The village square, a bustling hub of activity, was surrounded by quaint cottages and the occasional shop. As Cassiel and Auren approached, they could see wagons filled with game rolling in, their wheels creaking over the packed dirt as villagers unloaded fresh catches.
The hunters stood among the crowd, their clothing marked with the day's work, weapons slung over their shoulders, and an air of camaraderie evident in their laughter and chatter.
"There they are!" Auren shouted, already bolting ahead.
Cassiel followed at a slower pace, taking in the scene. The hunters seemed to command respect, their presence a comforting anchor for the village. She noticed their ease with one another, the way they moved like a well-practiced team. Auren darted through the crowd until he reached a tall figure at the center of it all.
"Auren!" the man exclaimed, his deep voice cutting through the noise.
Auden dropped a large sack he had been carrying and opened his arms just in time for Auren to launch himself into them. He lifted the boy with ease, spinning him in a playful circle before setting him back down and holding him at arm's length to take a good look at him.
"You've only been gone a day, Dad," Auren teased, grinning. "Miss me already?"
Auden laughed, his voice booming. "I must be getting old because it felt like a thousand years. Now, what have you been up to?"
Auren puffed out his chest, his grin widening. "I've been training! Cassiel helped me, and I can hold my shift longer now."
Auden glanced up at the mention of his name, his sharp gaze finding Cassiel. He stepped forward, resting a hand on Auren's shoulder. "Cassiel, is it? I'm Auden—Auren's father. It looks like I owe you a thank you."
Cassiel inclined her head slightly. "It's nothing, really. Auren's a quick learner."
Auden's eyes gleamed with amusement as he looked at his son. "You've got him listening, and that's no small feat. I don't know what you did, but I appreciate it. He's stubborn as a stone most days."
"Hey!" Auren protested.
"And she's amazing at sparring, too!" Auren added, his excitement bubbling over. "She beat Ryn ! With a wooden sword!"
The name caught Auden's attention. His brows lifted in surprise. "Ryn? Really? That boy's got potential, but he loses his head too easily in a fight. Still, for someone to beat him with just a wooden sword..."
"She didn't just beat him," a voice chimed in from nearby. Cassiel turned to see another teen leaning casually against a wagon, his grin wide with mischief. "She wiped the floor with him. He didn't even know what hit him."
Auden laughed, clapping Auren on the shoulder. "Sounds like you've been keeping good company," he said, his gaze returning to Cassiel. "I'd say you've earned yourself a proper introduction, Cassiel. Welcome to Rothmoor. We don't get strangers often, but you're already making your mark."
Cassiel offered a faint smile, unused to the attention. "Thank you. It's been... interesting."
As the crowd settled, Alyna stepped forward, calm but focused. She glanced at the gathered hunters and villagers before addressing them.
"We've had a good haul this time," she began, her voice steady. "Drakes, boars, and even a few wild fowl. With careful rationing, it should be enough to see us through the next month."
At Alyna's words, a wave of relief washed over the villagers, a tangible sense of security settling over them. The successful hunt had provided them with enough food to see them through the next month, a comforting thought in these uncertain times.
Cassiel could see the tension in their faces ease, though it didn't entirely disappear.
"However," Alyna continued, her tone more serious, "we'll need to schedule a longer trip soon. The game is getting harder to find closer to the village, and the herds are moving farther into the forest. We'll need more hands for the next outing, which may take several days. I'll coordinate with the hunters and let you know when we're ready to set out again."
Auden nodded approvingly, his arms crossed over his chest. "Good work, Alyna. Sounds like we've got a solid plan."
The villagers began to disperse, their conversations shifting to everyday concerns as they carried away the supplies brought back by the hunters. The routine of village life continued.
Soon, only a small group remained, Auden, Alyna, Eramus, Cassiel, and a few of the hunters who lingered out of curiosity.
As the quiet settled over them, Eramus turned to Alyna. "Was there anything else?" Alyna hesitated, her eyes flicking to Cassiel briefly before returning to Eramus.
"Yes, actually. While we were out, we found something unusual."
Eramus' brow furrowed slightly. "Unusual, how?"
"We came across claw marks—big ones. Trees were shredded, bark ripped clean off in long, deep gouges. And... the spacing doesn't match anything I know of that lives here."
A hunter to Alyna's left, a younger man with shaggy hair, furrowed his brow. "Couldn't it have been a dusk cat? If one was desperate enough, it might—"
"No," Auden cut in firmly, shaking his head. "I know what a dusk cat can do. They don't leave marks that high or that wide, and they don't waste energy tearing up trees unless they're marking territory, and they'd never mark territory so close to the village. They wouldn't risk it."
The group fell into murmurs, unease rippling through them like a shiver in the wind. The mystery of the claw marks cast a shadow over their usual camaraderie, a puzzle that demanded their attention and stirred a sense of curiosity.
"Could it be a wolf?" one of the hunters suggested cautiously.
The murmurs grew louder, filled with skepticism.
"Wolf?" Auden scoffed lightly. "There haven't been wolves in this forest for generations. Whatever left those marks—it can't belong to a wolf."
"Not so fast," Alyna interjected, her tone sharper now. "We can't just dismiss it so quickly. These weren't ordinary marks, and the area felt... off. No sounds, no movement. Even the air seemed heavier."
Eramus raised a hand, his expression calm but attentive. "You think there's something out there?"
"I know there is," Alyna said, her voice steady. "And based on the claw marks, it's bigger than anything I've encountered in all my years hunting these woods."
Cassiel shifted slightly, her thoughts turning to the wolf that had attacked her and Alyna. She hesitated, then spoke. "I've seen a wolf here."
All eyes turned to her, curiosity and wariness mingling in their expressions.
"What?" Auden asked his tone a mix of curiosity and doubt.
