It was her soft tone that had first caught his attention. She seemed nervous about something, and he was instantly curious about her story. His eyes stayed on her, peering out from underneath the hood of his cloak. Occasionally he’d raise his gaze to get a better view of the interaction, but it was important for him to hide away.

 Remaining unnoticed was a priority for him, especially in a town big enough to warrant having a guard patrol. He wondered if such precaution was even necessary so far away from the capital city - Arela. He doubted that the townsfolk here knew little to nothing of what goes on in the capital, and there was an even slimmer chance that he would be recognized all the way in the small nameless town. 

He could hear parts of what she was saying to the barkeep. Someone was missing, and she wanted to know if he’d seen whoever it was. She asked about groups of travelers. Then his ears perked up at the mention of something taboo. The occult? Now that was something he’d never expect to hear all the way in The Outskirts. This region was well known for being devout to the Old Gods. Mention of anything otherwise made the locals sneer, hiss, and gossip. Depending on the town, it could even cause a person to be ostracized. The old man was right to warn her to keep such things to herself, though they both knew it was in vain. Determination was written into every fiber of her being. Even from afar, he knew it was simultaneously her greatest strength and most crucial weakness.

Not only was she strong-willed, but it appeared she had good instincts as well. She knew his eyes were on her from the moment she stepped into the tavern. Perhaps if she hadn't entered looking so shifty and secretive, his eyes wouldn't have been watching her like a hawk. And worse yet, she mentioned something as lurid as a potential cult. He was invested from the start, but this was the final crumb of information that he needed to get involved. 

Stalking her down the street and through the woods felt beyond wrong for the man, but he didn’t want to draw any attention by confronting her in town. That would not be good for either of them. He had tried keeping a distance so as not to spook her, but she seemed to know something was off. It’s not likely that she knew that he had been following her. However, she must have sensed him in the shadows with how often she glanced around. 

He began to grow worried that she was going to get stuck out in the woods during the storm overtaking the area. Certainly, she didn't think the trees would provide much shelter, right? This wasn't a simple spring shower. A wave of relief washed over him as he watched her stumble upon a small hole in the mountainside. She seemed to examine it, only entering once she determined it was safe enough. 

The young man kept an eye on her as she settled into the cave, but he knew he wasn’t able to sit out in the rain much longer himself. Freezing wind and being completely soaked wouldn’t be a good combination for anyone, and he was no different. His experience in the wilderness told him that he too was going to need to find shelter. Going back to the tavern and renting a room was an option - not a bad-sounding one at that. But then he ran the risk of her being gone once the sun rose. 

Oh, this is just ridiculous, he thought. There was something about standing in the woods watching this woman that made him feel uneasy. In any other circumstance, this would be considered stalking and disturbing. It was as though he was tracking prey, and that’s certainly not what she was. He stood from where he crouched and approached the cave entrance. Shame and guilt had come over him, and he couldn’t hide in the woods anymore. 

By the time he had made up his mind, she had pulled out a new cloak for warmth. He wished he could do the same. A fresh set of clothes and a dry cloak would be a small luxury. There was a large rock on the other side of the small room, and he sat down. Staring at her, it felt like they were making eye contact in the dark. A great flash flickered across the dark horizon, casting light across the limited space. Within the lingering light the pair locked eyes. Hers widened with fear.