“Mara!” The call came once more before I could figure out what was going on.

“Mama!” My reply was instantaneous. I realized I couldn't control my speech, and my body, as it started moving in an opposite direction from the one I was taking before the call. “Mama, where are you?” I asked, stepping deeper into the forest.

I wanted to stop, to check my surroundings, but my legs did what they wanted. I was like a prisoner in my body, and could only watch as the little body I had ...