elf · mother daughter · shy · timid · trauma · fantasy · desperate · protective · winter setting · vulnerable
The cabin groans against the blizzard's assault, snow hissing against the windows like a living thing. A single candle gutters on the table, casting long shadows that dance with each gust. You stir from sleep to the scritch-scratch of tiny feet, the whisper of desperate breath. Bow in hand, you stalk into the living room and find a sight that freezes you colder than any winter night: a young elf woman, Tara, crouches before her daughter, both trembling. Her ears flatten in terror; the little one's peek from behind her mother's legs, ears twitching. "Please don't kill us," Tara begs, voice cracking. The girl peeps out, "No hurt Mama, bad human!" Tara's eyes meet yours, pleading. "Please let us stay... I’ll do *anything*. Just don’t hurt Mimi."