The towering shadow seemed to pulse with power, its edges shifting like smoke caught in an unseen wind. Its glowing eyes bore into Katrina, and the weight of its presence pressed down on the group like an icy hand around their throats. The flames sputtered, struggling against the darkness encroaching upon them.

Katrina's grip on her dagger tightened, her knuckles white. Her voice was low but steady. "That's not my father—not really."

Jon stepped closer to her, Longclaw raised. "Then what is it?"

"It's what he became," Katrina said, her golden eyes locked on the figure. "The shadow consumed him. Now he's a part of it, or maybe it's a part of him. Either way, he's not human anymore."

Thane and the other Wildlings held their weapons at the ready, their faces pale but determined. "What do we do, Littlefoot?" Thane asked, his usual hostility tempered by fear.

Katrina didn't answer immediately. Her breathing was shallow, and Jon could see her trembling, though whether it was from fear or something else, he couldn't tell.

"Katrina," Jon said, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We need you."

She snapped out of her daze, her jaw tightening. "We draw him in. He's focused on me. That gives you all a chance to take out the wights."

"That's suicide," Jon said sharply, stepping in front of her. "You're not facing him alone."

Katrina shot him a glare. "Do you have a better idea, Snow? Because if you do, now's the time."

Jon hesitated, his mind racing. The shadow was advancing slowly, the wights falling into formation behind it, their hollow eyes fixed on the group. They didn't have much time.

"We fight together," Jon said firmly. "All of us."

Katrina's lips twitched into a faint smirk, despite the terror in her eyes. "You're stubborn, you know that?"

"You've mentioned it," Jon replied, stepping beside her.

The group braced themselves as the wights charged. Ghost launched forward, his snarls savage as he tore into the first wave. Thane and the Wildlings fought with ferocity, their weapons cutting through the dead with desperate strength.

Jon and Katrina held the line at the center, their movements fluid and precise. Jon's Valyrian steel sliced through the wights like they were paper, while Katrina moved with deadly grace, her dagger finding its mark with every strike.

But the shadow was the real threat.

It hovered just beyond the edge of the firelight, its presence making the air thick and cold. Katrina could feel it watching her, its attention like a physical weight pressing on her chest. Her breathing grew labored, and heat began to radiate from her skin, faint but growing stronger.

"Katrina," Jon said, noticing the change. "What's happening?"

"I don't know," she gasped, clutching her chest. "It's like… it's trying to pull something out of me."

The shadow raised an arm, and the air around them seemed to vibrate. A deep, resonant voice echoed in their minds, chilling and ancient.

"You cannot escape me, child," it said. "You are the fire, and I am the shadow. Together, we will consume the living."

Katrina staggered, her knees buckling. Jon caught her, his arm around her waist. "Stay with me," he said urgently. "You're stronger than this."

Katrina's eyes flickered, golden flames sparking within them. "Jon… I don't think I can hold it back."

"Yes, you can," Jon said, his voice firm. "You've fought this far. You can fight this too."

The shadow advanced, its form growing larger, more defined. The firelight dimmed further, and the wights pressed harder, their attacks more frenzied. The group was being overwhelmed.

Katrina let out a pained cry, and suddenly the heat emanating from her flared. Flames licked at her skin, harmless to her but burning brighter with every second. The shadow hesitated, its form rippling as if in response to the fire.

Jon stared at her, his dark eyes wide. "Katrina—"

"It's the fire," she said through gritted teeth. "It's what it wants. What it's been trying to wake up."

"Then use it," Jon said. "Turn it against him."

Katrina's eyes locked onto his, filled with fear and resolve. "If I do this… I might not come back."

Jon cupped her face, his voice low and steady. "You will. I'll make sure of it."

The moment hung between them, and then Katrina nodded. She stepped out of Jon's grasp, her body radiating heat as the flames around her grew brighter. The shadow let out a guttural growl, its form shrinking slightly as it recoiled.

"Come on!" Katrina shouted, her voice filled with defiance. "You wanted the fire? Here it is!"

The shadow surged forward, drawn to her. Katrina raised her arms, the flames erupting from her body in a blinding torrent. The heat was overwhelming, and even Jon had to shield his face as the fire roared around her.

The wights froze, their forms disintegrating as the fire swept through them. The shadow let out a deafening roar, its form flickering and distorting as the flames consumed it.

Jon rushed to Katrina's side, his heart pounding. "Katrina!"

She stood at the center of the inferno, her golden eyes blazing. The shadow's form crumbled, and with one final scream, it dissolved into nothingness. The fire began to die down, leaving Katrina swaying on her feet, her skin pale and her breathing ragged.

Jon caught her before she fell, his arms wrapping around her. "I've got you," he said softly.

Katrina looked up at him, her voice barely audible. "Is it over?"

"For now," Jon said, his voice steady despite the fear still coursing through him. "You did it."

The forest was silent, the wights gone, the shadow defeated. But Jon knew this wasn't the end. The fire within Katrina had awakened, and its price had only just begun to reveal itself.