Chapter 4 The Village Elder.

Kaira stood alone in the cabin, her mind reeling with questions. What had Eira been trying to show her? And what did she mean by "when you're ready"?

As she pondered these questions, Kaira heard a knock at the door. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if it might be Eira again. But then she heard a voice calling out to her.

"Kaira, it's Thane. May I come in?"

Kaira's heart skipped a beat as she recognized the voice of the village elder's son. She hadn't seen him since their conversation earlier, and she wondered what he wanted with her now.

She opened the door to find Thane standing on the porch, his eyes serious. "Kaira, I need to speak with you," he said, his voice low.

Kaira nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. What did Thane want to talk to her about?

"Please, come in," she said, stepping aside to let him enter.

As Thane sat down at the table, Kaira couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. What was he going to tell her?

Thane's eyes scanned the cabin, his gaze lingering on the fire that still crackled in the hearth. "I see you've had a visitor," he said, his voice neutral.

Kaira nodded, wondering how Thane knew about Eira's visit. "Yes, Eira was here," she said. "But she didn't stay long."

Thane's eyes narrowed, his expression thoughtful. "What did she want?" he asked.

Kaira hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Thane's serious expression put her at ease. "She was trying to show me something," she said. "Something in the fire."

Thane's eyes snapped to the flames, his gaze intense. "What did you see?" he asked, his voice low.

Kaira shook her head, feeling a sense of frustration. "I'm not sure," she said. "It looked like a symbol or a sign, but I don't know what it means."

Thane nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I think I know what Eira might have been trying to show you," he said. "But I need to ask you some questions first."

Kaira nodded, curious. "What do you want to know?" she asked.

Thane leaned forward, his eyes locked onto hers. "Tell me about your past," he said. "About your life before you came to the village."

Kaira hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Thane's serious expression put her at ease. She took a deep breath and began to tell him about her life, about her childhood and her family.

As she spoke, Thane listened intently, his eyes never leaving hers. Kaira felt a sense of relief wash over her as if she had finally found someone who understood her.

But as she finished her story, Thane's expression turned serious. "Kaira, I need to tell you something," he said. "Something important."

Kaira's heart skipped a beat as she wondered what Thane was going to tell her. Was it something about her past? Or something about the village?

She leaned forward, her eyes locked onto Thane's. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Thane took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving hers. "Kaira, you're not who you think you are," he said.

Kaira's world went dark.

Kaira's mind reeled as she tried to process Thane's words. What did he mean? Of course, she was who she thought she was. She was Kaira, a young woman from a small village.

But Thane's serious expression told her that he was not joking. He was trying to tell her something important, something that would change her life forever.

"What do you mean?" Kaira asked, her voice shaking slightly.

Thane leaned forward, his eyes locked onto hers. "Kaira, you're an abomination to nature."

Kaira's world went dark again. She felt like she was falling like her whole life had been turned upside down.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Thane took a deep breath. "Kaira, you're a witch and a werewolf," he said. " Your mother was a witch but fell in love with a werewolf. "You have the gene of a werewolf and a witch but your magic is not yet activated''.

Kaira's mind was reeling. A Witch? What did that even mean?

Thane continued to explain, telling her about the different worlds and the Witches who moved between them. Kaira listened, trying to absorb everything.

But it was too much. Her mind was overwhelmed, and she felt like she was going to pass out.

Thane seemed to sense her distress. He reached out and took her hand, his touch warm and comforting.

"Kaira, I know this is a lot to take in," he said. "But I'm here to help you. We'll figure this out together."

Kaira looked up at him, feeling a sense of gratitude. Thane was trying to help her, to guide her through this crazy new world.

But as she looked into his eyes, she saw something there that gave her pause. Something that made her wonder if Thane was telling her the whole truth.

Kaira's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with questions. What was Thane hiding from her? And why did she get the feeling that he was holding something back?

"Thane, what's going on?" Kaira asked, her voice firm. "You're not telling me everything, are you?"

Thane's expression faltered, and for a moment, Kaira saw a glimmer of something else in his eyes. Something that looked almost like... guilt?

But then, his mask slipped back into place, and he smiled reassuringly. "Of course, I'm telling you everything, Kaira," he said. "I just... I don't want to overwhelm you. This is a lot to take in."

Kaira raised an eyebrow, skeptical. She wasn't buying it. Thane was hiding something from her, and she was determined to find out what.

Just then, a loud knock at the door interrupted them. Thane got up to answer it, revealing Asher standing on the porch, his face grim.

"What is it, Asher?" Thane asked, his voice low.

Asher hesitated, glancing at Kaira before turning back to Thane. "We've found something," he said. "Something that might explain what's been going on."

Thane's eyes narrowed, his expression intense. "What is it?" he asked.

Asher took a deep breath. "We've found a symbol etched into the trees near the edge of the village," he said. "It looks like... it looks like a warning."

Thane's eyes locked onto Asher's, his expression intense. "A warning?" he repeated. "What kind of warning?"

Asher hesitated, glancing at Kaira before turning back to Thane. "We're not sure," he said. "But it looks like... it looks like a warning about the Shadow."

Kaira's heart skipped a beat as she listened to Asher's words. The Shadow? What was that?

Thane's expression turned grim, his eyes narrowing. "We need to investigate further," he said. "Asher, gather a team and meet me at the edge of the village."

Asher nodded, turning to leave. But as he reached the door, he turned back to Kaira. "You should come with us," he said. "You might be able to... sense something."

Kaira's eyes widened, unsure of what to do. But Thane's expression told her that she had no choice. She was going with them, whether she liked it or not.

As they left the cabin, Kaira felt a sense of trepidation. What were they going to find at the edge of the village? And what did the Shadow have to do with it?

The forest loomed before them, dark and menacing. Kaira shivered, feeling a sense of unease. She was being drawn into a world of mystery and danger, and she wasn't sure if she was ready.

But as she looked at Thane and Asher, she knew that she had no choice. She was in this now, and she had to see it through.

As they stepped into the forest, the trees seemed to close in around them, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground, and Kaira could have sworn she heard a faint whisper in her ear: "We've been waiting for you."