Town

The forest was quiet as Nova followed Kael through the trees, the faint glow of the waxing moon overhead casting elongated shadows. It had grown fuller over the past nights, its light sharper and more insistent. Nova could feel it tugging at her, a constant hum beneath her skin, like an unspoken promise waiting to be fulfilled. She glanced up at it, then back to Kael, who moved ahead with his usual steady pace.

"Do you always know where you're going?" she asked, trying to keep the unease from her voice.

Kael glanced back at her, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Always."

Nova rolled her eyes but quickened her steps to match his. "And where exactly is that right now?"

He slowed slightly, letting her catch up, before answering. "Town."

Nova stopped in her tracks. "Town? As in... people? Like... humans?"

Kael turned to face her, his expression calm but firm. "You need clothes. And I need supplies. Unless you plan on wandering the woods naked in the foreseeable future? I can roll with that."

Nova flushed, crossing her arms over her chest. "And what happens if someone recognizes me? Or notices something... off?"

"Most people don't notice anything," Kael said, starting forward again. "But there are exceptions. People who watch too closely, who know what to look for."

Nova followed reluctantly, her mind racing. "Hunters?"

Kael's expression darkened. "We call them Shadowmarks. Humans who dedicate their lives to finding us. Some do it for revenge, others for power, and a few just because they're obsessed. They're dangerous. Wealthy. Connected. And they'll do anything to prove we exist."

"But we're stronger," Nova said, more a question than a statement.

Kael nodded. "Stronger. Faster. But that doesn't matter when they're organized, and we're... not."

Nova frowned. "Why not? Why don't we fight back?"

Kael's jaw tightened. "It's not that simple. Our kind has rules—laws. Drawing attention is forbidden. It's one of the few things we all agree on. But not everyone follows the laws, and when they don't, it makes things worse for the rest of us."

"So what happens to them? The ones who break the rules?"

Kael's eyes flicked to hers, his gaze heavy. "Exile. Or worse."

The weight of his words settled over them as they emerged from the treeline. Ahead, the faint glow of a small town came into view, its lights scattered like stars against the dark horizon. Nova's stomach twisted. It had been days since she'd been around people, and the idea of stepping back into that world felt foreign—dangerous.

Kael slowed as they approached the outskirts, his demeanor shifting. "Stay close. Keep your head down. Don't draw attention."

Nova nodded, pulling the cloak tighter around her shoulders. She had kept it ever since that first night he'd laid it on her. He hadn't asked for it back, and she hadn't offered.

They slipped into the quiet streets, their footsteps muffled by the worn cobblestones. The town was small, its buildings old and close together. Most of the windows were dark, but a few shops and pubs still glowed with warm light.

Kael led her to a clothing shop, its front display showing mannequins dressed in simple, practical attire. He pushed the door open, the bell overhead chiming softly as they stepped inside. The shopkeeper glanced up from behind the counter, a bored expression on his face.

"Evening," Kael said, his voice calm and unassuming.

The shopkeeper nodded, barely paying them any attention. Kael gestured for Nova to follow him to the racks at the back, where he began sifting through clothes.

"Pick something," he said quietly, tossing her a shirt and a pair of pants. "Simple. Sturdy. Don't overthink it. And find yourself some shoes, you cant keep going everywhere barefoot."

Nova grabbed the items, her fingers brushing against the fabric. It felt strange, almost surreal, to be doing something so mundane after everything that had happened. She glanced at Kael, who was already picking out a set of clothes for himself, his movements efficient and deliberate.

"Do you do this often?" she asked, her voice low.

He glanced at her, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. "A lot more than I used to, ever since someone disrupted my quiet."

Nova rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. She carried the clothes to the counter, her nerves prickling as the shopkeeper rang up their purchases. Kael handed over a few crumpled bills, his expression unreadable, and within moments, they were back on the street.

"That wasn't so bad," Nova said, her voice light but her body tense.

Kael's eyes scanned the shadows. "It's not over yet. Let's go."

They slipped back into the alleys, weaving their way toward the edge of town. Nova's heart pounded as she followed Kael, her senses on high alert. Every sound, every shadow seemed sharper, more threatening. She could feel the weight of the moon overhead, its pull growing stronger with each passing night.

As they reached the treeline, Kael paused, his gaze lingering on the town below. "Not all humans are dangerous," he said quietly. "But the ones who are... they're worse than anything you'll find in the woods."

Nova swallowed hard, the gravity of his words sinking in. She glanced back at the town, its lights distant and faint, and then followed Kael into the forest. The trees closed around them, the familiar scent of pine and earth calming her nerves.