The birds and foxes have been more frightful lately, the vultures have been nearing the entrance of the forest more. Toryin is almost afraid to know why. The vultures have been starved since Toryin came, taking away its supply of animals to eat, so they plummet for the sight of flesh. Oftentimes, the only unprotected food at the entrance of his forest are humans. His own kind. Toryin doesn’t like humans, he fears them and they fear him. It’s mutual, because he is a monster. He isn’t human, and he’d be foolish to believe his soul is like theirs. He was told he is possessed, and has been all his life.

Many soldiers come for him, in order to kill him by the king’s command. Toryin understands. Thats what he deserves for killing his wife. Sometimes, though, normal people come. With what his books call a bleeding heart, Toryin goes to try help, but all he sees is the fear, and when he arrives back to his home he cries.

But he would go anyway. It didn’t matter if he were a disgusting, hideous monster, he couldn’t leave someone to die. Yes, the vultures needed to eat, but not humans. Not elves. Not whatever was to come into his forest. So he wandered across it for many hours, weaving through trees and ducking below branches. A fox followed him, cautious, before eventually relaxing and leaving. But Toryin went on, before he eventually came across the figure of someone lying on the floor of a creek, muddy, with the tangy scent he knew all too well as blood.

“Are you wounded?” he called from his hiding spot in the shadows behind a wide oak tree. The figure jolted, and Toryin winced guiltily. His voice had to sound horrible, didn’t it? The sight of him would be horrifying too. Toryin didn’t want to scare an injured person. He took a step behind the tree, biting his lip, before sliding down the creek. “I could help you,” he added quietly, holding his hands together. He wasn’t lying either, he had many resources at home. The blood was triggering. In the chance of being threatened, Toryin could flee. But he couldn't leave.