*Diary of Thalia Fernstep, Scout of the Verdant Circle*

*Day 14 of the Moon of Waking, 60 AE*

The forest hums with secrets tonight, and as I pen these words by the light of a flickering firefly, I feel the weight of the day’s adventures settle into my bones. The elders say the forest is alive with the Breath of Elarion, and today, I felt its pulse more keenly than ever.

I was tasked with scouting the border between our beloved Galdrowen and the creeping tendrils of Duskfall Mire. The Verdant Circle, led by Elder Mossbeard, whispers of a growing tension beneath the canopy—a dance of shadows and growth that could tip the balance of our realm.

As I leapt over twisted roots and navigated the dense underbrush, I stumbled upon a hidden glade, the air thick with a sweet, intoxicating fragrance. There, to my astonishment, was a Duskwyrm—a juvenile dragon of the mire—its scales shimmering like twilight. More surprising still, a Vinebound creature, Lilt by name, was entwined with the dragon in a curious dance of vines and scales. They moved in harmony, as if the forest itself played a silent melody only they could hear.

My heart raced, torn between the urge to flee and the desire to witness this spectacle. But before I could decide, Lilt’s sharp eyes caught mine. There was a moment—a stillness—where we simply regarded each other, the forest holding its breath. Then, with a graceful nod, she beckoned me closer.

Cautiously, I approached, my hand resting lightly on the hilt of my dagger. Lilt spoke of the Whispering Bloom’s desire for peace between our peoples, her voice a gentle rustle like leaves in a breeze. She revealed that the Duskwyrms sought refuge from the Withering Skies, and that the Vinebound wished to protect them, much as we do our revered Grove-Wyrms.

The Duskwyrm—whom Lilt called Moonglow—regarded me with curious, knowing eyes. In that moment, I felt a connection, an understanding that transcended words. The forest, in its wisdom, had brought us together, not as foes, but as guardians of a shared world.

As dusk settled and the skies darkened, I knew I had to return to Thornhall Grove and relay what I had learned to Elder Mossbeard. Lilt and Moonglow watched me depart, their forms melting back into the forest’s embrace, leaving me with a promise of hope for a new dawn.

Tomorrow, I will speak of this encounter to the Circle, and perhaps, just perhaps, we can forge a new path—one where the heartbeat of Galdrowen and the whisper of the Mire move in harmony, as nature wills it.

*End of entry.*