The black dire wolf darted into the forest, its movements swift and purposeful. The Raven Knight pursued, his instincts alerting him to the imminent danger that lurked among the trees. He tightened his grip on his longsword, scanning the shadowed woods with a practiced eye. "Kellin!" he called out, his voice firm but tinged with concern. There was no response. A flicker of movement to his right caught his attention, and he wondered if Kellin had caught the scent of some wild beast. "Kellin, come!" The knight's voice echoed through the forest as he cautiously moved between the trees, his sword ready to strike. Suddenly, a growl pierced the silence, followed by the unmistakable sound of a struggle.
The knight's heart raced as he turned toward the source of the commotion, cursing under his breath. Sprinting through the underbrush, he came upon a terrifying scene: Kellin locked in battle with a grotesque creature, its twisted form a grotesque blend of man and beast. "Please, save me!" A woman's voice cried out, filled with desperation. The knight's gaze snapped to her, just in time to see the creature raising a weapon, poised to deliver a fatal blow to Kellin.
With a swift, fluid motion, the knight surged forward, his sword cutting through the air with deadly precision. The creature barely had time to react before the blade cleaved through its body, splitting it in two. It collapsed with a sickening thud, lifeless. "Kellin, are you alright?" The knight knelt beside his loyal companion, his hand trembling as he patted the wolf's fur. Kellin let out a low growl, more out of determination than pain, and nudged the knight's hand with his snout.
"Thank the gods... and thank you, noble knight. You saved my life," the woman sobbed, her voice trembling with relief and gratitude.
The knight turned to her, his gaze softening. "You're safe now.," he said quietly, but his thoughts were already with Kellin, wondering what other dangers might lurk in the shadows of the forest.
The Raven Knight stood up, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area for any lingering threats. Kellin, now at his side, seemed to share his wariness, his dark fur bristling with tension.
The young woman, her dress torn and dirtied from the forest, approached the knight cautiously. She had a delicate beauty, but her face was marked with the strain of fear and exhaustion. "Please, sir, I... I must speak with you," she began, her voice trembling as she tried to find the right words.
The knight, his expression unreadable beneath the shadow of his helm, glanced at her briefly before turning away. "There's nothing to discuss. You're safe now. Return to your home." His tone was curt, the finality of his words clear.
"But I can't go back!" she pleaded, her voice growing more desperate. She took a step closer, her hands trembling as she clasped them together. "I ran away. My father... he wants me to marry a man twice my age—a prince. I couldn't... I couldn't bear it." Tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away, determined to hold herself together. "Please, I beg you. Let me come with you. I have nowhere else to go."
The knight stiffened at her words, his grip tightening on his sword. He had no interest in entangling himself in the affairs of noble families or their spoiled offspring. "I'm not your savior," he said coldly, starting to walk away. Kellin followed closely, his sharp eyes never leaving the woman.
She hurried after him, struggling to keep up. "But you saved me from that creature! You're a knight—noble and strong. I know you can protect me. I'll do anything, just don't leave me alone in this forest!"
The knight paused, turning slightly to face her. His gaze was steely, devoid of the compassion she sought. "Do you even know what you're asking? The path I walk is not for the faint of heart. It's fraught with dangers far worse than what you've seen tonight. I cannot and will not play the guardian to some runaway noble."
Her voice quivered, but she stood her ground. "I'm not asking for protection without reason. My father will hunt me down, force me to return and marry that man. I have no one else who can help me, no one who would dare defy him. You... you could stop him."
The knight sighed, a sound heavy with weariness rather than sympathy. "If you fear your father so much, you should have considered the consequences before running away. Now, your problems are your own. I have my own journey to attend to." He turned his back on her once more, his mind already on the road ahead.
Desperation clawed at her, and she lunged forward, grabbing onto his arm. "Please, I'll do anything! You don't understand—I'd rather die than be forced into that marriage. If you won't help me, I'll be lost. Alone, with no hope. Don't you have any mercy?"
The knight's eyes darkened, and he gently but firmly removed her hand from his arm. "Mercy is a luxury I can't afford. If you wish to survive, find your own way. Relying on strangers will only lead you to ruin."
He began to walk away once more, his steps resolute. The woman, seeing that her pleas were in vain, stood frozen in place, tears streaming down her face. But as she watched him disappear into the trees with his dire wolf, she knew she couldn't let him leave her behind. Taking a deep breath, she hurried after him, determined to follow at a distance if necessary.
The knight heard her footsteps trailing behind, and though his expression remained impassive, a flicker of irritation crossed his mind. He would not turn back. He would not allow her to slow him down. If she chose to follow, she would soon learn that the world he walked in was no place for the weak.
The night had deepened, and the forest grew thicker, the shadows stretching longer as the Raven Knight and Kellin pressed on. The knight's patience, already thin, was fraying with each step. He could still hear her, the young woman trailing behind at a distance, her footsteps cautious but persistent. The rustle of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig betrayed her presence, grating on his nerves.
Finally, the knight stopped abruptly, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword as he whirled around to face her. His eyes blazed with irritation as he spoke, his voice low but laced with venom. "Enough! I've warned you once, girl. Leave me be. I have neither the time nor the inclination to deal with your foolishness. Turn back now, or I swear you'll regret it."
The woman hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest, but she didn't back down. "I won't go back," she replied, her voice trembling but resolute. "You can threaten me all you want, but I'm not afraid. Not of you, and not of this forest."
His glare sharpened, his frustration boiling over. "You should be afraid. You think you're brave, but you're just a stubborn child playing with fire. I will not be responsible for your life, and I certainly won't save you if you get yourself into trouble. Leave. Now."
She crossed her arms, defiant despite her fear. "I can take care of myself. I'm not asking for your protection anymore. Just... let me come with you. You don't even have to talk to me. I won't slow you down, I promise."
The knight's jaw clenched, his patience snapping. "You're already slowing me down! You're a nuisance, and I have no use for dead weight. Turn back before I force you to."
But instead of retreating, she took a step closer, her stubbornness matching his anger. "You saved me once; you can't just throw me away now. If you leave me, I'll follow. If you threaten me, I'll endure it. I won't give up. So if you want to get rid of me, you'll have to kill me."
The knight's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in their depths. His hand moved to the hilt of his sword, and for a tense moment, it seemed as though he might actually draw it. But then he let out a harsh, exasperated breath, his anger mingling with a grudging respect for her tenacity. "You're a fool," he muttered, shaking his head. "A stubborn, foolish girl who doesn't know when to quit."
She remained silent, her gaze steady despite the fear flickering in her eyes.
The knight cursed under his breath and finally relented. "Fine. Do as you wish. Follow if you must, but hear this: you will not speak to me, you will not ask questions, and you will not expect me to save you from whatever dangers lie ahead. You are responsible for your own life. Understand?"
The woman nodded quickly, relief washing over her. "I understand. I won't be a burden, I swear."
"See that you don't," he replied curtly, turning his back on her once more. "And keep your distance. I don't want to hear a word from you."
As they continued on, the knight's frustration simmered, but he knew he had little choice. She was determined, and though he despised the idea of dragging her along, he could not waste any more time or energy trying to rid himself of her. If she survived the journey, it would be her own doing. And if she didn't—well, that was her fate to decide.