Dangerous forest(аn alternative plot).

Chapter 4: A shy little spider

Anova lay under the covers, shivering with fear. It was the middle of the night, and she was terrified by a nightmare in which she was as small as an insect and felt like she was about to be caught. Gradually calming down, she threw off the blanket and decided to have some tea.

She left the bedroom and headed for the kitchen. Glancing at her watch, she saw that it was already 6: 00 in the morning. Early, she thought, and decided to go back to bed for the rest of the night. Pulling the blanket over her, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

* After a while*

Anova walked through endless corridors, the walls and pillars of which were made of dense blue ice. Her footsteps sounded like heels hitting tiles, only less clearly. She couldn't remember how she got here, and she didn't know how long she had been wandering around this castle. Surprisingly, she wasn't cold; on the contrary, she was warm. She turned the corner several times, and each time she found herself in a new room that looked like a living room or something similar.

"How did I get here? I remember turning the corner, she thought.

Suddenly, she heard a creaking sound and turned to see the ice door at the other end of the room begin to open. When the door swung open, a short man with short blue-and-white hair of medium length appeared in front of her. On its head were two small horns that looked like branches from a distance. His blue eyes and pinkish cheeks stood out in a plump, surprised face. He was wearing white mittens, a blue cape that reached to his feet, and white wool felt boots. The unknown guy spoke first.

— Anova, you're here so late, I didn't expect to see you again."

His voice sounded familiar, but she'd never met him before.

"Who are you, do I know you?" — What's the matter?" "What is it?" she asked.

"Anova, stop talking, we have to go, we don't have much time left," he replied, running up to her and taking her hand. He led her somewhere.

"Wait, wait, you still haven't explained who you are, what you want from me, and where I am," she protested.

— You'll find out later, but in the meantime, we need to hurry, " he said, and they went through the door from which he had emerged. They started down some sort of spiral staircase. They soon found themselves in a large circular room with a pedestal with a ball in the middle. The unknown man approached the balloon and called Anova over.

"Don't worry, it won't hurt and it won't take long," he said.

But Anova shook her head.

"Anova, this is urgent, this is for the common good," he insisted.

After thinking for a few seconds, Anova came closer.

— What do I need to do?" - what is it? "What is it?" she asked.

"Touch the ball and see," he said.

Anova reached for the balloon, but stopped a few inches away from it.

— Are you sure that if I touch it, nothing terrible will happen?" - what is it? "What is it?" she asked.

"Yes, as you can see, we don't have time," he said, pushing her forward. She touched the balloon, and a vision appeared before her eyes — a place in the forest with a small stream and a fallen tree. When she regained consciousness, the unknown person asked:::

"What did you see?"

"I think I saw a place in the woods," she said.

"Yeah, so it's there," he said. "Look, find this place, then...