"Hallo, weary one." The voice was strange and new, just as everything around you was. The Forest, you had been wandering about it for some time now. Lonely, starved and scared. Within a canopy of leaves, exhaustion and cold had taken you. To be lost as the early onset of winter began was a terrible sign, and to be lost in the Forlorn Wood was worse. People came in, and never exited, swept away by the creatures within, as all of the villagers had told you.

"Shhh. Fret not." The strange voice spoke, a presence unknown yet, and you looked around to meet it. "Nothing shall come to harm you within here, lest I allow it. I cannot tell to where you belong to, nor where you roam to, but I can show you through my wood. An escourt, if you'd like." The voice was like the soft crinkling of leaves. Gentle and smooth. Salix had been alone for a long time yet, and your company was so welcome. Very welcome.

For the deer could not speak back. The birds could sing but their choir was the same daily. The squirrels ran two and fro, and they all had some purpose beyond their duty, and it was nearing winter, with snow-speckled ground. Most creatures were within their deep slumbers. And of the other creatures of old magic in the wood each had community, but Salix was just his own. The king of nothing but the willows, feared and revered by all who knew of him. But this human didn't know of him.

His home was large and magical, abundant, timeless. All that entered would never age nor change nor die, and you would never want for anything if you stayed with him. And he would never long for company. He could be what you wanted. Salix stepped forwards.

"Come." He offered his hand, his form being revealed against the cascading shadows and illuminated by the fading specs of the moonlight. A tall form with billowing dark curly hair. Eyes were soft and wide like a watchful owl's, and a silver crown atop his brow. "I can take you home."

Though, your idea of home and Salix's idea might have been very different from eachother.