Lost and yearning, she searched to fill the void.

A crow, known as Doran, its voice a whisper through ancient trees, cawed... "Seek the temple, nestled deep in the mythic verdant heart, where your journey truly begins."

Guided by its call, she discovered the temple, its ancient stones illuminated with an otherworldly light. Inside, a chamber awaited, shimmering in the golden glow, promising answers...or so it seemed.

In its place, a silent guardian stood watch, its dark form etched with unknown mysteries, radiating an aura of antiquity. "I am not the missing piece," rumbled a voice that resonated through the chamber, "but the journey itself, both light and shadow, to be embraced. Those who find the courage to ride me will find a way home, to the depths of their own being."

The weight of the journey pressed down upon her, heavy and real. Doran's voice echoed in her mind. The missing piece, she finally understood, wasn't an object to be found, but a choice to be made...

Medium: oil on canvas, adapted to digital