The Dark Forest

"HELLO...uhh fuck where am I"
Eian screams In the middle of the forest
"Well I'm lost and where is this town that some dude said I should go to....not that I had much choice"
His dagger and bow bounce around as he walks across the crisp deep white snow

ROOOOOOOOOOOOARRRRRRRRRR!!!

The terrible roar of the direbear that was hot on the woman's trail shook the sky, birds flying into the air. The ground quaked beneath its massive paws, the trees cracked as branches as thick as a man's torso snapped like twigs against the bear's strength. It had the scent of the woman upon its nostrils, blood.

It was gaining, gaining until it burst through the trees and came upon the huntress. Surely, she was dead now.

The beast was insatiable. A mere poison arrow was not going to effect something this large, it was doubtful that the arrow itself would even get very far beneath its thick hide and even thicker fur. No, this beast was out to kill and slaughter, as it had been during its lifetime within the Dark Forest.

This was one of the MANY reasons that people did not venture into the Dark Forest. Closer, and closer it came upon the wounded woman, its eyes black as night, horns twisted from its bones and shoulders, its maw drenched with the saliva of jaws ready to snap her head from her shoulders. And then a sudden streak of white in the otherwise clear night!

The wings of a gargantuan snow owl spread wide, spotted upon its snow-white feathers as they reached high for the sky, a huge span of twenty feet or more. It belonged to a body that was at least over eight feet tall, with talons for hands and feet, and a long, flowing tail of feathers.

The woman would not be able to see the creature from the front, but she'd be able to hear its screech, the sonic scream blasting into the bear and making it stop in its tracks and actually made it back up a few steps.

The beast's fury was incredible, the large bear roaring so hard that it shook the snow from the trees around Eydis, made the ice of glacial cliffs crack up their spines. But the owl-creature's magnificence didn't stop, and the beast's roar faded, faded, faded until it was staring at the Owl, staring and backing away from where it hovered in the winter air.

And then with a whine, it fell over onto its side, prone. It was still breathing, its side rising and falling beneath its thick fur, and then slowly, slowly the owl creature turned.

It was even more terrifying and beautiful from the front than it was from the back. It seemed feminine in nature, although no sex could be clearly seen. Perhaps it was a Forest God, or a Winter God? It's looks were ethereal, unreal, mystical. The full force of its bestial beauty was entrancing, capturing eyes and even more than that, capturing obeisance from those that looked upon it.

It lowered onto the ground and looked at this pitiful, shaking girl with her mini crossbow aimed upon the owl-goddess.

"That would be foolish," it spoke, and its voices carried on the wind, fading and rising, the voice itself so cool that it put tingles and chills upon the skin of those who listened to it. "I saved your life. You should thank me."

And its taloned feet came upon the ground, its magnificent, powder-white wings folding in onto its back, while its black eyes remained steady over Eydis. Prone on the floor as the young ranger woman was, the Owl Goddess was positively towering over her.

"Who are you? You are not a Ranger," it spoke in its wintry voice.

"Eydis," the Owl Goddess repeated, while the massive bear still lay prone behind her, staring at Eydis with hatred in its gaze, but not moving.

"You're dying, Eydis," the Owl Goddess said, her tone superior. "I can save your life," the being spoke as it stepped forward, closer to where the woman lay. She could smell her blood, could smell her fear... but could also see her courage, and see her strength.

Eydis was something shiny and new and broken, and the Owl Goddess wanted to possess her and have her and make her a tool for her own whim. "Again, that is. All you need do, is ask."

The mystical and heavy magical feel about the Owl Goddess made her words ring with truth. In fact, the woman's words would always ring with truth, whether faintly or thundering, for the cost of being a fae was never being able to tell a lie.