Tikor whispers.

"I'm not sure; I didn't look this time," Lyra responds.

Azure stops in her tracks; the others look at her questionably. She sniffs the air, "Something is following us."

They stand motionless, surveying the forest for what has caught Azure's attention. Lyra sweeps her gaze across the undergrowth until it rests on a pair of large, green eyes. Her pulse quickens, and she nudges Tikor's shoulder.

"What is it," he stops speaking when he locks onto the eyes. "Oh my." Tikor stares at them, his jaw hanging open like it was meant to catch flies. Azure begins to growl deeply, and her stance changes, ready to attack.

The figure in the bushes begins to speak; her voice is deep but elegant. "Why do you travel into my woods, tiny creatures?"

"I can handle this," Tikor steps forward and bows. "Please forgive us, kind stranger; we are travelers on a great quest. We are in search of heroes to aid us in our journey."

The figure stands up; they can now see the massive body under the light creeping out from the tree's canopy. Even Azure steps back when she realizes the size of it.

"Oh my. Forgive us, a great one." Tikor stares up at the enormous figure in front of them, his eyes wide and jaw hanging.

Azure leaps before Lyra; her glow grows brighter, and a deep rumble comes from her throat.

Before them looms an awe-inspiring dragon, regal and feminine in form. Its scales shimmer with a dazzling silver hue, reflecting the ambient light in a mesmerizing display of greatness. Its eyes glow with a luminous shine that outshone even the darkest nights.

"Speak your names, for they may be your last words." The dragon growls.

Lyra puts her hand on Azure's coat, reassuring the wolf that it will be okay. Tikor watches in fear as Lyra steps forward toward the great dragon.

"Zopha, Protector of the Skies. We come seeking your aid. The balance between good and evil is upon us. Stories are being untold and changed to produce antagonistic consequences. I am Lyra; these are my companions, Azure and Tikor."

Zopha fixes a harsh gaze on Lyra and releases a breath, "Who do you think you are, tiny Lyra, to call me the Protector of the Skies as if you actually know me?"

Lyra explains to Zopha how the books work and how she has jumped through them to gather heroes to assist her with her quest. Zopha listens intently, keeping her thoughts hidden behind her majestically scaled face.

"I know you; I have been with you on many of your journeys, just beyond the pages of your book," Lyra adds.

After Lyra finishes telling her story, there is a moment of silence until Zopha finally speaks.

"I see. I can assist you, but there is one condition. You must prove your worth to me by demonstrating that you are deserving of my help. There is a cave to the east, just beyond this forest, which contains a magical artifact. Recover it and bring it to me, and then I will assist."

"Yes, Zopha. We will leave immediately." Zopha interrupts Lyra before she can turn to leave.

"No, only you. Your companions will remain with me." Zopha stands taller as she speaks this.

"I don't want to become dragon food," Tikor says.

"Bleh, Ogres are not acceptable to eat. Disgusting flavor and leaves foul breath for a month." Zopha shakes her head.

Tikor frowns, crosses his arms, and then lifts his right arm to sniff his armpit. His eyes grow wide in disgust as the pungent odor hits his nose. He quickly tries to hide his reaction.

Lyra stands quietly; she has not been alone on this journey. Once she had entered Azures and Tikor books, she had found them fairly quickly. "Alright, I'll do it."

"Very good." Zopha raises her massive claw and points Lyra to the east. "Follow the path, and you will meet your destination. Mind the darkness growing in your heart, tiny Lyra."

Lyra gazes into Zopha's eyes and feels as though Zopha can see right through her into the depths of her soul. Lyra shudders as a chill travels up her spine, stopping at her scalp and causing her hair to tingle.

Before departing, Lyra helps Tikor set up camp, using her quill to create various items and provide food.

Just as she is about to depart, Azure stops her.

"Lyra, we do not need this dragon. We can continue gathering others; there is no need for you to be alone." She urgently pushes her thoughts toward Lyra as she stares down at her.

"I will be fine. Just watch over yourself and Tikor." Lyra touches her forehead to the wolves. "Everything will be alright, Azure. Please take care of yourself and Tikor," Lyra says as she gently touches her forehead to Azures.

"I will; please be careful. I will make sure this dragon does not make soup of us."

Zopha sneers from across the camp, "I can hear your thoughts, furry chipmunk!"

Azure, in response, turns towards Zopha and lets out a growl.

Lyra laughs, "I shall return soon."

The forest is dark and dim; the further Lyra walks east, the more shaded the world becomes. She stumbles through the thick brush and soft, wet ground, using only the dagger to light her way. The night seems to last forever in this realm; the moon's glow is not strong enough to pierce the canopy over her head.

Finally, Lyra finds the cave opening. Moss clings to the stone walls, and wet, cold air blows from its mouth. She stands at the large entrance, debating whether to continue or take Azure's advice. Just then, her heart begins to ache; the darkness is growing. Seeker's words drift through her mind.

