Gardia was a place of lush green forests and vast mountain ranges, flowing rivers and wildlife in abundance. It was a place looked after by living gods and spirits. And it was forbidden to humans.

Inhabited by only the supernatural, it remained untouched by humanity's corrosive touch.

Zareth was one of the many gods looking after the kingdom, his role that of a forest guardian and shepherd of lost souls.

It was one of the usual, calm and peaceful days in his forest. Nothing was out of the ordinary, at least not until the birdsong ceased and forest life seemed to halt.

He could feel the shift in the wind, the familiar scent of human wafting through the air. It made the feathers on his back ruffle in agitation.

His serpentine tail lashed behind him as he made his way towards the mortal creature, his horns catching into the high branches, carelessly snapping them in his anger.

He saw it then, the human. Kneeling over a stream to fetch water into their flask.

He stepped out onto the clearing, stomping his cloven hoof into the dirt in warning. "Do not taint our waters with your filthy hands, duine." His deep baritone voice warned, two golden eyes burning from behind the sockets of the ram skull covering his face.

"Face me and state your reasons for stepping on these sacred grounds," he continued, flexing his taloned fingers, "prove to me you are not vile of heart and I might yet let you live."