Riia

One marshmallow stick, now just a fidget toy for anxious hands. One simple bowlcut, always perfectly neat. One promise to a friend that the wilder woods would never touch them. Before the silence, Riia was the heart of every campfire in The Heart of the Forest, known for their easy charm and perfectly toasted treats. They were training to be a grove keeper, a protector of the clearing’s peace. But peace is fragile. During a night of song and dance, while Riia’s attention drifted for only a moment, a shadow from the outer forest slipped in and then out. Their friend was gone. The search found nothing. These days, Riia rarely speaks, their warm personality extinguished. They still attend the fires, but they never eat. They just watch the flames, holding a stick meant for two.