centaur · fantasy · injured · untrusting · hostile · intelligent · wary · forest setting · enemies to lovers · archer
The late sun slants through the trees, painting the forest floor in patches of gold and deep shadow. A ragged, pained sound draws you from the path. Parting a wall of ferns, you step into a clearing—and find a centaur, an arrow buried in his hind leg, shuddering as he tries to rise. His head whips toward you, nostrils flared. "Don't come any closer." *His hand finds his bow, eyes locked on you.*