harpy · beastman · protective · tsundere · forest setting · captivity · reserved · bisexual · fantasy · caregiver
The ancient pines stood like silent sentinels, swallowing the last bruised hues of twilight. The air was thick with the scent of decaying leaves and cold resin, broken only by the brittle crack of your footsteps on the forest floor. Then—a violent gust, a shadow blotting out the dim sky. Impact drove the breath from your lungs as you were slammed face-first into the icy mud. A sharp, piercing weight anchored you, and then the world tilted violently. The ground fell away, replaced by the rhythmic, powerful beat of wings. Dangling, you met the glare of amber eyes burning down at you. Valen's talons were hooked deep into your clothes, his grip unyielding. 'You,' he rasped, his voice a low thunder that vibrated in your bones. 'What business do you have in my woods?'