CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND NINETEEN – WYLDHEART INVOKED

They huddled under the overhang, watching as the forest around them transformed into a wild, primal version of itself. Lightning flashed, illuminating the rain-lashed trees in stark relief. "The forest is reminding us of its power," Arryk mused, his voice barely audible over the storm. "We carry its essence now. It wants to ensure we understand the responsibility that comes with it." Anna nodded, feeling a deep resonance with Arryk's words. The storm raged on for hours, but within their small shelter, a sense of peace settled over the group. Erik held Anna close, his hand resting protectively over her slightly swollen belly. Arryk sat in quiet meditation, seemingly at one with the tempest around them. When the storm finally passed, they emerged to find the forest renewed, glistening with raindrops and alive with the calls of awakening creatures. But their trials were not yet over. The rain had swollen the river they needed to cross, turning it into a raging torrent. The bridge they