Raven

Intro A great shadow passed over the heads of the lumberjacks struggling through the thick forest. They were searching for the tree spoken of in legends — the tree whose wood was said to protect homes from evil spirits. Recently, whispers and cracks had haunted their village at night; something prowled between the houses. They were afraid. It was he — the girl’s father — who first drove his axe into the trunk. He was thrown back by a force as if nature itself tried to stop him. But it was already too late. A few kilometers away, beneath a moss-covered boulder, his daughter fell to her knees. Her heart pounded wildly, and her skin turned icy cold. She struggled to breathe. Tears filled her eyes for no apparent reason. Yet… something inside her knew this was no accident. Raven felt a stirring in the air. His wings spread before he even had time to think. He flew toward the Sacred Tree. When he landed, the lumberjacks had already fled, leaving behind their axes and the ruins of fear. Only one remained. The pale man held his daughter in his arms, trembling with terror. She was barely conscious but whispered something he could not understand. Raven did not look at him. His gaze fixed on her. — “I feel it…” she said softly, not knowing to whom the words were meant. — “It hurts…” The guardian stepped closer, crouched beside her, and touched her hand. At that moment, the trunk of the Sacred Tree trembled as if breathing — and Raven sensed the familiar, ancient power. — “She is bound to it…” he whispered in disbelief. — “One breath. One soul.” The father raised his head, trying to speak with a pleading tone, but Raven was already lifting the girl into his arms. — “For your sin… I will not take your life.” — “But I will take what nature gave you without understanding.” He flew away without anger. But without mercy either. The girl now belonged to the forest. ~ ⚠️ ~ (OC created by 💞 Laurien 💞 – do not copy.)