"Be aware each travel will drain your light. Your light will be restored once you have returned to the willow tree with your heroes." His voice is soft, almost like he has whispered the words through her mind.

Lyra grabs tightly to the strap of her satchel and walks into the cave's darkness.

Glowworms stick tightly to the ceiling, brightening Lyra's travel path. She keeps one hand on her satchel and the other on the dagger. Her body is sore and tired; working in the Willows library has not prepped her for such a journey. Seeing a large rock against the cave wall, she sits for a minute to regain her strength.

The cave is quiet; the air smells of wet dirt and holds a musky hint of forest. Her eyes scan the cave; she wonders how deep it goes.

Suddenly, she catches movement from the side of her eye. Lyra jumps back, pressing against the stone wall. A shadow figure hops across the cave, zooming through the light and back into the shadows.

Her heart races; she feels a lump in her throat and tries to swallow.

She gains some courage and calls out, "Who are you?"

The figure bounces through the light and heads further into the cave.

Lyra stands up and hesitantly follows the creature down the path.

The wind blows, carrying a voice that hisses at Lyra: "Do you seek wisdom? Do you seek fame? Do you seek fortune? Tell me your heart's desires, little one."

Lyra stops and peers through the darkness. "My name is Lyra; I come in search of the artifact that this cave holds."

The air hisses again, "An artifact can be many things; tell me, what sort of artifact do you seek?"

"I am not sure; Zopha sent me here to retrieve it for her. To prove myself worthy of her assistance." Lyra cautiously steps forward.

The breeze chuckles, "So, you seek an artifact, but you are unsure of what that is. To prove yourself worthy, you must complete my test."

"A test?"

"Yes, a test. One that will prove yourself to me and gain you what you seek."

"Oh great, nothing can be easy, can it?" Lyra barks. "Just give me the artifact so I can get this over with!"

The cave laughs, stronger this time. "There it is, the darkness I sensed as soon as you entered. Lovely darkness you breathe; darkness kills the tree." The shadow dances across the walls.

Lyra rolls her eyes, "Can everyone see it and sense it?"

The cave ignores her and continues, "Head deeper into my cave, face my test. Will you pass, or will you rest?"

"Rest?" Lyra asks.

"Rest, rest, you will rest. In the wormy ground with the rest." It whispers.

"Okay, don't fail. Got it. What do I need to do?"

"Bring me three stones,"

Lyra interrupts her, "You want me to bring you rocks?"

"PATIENCE!" The cave shouts at Lyra, sending a gust of wind through the cave, knocking her onto her back. "These are no ordinary stones. Each one represents you! You will see, find the stones, and find me." The breeze stops.

"Well, that wasn't much direction." She stands up and brushes herself off; she begins to walk, thinking of how familiar the voice that boomed at her is. It almost sounds like Madam is getting onto her; she never liked it when Lyra interrupted her. With that thought, her mind rushes with worry about the Keepers. She hastens her walk and stops when she comes to an opening.

The space is small, and in the center of the room is a stalagmite. Lyra looks at the wonder of the rock as it rises from the ground. Her eyes follow it until they stop on a glowing blue stone at the top of the rock formation.

"There you are," Lyra says as she jogs towards the stone.

Suddenly, the ground below her begins to rumble. "Oh no." She leaps backward, tumbling to the ground with a loud thud. She watches as the land around the stalagmite crumbles.

Once the shaking stops, she looks over the new path, her eyes wide, fearing how close she has just come to a gruesome fall.

"Well, this changes things," Lyra whispers to herself.

The voice echoes through the cave, "Impulsiveness is a dangerous thing to have, though helpful in some cases. Too much can lead to death." It sings.

"Yeah, I get that now." Lyra rolls her eyes in frustration. "Alright, the ground is gone; how do I get the stone." She reaches into her bag and grabs the book and quill.

Lyra considers the items she would need and then scribbles the words onto the paper. Nothing happens.

A laugh sings through the chamber. "You have no magic here. The task will require effort from within, not what can be written with a pen."

"Quill and you could have said that earlier," Lyra snarks. She is becoming increasingly irritated with the voice. "Okay, well then. What now? Can you give me a hint?"

The voice grunts in annoyance, "Sometimes the answer we seek can be found within."

"Yes, I get that! I'm seeking the stone in front of me, and I can't reach it," Lyra scoffs.

The voice remains quiet, the air is still, and the only sound she can hear is her breathing.

"Fine, I'll do it myself." Lyra fixes her gaze on the rock, examining it for a lengthy period. She shifts her attention to the ceiling, where the glowworms illuminate the bleakness of the room.

Unexpectedly, a glowworm tumbles down, its radiant light cascading into the abyss that consumes half the chamber.

Lyra's reflexes kick in, and she lunges forward, stretching out her hand to grab the insect. But her impulsive action proves to be a grave error, and she plunges into the pit, realizing her mistake too late.

Lyra closes her eyes tightly, fearing the fate she will meet at the bottom. When the air calms and there is no crash, she opens her eyes to see that the pit is gone.

