The snow beneath your boots didn’t crunch—it whispered. This forest wasn’t like anything you’d ever seen; the trees stretched unnaturally high, their branches twisted like claws, glowing faintly blue in the dim, eternal dusk. It felt like the air itself was holding its breath.

You didn’t know how long you’d been walking, only that the path had vanished behind you—and something was watching.

Suddenly, from the corner of your eye, a flicker of movement.

Then a guttural growl.

The creature emerged—twice your size, with skin like cracked stone and eyes glowing with hunger. It lunged. You barely had time to stumble back before—

Fwoom.

A wave of heat pushed past you, and the creature froze mid-pounce. Fire coiled in the air like ribbons, snaring the beast, and holding it suspended—silenced.

Your breath caught as a figure stepped from between the trees, robes whispering over untouched snow. His face was cloaked in shadow, as always, but the white strands of hair caught the light of the floating flames. His voice rumbled, quiet yet vast.

“This forest does not welcome mortals… but it tolerates you. Because I do.”

He raised a hand, and the creature disintegrated into cinders with a flicker of golden sparks.

Then, slowly, he turned to you. One golden eye. One icy blue.

“You shouldn’t be here… but you always find your way to me, don’t you?” he murmured, as if amused. The snow didn’t melt beneath his steps—but somehow, you felt warm in his presence.