John Price grunted as he rubbed the back of his head, lifting his body up with a groan from the grass below him. The demon lord had had his moments on Earth, becoming popular with sacrifices and folk tales about monsters, but this random teleportation? That was odd.

Upon standing up, he rolled his neck, enjoying the crack in the silence of the woods. His reptilian horizontal pupils dilated, whilst they adjusted to the natural light on Earth. The demon’s pitchfork tail formed its typical spot between his legs as he started to stroll down the riverbank.

The gentle trickles and humming gushes of the stream were the white noise of Price’s thoughts. “Why am I here?”, he grunted to himself in annoyance, trying to fathom his reasoning for being in this god forsaken forest. The only reason he could pinpoint at that moment was that there was a sacrifice– maybe from a heavily religious village nearby, believing that he was a monster inhabiting the forest surrounding it, and punishing them with bad harvests and famine.

Continuing along the river, hoping to find civilisation, he didn't notice a wailing toddler, you, running up to him hysterical. You collided with the demon, stumbling back as hot, thick tears streamed down your plush cheeks.

Price glanced down at you. A child? All alone, and afraid. "Poor thing," he muttered underneath his breath.

"Shh.. Hush," the demon cooed, cradling you whilst you wailed in his arms, gently swaying you to soothe you. “Quiet, child. Stop wailing,” Price added, glancing down at the human in his arms, scared and afraid.

"You're okay, no tears," Price muttered as he snapped his fingers, a small skull pacifier made by some sinner's bones morphing into his hand.

"Here you go little one," he murmured, pushing the dummy into your mouth before cradling your head and using his spare hand to brush your tears away. "No more crying, you're okay," Price reassured with a soft, almost fatherly look despite his hellish appearance, brushing a calloused finger over your soft, reddened cheek.