roasted vegetables and herbs filled the air, a welcome change from their usual gruel. Julie entered, h

hair, turned at the sound of the door opening. A tired smile creased her

Only this one, chased it all the

o the Shadow Woods? You kn

n. "There wasn't much choice, Mother.

orries me more than anything. The stories

a comforting hand on her arm. "We'll

door. Amara and Julie exchanged wary glances. Visi

it open a sliver. A cloaked figure stood outsid

ment?" a raspy voice sp

figure to enter. The figure moved with a strange a

her hand instinctively moving towards t

e etched with deep lines. Moonlight eyes, an unnatural shade o

re rasped, "and I bring ne

recognition. "Kai? The W

, a dry, humorless sound. "Death has a

t kind of news could a wanderer who was r

Thomas?" Kai continued,

e found in the council hall. But tell me, Kai, what

Let's just say the winds whisper of a com

ing. As Kai turned to leave, his silver eyes met Julie's for a fleeting moment.

grin, "have a fire within you. But remembe

the gathering twilight, leavi

of unease tightening in her stomach. "Fire... a blessing and a curse," sh

er's cheek. "Don't let his words trouble you, Julie. T

feeling of being watched. Kai's silver eyes seemed to burn into he

e asked, a flicker of curios

nd Kai wouldn't dare intrude if he didn't have the right to be there. Besides," she added, a mis

as Kai? What news did he bring that necessitated a meeting with the village elder? Was it c

ries passed down through generations about the Shadow Woods, the forbidden territory bordering their village. Lege

and survival," Amara said, her voice hushed. "But others fear their c

spine. Could Kai be one of those shadow dwellers,

straw mattress. Sleep evaded her, her mind swirling with questions and the lingering memory of Kai's ga

indow, and cautiously peeked out. A pair of glowing yellow eyes, t

its massive form silhouetted against the moonlit sky. Fear pricked at Julie, cold

Julie knew then, with a sudden, terrifying certainty, that whatever danger Kai had warn