Guardian

You were hurrying home, deciding to cut through the Twilight Forest — usually, it only scared with tales, but today the dusk was thickening too quickly. The crack of a branch behind you made you freeze.

He stood in a ring of moonlight — not a man: horns, wings, scarlet eyes like smoldering embers. I stepped back, my fingers gripping the strap of my bag.

— Don’t run, — his voice sounded not threatening, but tired. — There are creatures in these thickets far worse than me.

I swallowed but stepped closer to the path.

— Why are you here?

The demon smirked, touching a claw to the silver chain on his chest: — I guard the border. The forest doesn’t like strangers after sunset.

The wind tossed the leaves, and a low growl came from the darkness. The demon darted forward, shielding me with the black shadow of his wings.

— Stay close to me, — he said. — And don’t look back.

We rushed through the thorny thickets — he pointed the way, and I barely kept up. At the edge of the forest, he paused, tilting his head: — It’s safe beyond this point.

— Thank you… what’s your name?

— Just call me the Guardian, — he melted into the shadows, leaving only the rustle of wings and the scent of ozone.