No one in Aurora Hallow has slept since Willow entered the veil.

The moss paths stayed lit long after moonrise. Fireflies gathered in bright spirals in the sky hoping for even one glimpse of her on the other side. Young fawns crowded amongst the ferns, whispering questions too daunting to ask aloud. Will she make it through? Will she still be herself if she does? For generations, the Veil has been regarded as something both sacred and treacherous. Shimmering at the furthest edges of the Hallow, from a distance, it's beautiful. A wall of pale light moving like water beneath the moon. But every fawn knows the truth. The Veil is both a protective shield and an absolutely merciless realm of transformation. The Veil purifies anyone brave enough to enter, bringing to the surface every unprocessed emotion or hidden truth they possess. Any remnant of the Shadow must be experienced and painfully expelled. Nothing makes it through unseen.

Since Willow entered, her mother, Ivy, hasn’t moved from the edge of the trees, her eyes fixed on the shifting light beyond. Her heart breaking with every passing moment. “She was so young when it happened,” Ivy said, “And she was left with so many questions. I don’t know if that’s something even the mentally strongest of us can truly accept.” Ivy’s voice trembled when she spoke of the wound Willow may struggle most to confront: Willow’s father’s disappearance.

I reassured Ivy that Willow is one of the mentally strongest among us. I made sure of that. Because the Veil does more than protect Aurora Hallow from the Shadow. It is the final preparation every fawn must face before they are ready to stand beside their human and fight the Shadow. Every fawn who makes it through becomes more than a companion. They become a Shadow Fighter. One who, when faced with darkness, can transform it into light. That's why Willow’s journey means so much to the whole Hallow. From the youngest fawns gathered beneath the glowing fern leaves to the eldest members of the Meadow Council watching in silence from the glimmer stone, everyone understands what is at stake.

No fawn has succeeded before. No fawn has tried. And if Willow cannot cross, if the Shadow keeps her trapped within forever, it may mean devastation for us all. So the sleepless Hallow waits with bated breath. The moss paths still glow. The fireflies still circle the sky. Ivy still stands beneath the pale blue light, refusing to look away. For now, we send Willow love, light, and the strength to be fully and completely herself.