The lost girl and the Falling stones

Chapter 7: The Enemy Among Us 

The sun hung low in the sky as Catherine, Jake, and Faelor reached the outskirts of the human village. The stones hummed in her pouch, a constant reminder of the power they held and the danger they invited. Catherine had never ventured so close to civilization before, and her heart raced with a mix of curiosity and fear.

Jake led the way, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword. His eyes scanned every shadow, every passerby, as if expecting danger to strike at any moment. "Keep your hood up," he whispered to Catherine. "It's safer if they don't see your face."

She pulled her cloak tighter, the fabric rough against her skin. "Why? What are we afraid of?"

"Not everyone is who they seem," Jake said grimly. "There are those who serve the darkness, hidden among ordinary people. They can sense the power of the stones, and they'll stop at nothing to take them."

Catherine shivered at his words, her grip tightening on the pouch at her side. She glanced down at Faelor, who moved silently beside her, his silver fur blending into the shadows. His eyes met hers, calm and reassuring.

"Do not fear, Catherine," Faelor said. "I am with you."

They slipped through the narrow streets, the village alive with the bustle of evening trade. Vendors shouted their wares, children darted between stalls, and the scent of roasted meat filled the air. Catherine's senses were overwhelmed by the sights and sounds, so different from the quiet, wild world she had known.

Her eyes lingered on a group of women laughing near a fountain. Their hair gleamed in the fading light, their dresses flowing like river water. She felt a pang of longing—a yearning for a life she had never known.

"Do you miss it?" she asked Jake quietly. "Being part of this?"

Jake's jaw tightened. "I don't have a place here anymore. Not after what I've seen. What I've done."

Before she could ask what he meant, a figure stepped out from the shadows—a man with sharp eyes and a scar that ran from his temple to his chin. He smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

"Well, what do we have here?" he drawled, his gaze flicking from Jake to Catherine. "Travelers, are you? Haven't seen your faces before."

"We're just passing through," Jake said, his voice calm but edged with warning.

The man chuckled. "Is that so? And what brings you to our humble village?"

"None of your concern," Jake replied, stepping protectively in front of Catherine.

The man's eyes narrowed, his smile fading. "I'd say it is my concern. Strange folk stirring up trouble, whispers of dark forces… A man's got to be careful who he trusts."

Catherine felt a surge of unease as the man's gaze lingered on her. She reached for the pouch, feeling the comforting warmth of the stones against her palm. The man's eyes flicked to her hand, and a spark of recognition ignited in his expression.

"You carry something powerful," he murmured. "Something… valuable."

Jake's hand tightened on his sword. "Step aside."

The man's smile returned, but it was twisted, predatory. "I think not."

With a sudden, fluid