Moonlit hearts

Aanya's heart raced with excitement as she stood in front of the dormitory building, surrounded by fellow students bustling with the same eagerness. The residence hall was nestled on the edge of a dense forest, its towering trees casting long shadows in the early morning sun. Aanya had always felt a strong connection to nature, and this place seemed like the perfect setting for her studies.

She had never heard of the tales that whispered through the college corridors, stories of a creature that roamed the forest after dark. Legends of a protector, or perhaps, a fearsome guardian of the woods. Aanya was oblivious to the enigma that lay hidden beneath the moonlit shadows.

As Aanya entered her dorm room, her eyes widened with curiosity. She was met by the sight of her new roommate, Priya, who was busy unpacking her belongings. Aanya couldn't help but smile, realizing that this was the beginning of a new friendship.

"Hey, I'm Aanya," she greeted Priya.

Priya turned with a warm smile. "I'm Priya. Nice to meet you, Aanya. Exciting first day, isn't it?"

Aanya nodded and began to unpack her own things, "Absolutely! The forest outside looks amazing ,have you been here before?"

Priya chuckled. "No, this is my first time too. But I've heard some interesting stories about the forest. They say it comes alive at night, like something out of a fairy tale."

Aanya was intrigued. "Fairy tale? What do you mean?"

Priya leaned in closer, her voice lowering as if she was about to reveal a great secret. "They say there's a protector of the forest, a guardian who's neither human nor animal. A mythical creature that roams the woods under the moon's silver glow."

Aanya couldn't help but laugh. "That sounds like something out of a bedtime story."

But in that moment, her laughter was cut short by a distant, eerie howl. The sound sent shivers down her spine, and she couldn't help but glance out the window, where the forest loomed in the background.

Priya noticed her reaction. "Did you hear that?"