Chapter 52: Embracing the Wild.

The call of the wild had been whispering in Chloe's ear for months—a demanding tugging in her soul that could no longer be ignored. She had left the comfort and safety of the village, pushing past the questioning looks from her friends and family. "Where are you going?" came the question from Lily, her best friend, with such a concerned expression that it wrinkled her brow. "It's not safe out there alone." Chloe had only smiled enigmatically. "I'll be fine. This is something I have to do." With every step she took, a kind of force ran through her veins, awakening in her something primal that had been sleeping for so long. The deeper she trekked into the unexplored forests, the more alive she felt. Chloe had always felt a pull toward the mysteries of nature, but she had let the mundane responsibilities of village life slowly dull any wonder or pull toward the wild unknown that she might have. But not any more. Every sight, sound, and smell became electric, jolting her senses into h