CHAPTER SIX HUNDRED AND EIGHT – DEEP BONDS

One evening, as Jasmine sat by the communal fire, she found herself deep in conversation with Anya, the young woman who had helped them escape from the previous village. Anya's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she peppered Jasmine with questions about the outside world. "What's it like to fly in an airplane?" Anya asked, her voice filled with wonder. "Is it true that in big cities, the buildings touch the sky?" Jasmine smiled, remembering her own first flight and the awe she had felt. "It's amazing, Anya. When you're up there, the world looks so small, like a patchwork quilt. And yes, in some cities, the buildings are so tall they seem to scrape the clouds." Anya sighed wistfully. "I dream of seeing such things. Sometimes, I feel like the village is all there is, you know? Like the world ends at the edge of the forest." Jasmine felt a pang of sympathy. She recognized in Anya the same restless spirit that had driven her to become a journalist. "The world is vast and beautiful, Anya.