That night she dreamed of Aundray. They were holding hands and dancing on the hilltop. Then there was a tremor, and the hill split in two with a deafening rumble. When the hill opened, Mai heard the undeniable cries of her father's suffering. Aundray was on one side of the hill and Mai on the other. His face contorted with a malicious smile, and he laughed. He was laughing at her. The thunder kept rumbling over and over until Maiolaine realized it was a loud thump on the door. 

“Come on, Maiolaine!” Her sister yelled from the other side of the door. “You’re gonna miss breakfast!” 

Maiolaine sighed as she hoisted herself out of her bed. She ran a comb through her long, curly hair. What was that dream? She had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. 

“Are you okay, love?” Olympe asked as Mai sat with the rest of her clan. “You look as if you’ll be sick.” 

“I fell asleep and had an awful dream of Papa.” 

“I’m so sorry,” Olympe grabbed her hand and squeezed. 

The nightmare haunted her all day long and forest called her. Mai walked out of the stronghold to the usual spot on a rocky platform on top of a hill. The stone was cool to the touch, and it sent shivers up her arms. She felt a strange power every time she sat in this spot. Her mother would lose her mind if she knew where she was. 

As of this morning, a Clan decree passed prohibiting Aerians from entering the forest since they deemed it unsafe in this forest because of the inexplicable disappearances of mystical beasts. She couldn't put her finger on it, but Mai felt an uncontrollable pull to this very spot. Her instructor in her advanced lessons in conjuring had challenged the students to follow their intuition. When Mai lets her mind go, it leads her to this spot.

She planted her palms flat on the stone and the cold energy slowly wrapped around her fingers. She felt the rock rumble underneath her. It felt like a heartbeat. Steady and strong. She felt a breeze on her neck. Warm and moist. Mai froze. She knew that there was something behind her. 

At that moment, she didn't know what to do. She did not want to make any moves.

"I can hear your thoughts, Star Child," a deep voice vibrated throughout the corners of her mind.

Mai did not know how to respond. She sat still with her eyes clamped shut.

"You are not safe here"

"I know." Mai finally said.

"You need not be afraid of me. My name is Orien. I am the king of this forest. The Alpha Female created my ancestors."

"The Goddess Celine?"

Mai turned around to face the beast. He stood tall. She imagined he was a couple feet taller than she when standing up. He had a beautiful, shiny black coat and large antlers that served as his crown. His bright green eyes looked into her own blue eyes.

"Yes." Orien responded, but his jaw did not move. He bowed his head in reverence.

"How can I trust you?"

"I can not tell you who you should trust. I only bring you a message with hopes of saving your life. I have been watching you. I have seen you with one of their pups. They are not to be trusted."

Maiolaine searched her memories. She doesn’t remember interacting with any type of dogs within the forest. 

"Aundray?"

The starolve king nodded.

“But he can’t be.” 

“Mai!”