"When Alyna found me," Cassiel began, choosing her words carefully, "there was a wolf. It wasn't huge or anything, but there was something unnatural about it. Its presence felt wrong like it didn't belong."
Alyna stepped in, nodding. "She's right. I can't believe it slipped my mind. It came at us just before I brought her back to the village."
"Wolves don't live in these woods anymore," Auden repeated, but his tone had softened slightly. "Though I suppose it could've come from the drylands. We've had creatures wander in before."
"Whatever it was," Cassiel said quietly, "it wasn't just any predator. It felt... deliberate. It watched our every move and then left even though it had the advantage."
Eramus rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing. "A wolf in these parts would be strange enough, but one that acts out of the ordinary? That's concerning."
Auden exhaled, his frustration slipping through. "It's impossible to know for sure without more evidence. I'm not saying Alyna and Cassiel didn't see something unusual. But we can't afford to stir up fear without knowing what we're dealing with."
Eramus nodded thoughtfully, his voice calm as always. "Alyna, I want you to map where you found those claw marks. And Auden, double the patrols near the village. Whatever this is, we can't ignore it."
Alyna inclined her head. "Understood."
Auden nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But let's keep this between us for now. No need to alarm the village unless we're certain there's a threat."
Cassiel watched the exchange quietly, sensing the tension in the air. The memory of the wolf's glowing eyes lingered in her mind, stirring an unease she couldn't shake.
Eramus turned to her, his voice lighter now. "The seer is ready for your visit. You can visit her tomorrow morning after breakfast."
Cassiel inclined her head in thanks. "I'll be ready."
Alyna lingered as the group began to disperse, her gaze resting on Cassiel. "You handled yourself well back there," she said quietly.
Cassiel offered a faint smile. "It's nothing, really."
Alyna's expression softened, and she gestured toward the square's edge. "Come on. Let's take a walk. There's something I want to talk to you about."
Cassiel nodded and stepped beside her, leaving the square behind as the first stars began to prick the darkening sky.
Cassiel slowed as she and Alyna moved through the village's quiet paths. The air was cool, filled with the soft rustling of leaves. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke.
"Thank you."
Alyna glanced at her, one eyebrow arching slightly. "For what?"
"For everything," Cassiel said sincerely. "If you hadn't found me… well, I don't think I'd have made it."
Alyna's expression softened, though she tried to brush it off with a casual shrug. "You'd have managed."
"I'm not so sure," Cassiel replied, her tone earnest. "You've done more than just save my life. You brought me here and gave me a chance to recover. That means more than I can say."
Alyna glanced away briefly as if uncomfortable under the weight of Cassiel's gratitude. "You don't have to make it sound so grand. It's just what anyone here would've done."
Cassiel tilted her head, studying her. "Still, it says a lot about you—and this place."
Alyna gave a faint smile, but it faded as she changed the subject. "So, you're meeting the seer tomorrow, huh?"
Cassiel blinked. "Yeah, and I feel a little nervous. What exactly should I expect?"
Alyna hesitated, then sighed. "She's… eccentric. She says anything that comes to mind and never stops talking."
"That sounds... intriguing," Cassiel said, her tone wry.
"It's not as bad as it sounds," Alyna added. "She's helped a lot of people here. Guided them, I guess. But her way of doing things? Let's just say it's not for everyone."
Cassiel considered this momentarily, then ventured, "What about you? Did she help you?"
Alyna's steps slowed slightly. "She told me something once. Something I've carried with me ever since. But whether it's helped or not..." She shrugged. "I'm still figuring that out."
Cassiel nodded thoughtfully. "I suppose that guidance comes in many forms."
They walked silently for a while, the quiet punctuated by the soft crunch of their footsteps.
"Can people leave the village?" Cassiel asked suddenly.
Alyna glanced at her, surprised. "Leave? It's not forbidden if that's what you're worried about. But most people don't. Life here is… safe. Predictable. The forest provides, and the village thrives. Why leave that behind?"
Cassiel hesitated. "Oh, that reminds me of home."
Alyna's expression shifted, a flicker of curiosity crossing her features. "Your home?"
"Yes," Cassiel said softly. "The way everyone works together here—it's something I grew up with. People depend on one another, protecting what matters most." She paused, her voice quiet. "I miss it."
Alyna's gaze lingered on her for a moment before she spoke. "I know what you mean."
Cassiel looked at her, sensing the weight behind her words. "You're not from here?"
Alyna shook her head. "No. I came here as a child, but it wasn't by choice. My family... we were from the drylands. A harsh place where survival wasn't guaranteed. We had to rely on each other for everything."
"What happened?" Cassiel asked gently.
Alyna's jaw tightened, and she glanced away. "They're gone now. That's all that matters."
Cassiel hesitated, sensing the pain beneath the surface, but didn't press further. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Alyna said, though her voice carried a note of finality. "We all lose people. That's life, isn't it?"
Cassiel nodded. "It doesn't make it any easier, though."
"No," Alyna admitted quietly. "It doesn't."
The conversation drifted to lighter topics as they continued their walk. Alyna spoke of the village's simple joys—how the children often played near the great tree, the celebrations held during good harvests, and the rare moments of peace that made the hardships worthwhile.
When they reached the small cottage where Cassiel was staying, the stars were bright in the sky, their light casting a silvery glow over the village.
Alyna paused at the door, her hand resting on the frame. "Thanks for the talk."
Cassiel offered a faint smile. "I should be the one thanking you, Alyna. For everything."
"Get some rest," Alyna said, returning to the night. "Tomorrow's going to be interesting for sure."
Cassiel chuckled softly as she watched her go. Despite the weight of the evening's conversation, she felt a sense of connection, a thread of understanding between herself and Alyna.
It wasn't much, but it was a start.