Just after dawn, Aru woke to a rustling near her head. But when she opened her eyes, there was no one there. Mini, Brynne, and Aiden were all still in their tents around the extinguished fire. Rudy, who had fallen asleep on watch, was just laying there on the grass.
Aru had placed her sleeping bag (she was the only one without a tent) far enough away that she shouldn't have been able to hear one of them moving.

She was about to dismiss it as her imagination, or an animal, when she noticed two small imprints next to her in the grass. Like there was an invisible person standing right there.

Then, as she watched, the prints moved, leading away from their camp. They stopped five or so steps away and turned, as if waiting for her.

Aru froze, more than a little freaked out.

The wind made a noise that sounded like a sigh. The prints moved back closer to her, and Aru scrambled back.

In a grassless spot of soil, marks appeared, as if someone was writing in it with their finger.

Aru almost screamed, but the sound died in her throat as she stared at the dirt.

I CAN HELP YOU, it read.

Aru looked up at the space above where the footprints were. "Who are you?" She asked.

The writing was immediately erased and the dirt replaced. New lettering appeared.

FOLLOW ME.

Aru glanced back at her sleeping questmates. Their weird fight last night was still at the front of her mind. But still, what would they think if she just left without a warning?

The two new words were erased.

I DO NOT HAVE MUCH TIME, was the new message.

Aru got up, dusting off her pajamas.

"Okay," she said to the prints. "I'm coming."

Before she left, she knelt down and wrote a message in the dirt.

BRB
-Aru

The invisible person waited for her to finish, then Aru grabbed Vajra and followed the tracks into the forest.

Birds sang overhead in the treetops, and Aru felt like she was just in any normal forest.

But something kept her on edge, probably the fact that she was following a trail of footprints left by an invisible person who could, at any second, drive a knife through her throat.

Finally, the tracks stopped in front of a hill. The air shimmered, and a door appeared in the side. It reminded Aru of the witch's hut in Brave, although this one looked tall enough to walk through without crouching.

The door opened by itself, and the footprints went inside. Aru followed. The wind blew, and the door closed.

Inside was a single room, the floor made out of dirt, and the walls and ceiling supported by rough wooden beams. It was completely bare except for two wicker chairs and a table.

One of the chairs scooted out, and it looked like the invisible person had sat down. Aru remained standing.

"Please, sit," a female voice said.

She did, although she didn't slide her chair back in, in case she needed to run.

Across from her, the air shimmered again, this time revealing a young woman. Aru caught her breath. The girl looked to be around Aru's age, but her face, especially her eyes, held a depth that made her look older. She had long wispy hair that fell down to her waist, full but uneven lips, a wide nose, and narrow, drooping eyes under thick arched eyebrows.

But she definitely wasn't normal, and even if she hadn't just been invisible, Aru could tell that. Her skin and hair were silvery grey, like someone in one of those old black-and-white movies. Her eyes were also grey, but with tiny flecks of black visible in them. She wore a dress that looked like it was made of pure mist. It flowed and moved on her, like clouds on a windy day. Her hair floated around her head like she was underwater, and her skin was dotted with things that sort of looked like freckles.

Or tiny scars, Aru thought.

The girl snapped her fingers, and two white mugs appeared in the middle of the table. As Aru watched, they filled up with a steaming brown liquid, and then mini marshmallows fell like flakes of snow into them.

The girl took one and offered the other to Aru.

"Hot chocolate," she said.

Aru took it, albeit a bit hesitantly. It was cold in the room and outside, and the mug warmed her hands.

The silver-haired girl sipped elegantly from her cup. Just to be polite, Aru pretended to do the same. After all, she wasn't just going to drink anything a stranger offered her.

Mist Girl set her mug down and eyed Aru up and down.

"Arjuna," she said, studying Aru's face. "It has been a while since I have even heard of you."

"My name is Aru," Aru said. "Who are you?"

"My name is Sanemi. I am- was, part apsara. One of the descendants of Urvashi and her mortal consort."

Aru peered at the girl. She did have the lean form of a dancer, but she wasn't nearly as pretty in face as Urvashi and her apsara relatives.

Like Aiden, her subconscious whispered. She fought to keep a blush from rising.

As if she could read her thoughts, Sanemi sighed sadly. "The divine apsaras refused to teach me. They said it was because my blood was 'too human', but I knew what they really meant. I was too unattractive. My cousins and siblings all got accepted."

"But... you are pretty," Aru tried.

"Not as pretty as they wanted me to be," Sanemi said sadly. "My name means 'Perfect'. It turns out I'm the opposite. So, I came here, to Kalivana. I ventured inside. I didn't know what this place really was. The Mistress found me. She made me a deal- give up all claim to apsara blood and the Otherworld in exchange for eternal youth and power. It was an easy trade."

"Wait, who's the Mistress?" Aru asked, but Sanemi continued talking.

"I've been here ever since as the spirit of the mist," Sanemi said. "What she didn't mention was that I'd be stuck here for eternity. I haven't been able to leave this place for years."

Aru felt a pang in her chest. She hated being cooped up anywhere, and she couldn't imagine what she would do if she couldn't leave this creepy forest. But she shook off the pity.

"You said you can help me," Aru said. "And I have to get back to my friends soon."

"Yes," Sanemi said softly. She held out her hand, and a wisp of vapor curled towards it. The mist solidified into an old-fashioned leather-bound notebook, which she slid across he table to Aru.

"I understand you are new to this place. This will offer all the knowledge you need to know. Back when I lived in the real world, I loved observing the world around me. It seems I haven't yet lost that love for nature, as I have all else."

Aru opened the book and pawed through it. It was all handwritten in alternating print and cursive, containing notes and sketches of various animals and plants, ranging from a bunny rabbit to a creature with the head of a rhino and the body of a lion. In the margins and corners were little doodles and words in another alphabet Aru didn't recognize.

"Thank you," she said. "But, why are you helping us?"

Sanemi tilted her head. "The mist knows what you seek. The Mistress told me that once the Trishubed was removed from its place, the magic spell surrounding this place will be broken. I want my freedom back, and the only way for that to happen is for the barrier to be taken down."

"No offense, but why don't you remove it yourself?"

She shook her head. "Only a mortal with divine blood or soul is able to locate the Trishubed. I am merely a spirit, no longer flesh and blood. Furthermore, only celestial weapons can destroy it, of which I have none."

"So you can't tell us where it is?"

"I cannot. All I know is that it is in the very center of Kalivana."

"We'll find it," Aru said impulsively. "We'll find it and get you your freedom."

A smile lifted the corners of Sanemi's mouth, before a strong wind blew open the door. The spirit's eyes widened and she stood.

"I must go, and you should too. Promise me you will tell no one of this conversation, or that you even saw me. I cannot have the Mistress knowing I helped you."

"But-"

"Please."

Aru nodded.

"Good. May the Mist be with you."

Before Aru could comment on that line, the room vanished in swirl of grey vapor, leaving her alone, standing in front of the hill with the notebook and a cold cup of cocoa.