The lost girl and the Falling stones

The town of Greystone hummed with life as the annual fair filled the cobbled streets with music, laughter, and the rich aroma of spiced meats and honey cakes. Catherine, concealed beneath a hooded cloak, moved carefully through the throng of people. Her heart beat with cautious curiosity as her eyes scanned the colorful booths and vibrant stalls.

It was her first time among humans in years. The wolves had taught her much about survival and the world beyond, but this bustling, chaotic scene was unlike anything she had imagined.

"Step right up! See the finest gems in all the land!" a vendor bellowed. His voice boomed over the crowd as he gestured toward a table laden with glittering stones. His fingers danced over necklaces, rings, and bracelets, each adorned with dazzling jewels that seemed to capture the very light of the sun.

Catherine drifted closer, her eyes narrowing. There was something different about these gems—something that stirred a strange, thrumming sensation within her chest.

She paused, her gaze locking on three stones resting side by side on a silk cloth. Unlike the others, they did not simply sparkle. They glowed.

As she stepped nearer, the stones pulsed with a soft, eerie light.

A woman brushed past her, reaching for one of the gems. The glow dimmed instantly.

Catherine's breath caught in her throat. She clenched her fists beneath her cloak, her pulse quickening.

"They only respond to certain people," a voice murmured behind her.

She spun around, her dagger half-drawn before she realized it was a young boy—no more than ten years old—peering at her with wide, knowing eyes. His hair was a mess of curls, and a mischievous grin tugged at his lips.

"You're not from around here," he said, tilting his head. "The stones... they know who you are."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she muttered, stepping away.

He chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with mischief. "The glow doesn't lie."

Before she could respond, the vendor's voice rose again.

"These gems are enchanted!" he declared, waving his arms dramatically. "Rare as stardust and more valuable than gold! Perfect for your sweetheart or as a charm of protection!"

Catherine's heart raced. She felt a pull toward the stones—a connection she couldn't explain. Were they like the fragment of the sky she had destroyed? Did they hold the same terrible power?

Her fingers twitched, but she forced herself to stay calm. She had to think.

The boy tugged at her sleeve. "They're not ordinary. They're from the sky. You know that, don't you?"

"Who are you?" she whispered.

"Just a friend," he replied with a wink. "And you need to be careful. There are others looking for the stones, too."

"Others?"

His expression darkened. "They don't have kind hearts like you."

Before she could press further, a shadow passed over the fair.

The sky darkened as an unnatural wind howled through the streets. The music faltered, and the joyful laughter turned to frightened murmurs.

Catherine's senses flared. She spun toward the horizon.

There, at the edge of town, a figure stood cloaked in darkness. It moved with a slithering grace, its limbs long and unnatural.

"Do you feel it?" the boy whispered, his voice trembling now.

She nodded, her jaw tightening. "It's here for the stones."

The figure glided closer. Where it passed, flowers withered, and the air grew cold. People shrank back in fear, their eyes wide with terror.

Catherine gripped her dagger, her heart thundering. She felt Faelor's presence in her mind, a steady, grounding force.

Danger, Catherine. Be ready.

"I need to move fast," she muttered.

The boy grabbed her hand. "Take the stones. You're the only one who can protect them."

Without hesitation, she swept the glowing gems into her pouch. Their warmth pulsed against her side, a strange mixture of comfort and dread.

The figure was closer now. Its hollow eyes burned with an icy, unnatural fire. It raised a skeletal hand, and tendrils of darkness shot forward like vipers.

Catherine ducked, rolling beneath a nearby cart. The tendrils struck wood, splintering it into jagged shards.

The fair erupted into chaos. People screamed, running in all directions. Booths toppled as vendors scrambled to escape the dark force tearing through their midst.

"Faelor!" Catherine called, her voice sharp.

The silver wolf appeared from the shadows, his eyes blazing with fierce determination. He leapt at the figure, his jaws snapping like thunder.

The darkness writhed, hissing as Faelor tore into it. But it was resilient—an unearthly force that twisted and reformed with every strike.

Catherine's dagger gleamed as she launched herself into the fray. She slashed at the figure, her blade slicing through the shadows with a burst of light.

The creature shrieked, recoiling.

"It's not enough," Faelor growled, his voice echoing in her mind.

"The stones!" Catherine shouted, her eyes blazing. "They have power. We can use them!"

She reached into her pouch, her fingers curling around the glowing gems. Their heat surged through her veins, filling her with a strength that felt both ancient and wild.

"Help me," she whispered, her voice a desperate prayer.

The stones pulsed.

A brilliant light erupted from her hands, flooding the square with radiant energy. The darkness writhed, its form disintegrating under the force of the light.

The creature let out one final, ear-piercing wail before vanishing into smoke.

Silence fell.

Catherine stood trembling, her breath ragged. The stones lay cool and quiet in her palm, their glow dimmed but not gone.

The boy approached, his eyes wide with awe. "You did it."

She nodded, her gaze never leaving the stones. "For now."

"But more will come," he whispered.

She looked at him, her expression fierce. "Then we'll be ready."

--- the man was reading her body language and was seeing this girl really didn't know about the stones. And to feel not worthy of them meant that she was the rightful holder a person with bad intentions the stone could change to darkness side and the evil would gain more power but the one with a pure heart gained the trust of the stones and that made a better bond once it came to the chooser. 

She was the rightful holder she has to be the chosen one