Chapter 4

Chapter 4: The sand serpent's eyes glowed red as it reared up and prepared to strike. Maya was terrified but she remembered the crystal. As the serpent lunged towards her, she held up the crystal and the serpent was frozen in mid-air. Then it shattered into a million grains of sand. Maya hurried to pick up the stone, but as she did so, a hooded figure emerged from the swirling sand. "You have passed the second test," the figure said. "But the third test will be the most difficult. The hooded figure told Maya that the third stone was hidden in a dark and dangerous forest. Maya knew that this would be the most difficult challenge yet, but she was determined to succeed. She made her way into the forest, the trees growing taller and darker as she went deeper. She could hear creatures rustling in the undergrowth and she felt a sense of foreboding. As she turned a corner, she came face to face with a terrifying beast. The beast was a towering black wolf, its eyes glowing red. Maya knew that she had to be brave. She held up the crystal and the wolf howled in pain, its fur turning to ash. "You have passed the third test," a voice said. Maya turned and saw the old woman standing there. "But there is one more test before you can return home. You must face your deepest fear." Maya's heart pounded as she wondered what her deepest fear could be. Then she knew