The Feather

In a hidden realm of rolling dales and sapphire rivers, a young princess revels in restless wonder, teasing swans with rose‑leaf missiles and dreaming of what lies beyond the distant hills. Her ever‑watchful nurse tries to temper the child’s bold curiosity, warning of a fiery serpent and a bottomless precipice that guard the mountain pass. Yet the princess’s daring spirit cannot be contained, and a sudden shadow over the setting sun turns playful intrigue into peril.

When a great eagle swoops down, drawn by the glint of sun‑lit hair, it snatches the princess—and the nurse clings on in a frantic struggle. The king’s heart shatters as his only daughter disappears, prompting the desperate monarch to summon a feared wise woman for counsel. Even now, the kingdom watches the empty horizon, waiting for any sign of the lost princess.