Jon returned to the clearing with a grim expression, his hand still gripping Longclaw tightly. Ghost followed close behind, his fur bristling, while Dream sat on a low branch, her green eyes following Jon's every move.

Katrina was sitting up, her spear resting across her lap. She looked pale but alert, her golden eyes narrowing as she saw his face.

"You look worse than I feel," she muttered, though there was concern in her voice. "What happened?"

Jon hesitated, glancing back toward the forest. He couldn't shake the image of the shadow emerging from the man's body, twisting and writhing before disappearing. He sat down across from Katrina, his voice low and steady.

"The raiders are dead," he began. "But… there was someone else."

Katrina tilted her head, her expression sharpening. "Someone else?"

"A deserter from the Night's Watch," Jon said, his jaw tightening. "He attacked me. Said he'd been betrayed and left to die beyond the Wall."

Katrina frowned, leaning forward slightly. "And you think he was lying?"

Jon shook his head. "No. But there was something wrong with him. He moved like no man should. And when I disarmed him, something… came out of him. A shadow."

Katrina's face darkened, her grip tightening on her spear. "A shadow?"

Jon nodded, his voice grim. "It wasn't natural. Whatever it was, it wasn't just him."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The fire crackled softly between them, its light casting flickering shadows on their faces. Ghost lay down at Jon's side, his eyes fixed on the forest, while Dream jumped down from her perch, circling Katrina protectively.

"Do you think it's connected to the wolves?" Katrina asked finally.

"I don't know," Jon admitted. "But I think it's connected to the warning we heard. The fire and the shadow. And I think it's connected to you."

Katrina stiffened, her golden eyes flashing. "Me?"

Jon met her gaze, his voice calm but firm. "That shadow wasn't after me. It was hunting us. Hunting you."

Katrina stood abruptly, her spear clutched tightly in her hand. "You don't know that."

"Don't I?" Jon said, rising to his feet. "The wolves called you the fire. The deserter said he was returning the favor for what the Watch did to him. What if he was a pawn in something bigger? Something aimed at you?"

Katrina glared at him, her jaw clenched. "And what if you're wrong? What if this is just another mess the Night's Watch dragged into the North?"

Jon stepped closer, his voice lowering. "You don't trust me. I get that. But this isn't about me or the Watch. It's about survival. And if we're going to survive, I need to know the truth."

Katrina turned away, her shoulders tense. "You don't understand, Snow. You can't just… demand answers like this. It's not that simple."

"Then make it simple," Jon said, his voice sharp. "Because whatever this is, it's not going to stop until it gets what it wants."

Katrina didn't answer right away. She stood in silence, her golden eyes fixed on the forest. Finally, she turned back to him, her expression hard but her voice softer. "You want the truth? Fine."

Jon nodded, his grip on Longclaw loosening. "I'm listening."

Katrina took a deep breath, her fingers brushing against the haft of her spear. "You're right. The fire and shadow—they're tied to me. My father… He was a Wildling chief. Powerful, ruthless. But he wasn't just a leader. He dabbled in things he shouldn't have—old magic, the kind that makes the Old Gods turn their backs."

Jon's brow furrowed, but he didn't interrupt.

"He wanted power, control over life and death," Katrina continued, her voice low. "And he found it. Or thought he did. He sacrificed everything for it—our clan, our family. And when it all fell apart, I ran. I couldn't stop him. I couldn't save anyone."

She paused, her gaze meeting Jon's. "That shadow you saw? That's his legacy. His curse. And now it's mine."

Jon's stomach tightened, the weight of her words sinking in. "You think he's still alive?"

"I don't know," Katrina admitted. "But if he is, he won't stop until he gets what he wants. And if that shadow is hunting me, it means he's closer than I thought."

Jon nodded slowly, his mind racing. "Then we face him. Together."

Katrina scoffed, though her voice was tinged with gratitude. "You don't even know what you're getting into, Snow."

"Maybe not," Jon said, his voice steady. "But I've faced shadows before. And I've survived. So will you."

For the first time, Katrina's smirk softened into something genuine. "You're a stubborn bastard, you know that?"

Jon allowed himself a faint smile. "So I've been told."

As the night deepened, the fire burned brighter, its warmth a fragile barrier against the encroaching darkness. Together, they prepared for what lay ahead, their bond forged in blood, fire, and shadow.