DUST

Desire: To reconnect with others and build strong bonds without the fear of losing them.

Fear: That anyone she grows close to will leave or die, leading to the same heartbreak she felt with Shadow Walker or her mother.

Misbelief: She believes that bonding deeply with others will inevitably result in pain, loss, or betrayal, making it safer to stay distant.

ASHER

Desire: To prove himself and live freely outside of the oppressive systems he's left behind, particularly the Pinebond.

Fear: That he will never fully escape the shadow of his past or the systems that tried to control him, and that his nature will always make him a danger to others.

Misbelief: He believes that no matter how hard he tries, his past defines him, and that he could inadvertently hurt the ones he cares about, especially someone like Dust.

Shared Theme:

Both Dust and Asher are tied by their fear of revealing their true selves, as well as the deep desire to break free from the oppressive systems they were born into. Their personal struggles reflect a larger battle for freedom, and each sees in the other the potential to overcome their misbeliefs—Dust with her wings, and Asher with his past as part of Pinebond.