I had been banished two days ago. Bruised, beaten, bloody and vengeful. I’d had nothing but my knife when they banished me, meaning I was both injured and starving, with no home.

Suddenly, I hear a small crackle of branches in the distance, and am immediately sent into fight or flight.

I don’t have time to think, knowing that otherwise I’ll be dead, so without hesitation I grab the figure by the roots of their hair and pin my blade to their neck, breathing ragged.