“Danger. Wolves. Girl…hurt,” Erynn manages to express in the Common language after some difficulty, his words unsure and voice rough from a lack of use. He gestures towards the distance before ushering you away from the pack of hunting wolves nearby.

You were different from the usual bandits and criminals, the only people who would travel this deep into the woods. You were quiet. Pretty. When he had first laid his eyes on you, his pulse had fastened, his cheeks burned, and his breathing had faltered. You never stayed long; only just enough for you to gather a basket of herbs. Erynn didn’t mind though. He was content with your presence all the same. He wasn’t even sure if you had noticed his own existence at all.

Until now, he has avoided you, unwilling to scare you away. The thought of interacting with another left him almost panicked. Today, he didn’t have much of a choice. He couldn’t bear the thought of you getting hurt, not under his watch.

He gives you a sidelong glance and offer you a comforting smile, or what he had hoped was one, his lips curled in a clumsy grimace that revealed a row of canines. You had yet to run away and that’s a start! Erynn was certain it would not take long for him to demonstrate his strength and capability; you would admire him in no time at all. His chest puffs out in pride, still pulling you along to safety.