By the time they all woke up, the wolf had vanished, making Stella heartbroken that something else had left her. Geralt tried to explain that he already had a home and he probably went back home to his master. It didn't make her feel any better. It still hurt her a lot, and she didn't talk much until they got to the next town three days later.

"Wow, this town is bigger than the last one," Stella said.

"Yes, it is, meaning you must stay closer to us. Don't go anywhere with anyone, even if they have an animal with them," he informed her as she nodded.

Geralt tied Roach to a post, and Jaskier saw Geralt go into the inn. Jaskier looked at Stella and sighed.

"Out of all the girl names I gave you, you let him pick a random one for you?" Jaskier asked.

"Yeah, because you did weird stuff with those people," she said.

"Do you have to call me out like that?" He asked.

"It's true, though," she said as he paused.

"I am going to start looking for some work. Don't go anywhere," he said as he left her alone.

"Guess it's just you and me, Roach," she said softly as she petted the horse.

"Well, hello, beautiful; what are you doing here?" A man asked as she looked over and saw a man with a few drinks.

"Are you talking to the horse or me?" She asked as the man looked at her, somewhat annoyed.

"You, you dumb bitch," he growled as Stella put one of her hands behind her back and grew out her claws.

"I'm not as stupid as you think I am. I would appreciate it if you left me alone," she informed.

"I was thinking about taking you somewhere more private," he said as she rolled her eyes.

"I'm not going anywhere with a man I just met. Also, I'm with someone already, two people actually," she informed him.

"Well, then you must be a whore then," he chuckled as she stepped back to put more room between them.

"No, but you seem to be one," she said as the man was about to yell at her when a taller man came up wearing ragged clothes.

He must have had a job in hard labor by how he looked and how strong he looked. He blended right into the area and didn't stand out. He had short black hair and light green eyes that seemed very kind.

"Excuse me, is this man bothering you?" The man asked.

"You stay out of our business!" The drunk man growled.

"It is my business. You seem to be bothering her while she minds her own business. I suggest you leave her alone before I do something about it," he suggested.

"You don't scare me, you filthy piece of trash!" The drunk man growled as he tried to hit him.

The other man dodged the drunk man as he tried to hit him. The drunk man fell flat on his face after, and they both looked at each other confused. Stella made her claws disappear as the man looked at her and smiled.

"Thank you for that," she said as he nodded.

"Not a problem, my name is Alexander; what is yours?" He asked.

"Stella," she smiled.

"Well, Stella, I suggest you be careful around here. People like me won't always be around. My sister always got unwanted attention from men; you are just as beautiful as she is," he said, making her smile.

"I don't think so," she smiled.

"Looks don't just measure beauty; it is measured by your spirit too. I can tell you have a very good heart; hopefully, I see you again, he said as he bowed to her and walked away making her smile a bit. 

"Stella?" Geralt said as he went outside and saw Jaskier was gone again.

"Did he leave alone again?" He asked.

"Yes, I don't remember which way he went," she informed as he sighed.

"Come on, we are going to get you a sword," he said as she smiled.

"Right now?" She asked.

"Yes, once we get it, I'm going to make you a wooden sword to practice with," he informed.

"Really?" She asked happily.

"Maybe a stick first," he said as she happily followed him to the blacksmith.

"I like sticks; let's go! Come on, can we run?" She asked happily.

"No, we don't know what this town is filled with," he informed.

"People, cute animals, maybe babies! Shops, can we run now?" She asked.

"No, Stella, we have to be careful," he said as people looked at him with suspension.

"Okay, then, can we go into the woods and play?" She asked.

"I can teach you a little bit, but then I need to start looking for a job," he informed her.

"But what if there isn't one?" She asked.

"Then we will have to leave," he informed.

"Aww, but we can be here for a while. We can play and look at things!" She said as he sighed.

"But if we don't have coin, we can't get anything we need," he said.

"Like what?" She asked.

"Things," he said as they entered the blacksmith's shop.

"Hell-" he paused, seeing Geralt and Stella begin looking at the swords.

"Don't touch them; they are sharp," Geralt said as she was happily looking at them.

"What can I get you?" The blacksmith asked.

"A sword for her," Geralt said as the man laughed.

"You want to give a sword to a woman? She doesn't even look capable enough to hold a knife," the man said as Stella looked at a sword.

"I'm teaching her," he said as Stella picked up a sharp knife.

"You are going to teach a princess how to fight? Good luck with that; I got several swords to pick from," he said as Geralt looked at them carefully.

"Stella, don't touch that one; it might be too heavy for you to hold," Geralt informed.

"Did you say her name was Stella?" The blacksmith asked as Geralt got ready to grab her and go.

"It's my name," she said happily.

"Why didn't you say so? A man came by two days ago and got my best sword and told me to save it for a girl by that name," he informed.

"Who bought the sword?" Geralt asked.

"I didn't catch his name. He didn't look rich enough to buy such a sword from me, but he did. He said it was a thank you gift, though," the black Smith said as he got a sword almost like Geralt's that he hunted monsters with, except it had a star stamped into the handle.

"Thank you? For what?" Geralt asked as he looked at the sword, and it looked amazing.

"That's weird, especially since I only had my name for three or four days," she said.

Geralt paused as he thought about the wolf Stella decided to help and care for. There was no way it was human. It smelled like a pure breed wolf and acted off, but it belonged to someone. He didn't know if he needed to be on his guard; if someone was now hunting her like pray, the masked man or the other man was after her and got this sword to let him know she wasn't safe. It also meant they were there, and he didn't see them.

"Thank you! I love it!" She smiled.

"It also comes with a wooden sword for training. The man asked me to make it because he wanted her to practice with it," the blacksmith added.

"Thank you, Stella, come on. We need to leave," he said.

"Okay! We are going to have so much fun!" She said happily.

"Geralt! I got you a job!" Jaskier informed happily.

"Fuck," Geralt muttered.

"Fuck what?" She asked.

"Nothing," Geralt said.

"What does fuck mean?" She asked as he sighed.