Morning light spilled softly across the wooden walls, touching the corners of the hall where laughter echoed faintly.
From beneath a warm quilt of tanned animal skin, Elara's silver lashes fluttered. She stirred, her face half-buried in the fur as her ears caught the sound of excitement from outside.
"Crystal fish?"
The words made her eyes open fully. Her curiosity, as always, was faster than her reason. The white-haired girl slipped her head out from under the quilt, the cold air kissing her flushed cheeks.
"Did I hear that right… a crystal fish?" she whispered to herself.
The phrase awakened a memory. The Moon Tribe had issued a bounty for something by that name—a shimmering creature said to condense water into pure essence. But Elara had never seen one with her own eyes, only read the reward notice carved in the tribal square.
Maybe I should take a look…
