The world around us shimmered and twisted, the forest of glowing trees fading into a dizzying haze. The next thing I knew, Willow and I stood in a landscape that defied all logic, all reason. The air here was thick, almost syrupy, making every breath feel heavy. It was neither hot nor cold but held an unsettling, tepid stillness that clung to my skin.
“Where are we?” Willow asked, her voice faint and echoing as if it had been spoken both near and far away. Her green eyes were wide, darting around to take in the surroundings.
I didn’t have an answer. All I could do was take a cautious step forward, the ground beneath me firm yet soft, like walking on a taut fabric that yielded slightly with every step. The sky—if it could even be called that—was a swirling mass of colors that shifted betw
