Rose sat at the edge of Red Lake, her bare feet brushing the soft grass, the hem of her light blue gown spread around her like ripples in the water. A crane stood nearby, its slender legs submerged in the shallows, its pale feathers catching the afternoon sun. Rose closed her eyes, reaching out with her mind. She felt the connection spark—like a thread being pulled taut—and suddenly, the world tilted.

The crane moved, graceful and deliberate, its wings stretching wide. Through its eyes, Rose saw the lake in sharp clarity, the trees swaying gently on the far shore. She felt the wind through its feathers, the power in its wings as it took a few steps forward.

The crane froze. Rose’s connection snapped, and she stumbled back into her own body, her heart racing. As if her body had alerted her out of the skinchanging. Turning quickly, she saw a man standing a few paces away, leaning on a sword. He was tall and weathered, a hedge knight by his patched armor and well-traveled boots.

"Ehm. Hello?"