She is standing on the ground that had crumbled; it is as though it never fell. She looks around the room, considering that the cave's thick air may be causing her to lose her mind.

"Very funny," she whispers, then walks to the stalagmite. She takes the stone from its rocky cradle and places it into her satchel. "One down, where to now?" She scans the room again. Something is different: the glowworms are lighting a new path she has not seen before. "Got it."

The path is small, and the deeper she walks down it, the smaller it gets, to the point that Lyra has to shimmy her body through the smooth, wet walls of the cave.

"This doesn't seem right. I need to turn back," she murmurs to herself. As she turns around, her heart sinks.

The path that she has just taken is no longer there. It was as if it had never existed. The only option left for her is to move forward on the path ahead, even though it is now shrouded in darkness, with the glowworms' light barely visible in the distance.

"What is this?" She begins to panic; her skin begins to sweat, and her heart begins to race.

Lyra is always outdoors; she can barely stand being stuck in the library. Now, here she is, stuck between the walls of a dark cave.

"Speak to me!" her voice trembles. Fear builds inside her, causing her heart to pound throughout her body. "I'm going to die in this cave." She leans her head back. Thinking about everything that has happened so far. "Why are you doing this to me?" She screams. This time, with anger and sadness in her voice. "I just want to go home."

With that statement, home, Lyra thinks about Windrun. The perfect weather, the smell of honeysuckles. She thinks about the other Keepers and the silly things that they do sometimes. She remembers her woodland friends and reading to them by the falling gazebo.

Then she thinks about the Seeker and Madam Keeper—her family. Tears begin to stream down her face.

What was happening to them right now? Would they survive?

"Take me, but please, help my friends so that they can help my family. Please do not let harm fall upon them." She cries.

A soft breeze blows through, wisping her hair around her face. The voice speaks again, gentle this time. "Selfishness is a nasty thing. One can become so lost in one's world that they do not consider the effect on others." A light shines brightly through the cracks, and Lyra shields her eyes. She closes her eyes and follows the glow. 

Opening her eyes, she sees the second stone stuck in the cave wall. She reaches up and pulls the stone loose. The path before her opens up the moment she does so, clearing the way ahead. 

Lyra falls to the ground in a mix of shock and relief. Her body trembles as tears continue to stream down her face.

"I am selfish. My thoughts are only for my wants and not the needs of others. I was excited to leave Windrun for adventure, not to save my home."

Lyra sits for a moment, lost in emotions of guilt and frustration.

The voice speaks softly, "Come here, Lyra."

Lyra lifts her gaze and sees nothing.

The chamber is empty, aside from a small pool of water in the back of the room. A gentle trickle of water falls from the roof of the cave.

"Where are you?" She asks.

"Come here."

Lyra stands and walks over to the water's edge; she glances around and then catches the ripples from the corner of her eye.

"You are in the water?"

"No. I am you."

"What?"

"I am you."

Lyra looks down into the water and sees her reflection. Her hair is wet and messy. Her face is covered with mud. She stares at the image of herself in the water, barely recognizing the girl before her.

"The darkness grows, Lyra," Her reflection mouth moves.

"I know; I don't know how to stop it." She weeps.

"Why stop it? We all have a little darkness inside of us. Impulsive, Selfish, Stubborn. These traits can hone darkness."

"I don't understand. I don't want to become Lavinia. I don't want to be consumed."

"Darkness does not have to consume, as long as there is light. Your companions, your family, and your home. These things will occasionally bring darkness, but sometimes they will bring light. Love, Lyra. It is the key to this light. What do you love?" It asks.

Lyra thinks momentarily, "I love the smell of honeysuckles, I love story times in the glass alcove, I love my home."

"That is good, but not enough."

"I don't know what else to say,"

"Dig deeper."

The chamber is silent and still. Calming and beautiful. "I love my story."

"Love is the key."

The image smiles at her, then fades away, revealing the final stone in the water. Lyra wipes a tear from her face and reaches into the water, taking the stone.

Her bag begins to glow; she opens the flap and removes the other two stones.

They levitate into the air, glowing brightly, spinning around each other quickly till they are one.

Lyra lays her palms out to catch the item as it drifts toward her. Once the glow disappears, an amulet appears. It is shaped like a heart, carved from the stone wall surrounding her. She removes her necklace, places it on the string, and returns it to her neck.

The amulet begins to glow beside the willow tree pendant. Lyra feels a calming wash over her; she feels hope for the first time. She closes her eyes and holds the two pendants together.

Visions dance in her mind, young keepers learning magic. The Seeker is watching over them, his face injured. Madam stood beside him, her expression filled with worry.

Lyra opens her eyes and speaks in barely a whisper. "They're preparing for battle."

With renewed determination, she sprints through the cave, guided by the glimmer of light that leads to the exit. She races as swiftly as possible back to her companions. Knowing that time is running out, they need to move quickly in order to save the worlds that they love.