A Walk in The Forest

A Walk in the Forest

Once Upon A Time, the beautiful Mistress walked along the forest path heading toward the sleepy little town of M'Chek. Carrying with her a light wooden basket, the mistress and her pet occasionally stopped to pick wild strawberries. They were blissfully unaware of the danger that stalked them as they slowly made their way down the path.

Just west of them and hidden in amongst the dark ancient trees a great shadow stalked its prey. Its hunger hung in the air about him as he licked his teeth. Crouched low his eyes tracking each movement the mistress and her pet made. In his thoughts, the wild beast made sport of them while he decided what he would do to those who dare to tread so close to his lair.

Would he play a game of cat and mouse and terrify them - leaping out of the dark snapping his fangs at them until they were held frozen, their fear made tangible, they could watch as he sank his teeth deep into their flesh. On the other hand, would he step onto the path and greet the Mistress to see why she had dared to trespass his woods?

What answer would she consider reasonable enough to dare his wrath he pondered?

Then he heard them, the pet spoke first. "Dear Mistress we should not leave the path. The Sheriff said we were mad to travel the woods even in daylight." "But where is the adventure in that, my pet?" answered the most alluring and divine voice. "That would be boring."

With a growl, the shadow shifted standing in the shape of a man and stepped out onto the path standing there a long moment before they even realized it.

As she stood back up a pretty wildflower fresh plucked in her hand, the Mistress' eyes widened. There towering above her stood the beast so close that he could hear her heart skip a beat then start again beating rapidly in her chest.

"Boring is safe My Mistress." Her pet answered from behind her still blissfully unaware of the danger.

"Safety is no longer your concern." His voice menaced.

The pet turned recognizing the command in the beast's voice and stared worriedly at her mistress.

"Your mistress is mine now for as long as she pleases me. She will stay in my tower and see to my needs just as you see to hers."

The Mistress balked! She was after all the Mistress of Moonsea, how dare he make such proclamations!

Eyes narrowing on his prey the beast continued. "I will give you three favors and only three little elf. One, you can decide to keep your pet or I will eat her here and now while you watch. Two, you do not know my ways nor me. I will teach you them but bear in mind I lack patience you will learn them quickly or face my wrath. Three, if you please me and rid me of my boredom then I will relieve you of yours.

The Mistress' eyes flickered over the beast and she looked all around the woods, the path, and her pet searching for an escape. Trapped and near panic the mistress watched her pet-surely if the beast was hungry it could eat and she could escape?

Pouting she knew that would not do, no, she would be without her pet and woods to entertain her. Her eyes dared meet his searching for an answer.

"I will agree to your terms beast but be warned," she said. "There will be hell to pay if my need for adventure is not answered."

With that, the Mistress stepped off the path and calling her pet to her, she waited for the beast to lead her to his serpent's tower.

The End.