The forest stirred around us, leaves brushing together high overhead.
The air had changed. Something hung there now—tight and quiet.
I casually adjusted the wand in my waistband.
I wasn’t in danger, but I had the sense that something important was about to happen.
“Who are you?” I asked again.
For a moment, he didn’t answer.
His gaze searched my face like he was looking for something.
Finally, he said quietly,
“My name won’t mean much yet.”
Twobble groaned.
“Oh, great,” he muttered. “A mysterious riddle man.”
But he didn’t rise to it. He just kept going.
“I came because things are changing,” he said. “Faster than anyone expected.”
“That’s been the theme lately,” I said.
The corner of his mouth lifted a little.
“True,” he said. “But what’s coming next… that’s the part that matters.”
Behind me, Skonk leaned closer to Twobble.
“I don’t like this conversation,” he whispered.
“Me neither,” Twobble whispered back.
I folded my arms and looked at the stranger.
“You’re going to have to do better than vague warnings.”
The man exhaled slowly, and his eyes shifted past me.
Toward Stonewick.
And when he spoke again, his voice carried a quiet weight.
“Tell me something, Maeve.”
“What?”
“Does Keegan know yet?”
My stomach dropped.
“Know what?”
The man looked back at me.
