A light snow fell, gently whistling through the still night air. The branches creaked, sending the woodland creatures still awake scurrying back to their burrows. The night, overall, was peaceful.
A shadow, she swept on, scouring the woods for something. Her footsteps crunched quietly in the snow, alerting no one of her presence. She was intent on finding what she wanted.
She paused. The night wind seemed to stop with her. Her gaze was resting on a man, huddled in the roots that twisted and snaked around a large oak. His cloak was thin, ragged holes patched through the cloth. He made no sound as the figure approached, his bulk the only thing giving him away, for he was not moving. The figure paused, waiting, watching for the slightest movement, the slightest notification that he was alive.
She waited. And waited.
The man gave a low moan and burrowed deeper in his cloak.
She started forward again.
As she got nearer, she heard a slight muttering. The man was talking quietly, his voice almost lost in the snow.
"Take me quicker, O great Letan," he murmured. "Show me the way, out of this snow, the world, my life."
He suddenly sat bolt upright, and stared directly at the spot where the figure had halted, no more than a few feet away. His gaze was intent, though the figure knew he could not see her.
" I can sense a presence. I am not sure who you are, but if possible, please take my soul to a safer place," the man gasped, his breathing much more ragged. " I know I have done all I could. My only regret is not getting to see the girl. She has much promise. Without my message, she will surely have a hard life, filling in her destiny." The man breathed heavily. "Now I am done."
The figure slowly raised her hand. Her fist curled, she pointed only her index finger at the man. A shriek of agony erupted in the forest, though it was lost in the wind. The figure turned away from the man and drifted quietly away, giving no more glances at the crumpled body she had left behind.
A light snow fell still. The forest was peaceful, the branches were creaking, and the woodland creatures were burrowed deep in their nests. And all was silent.