Chapter 1 - Man In Green

The wind whistled through the trees, rustling the leaves as the night settled into a deep, quiet stillness. A bright moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the landscape.

Behind the trees, a small plume of smoke rose into the air. A man, dressed in black, lay asleep on the ground.

"There is no mercy in these forests, and none for me to give."

With a swift, fluid motion, the man in black lost his head.

A figure dressed in green emerged from the shadows of the trees, approaching the lifeless body. He glanced at his handiwork, a scoff escaping his lips.

"Idiots, every last one of them."

He retrieved a bottle from a leather pouch at his side and poured its contents over the corpse. The liquid worked quickly, dissolving both flesh and fabric until nothing remained but a wisp of smoke.

"I've left enough warnings behind. Are they all illiterate?"

A tiny, translucent green creature appeared on his shoulder, giving a small nod.

"This one was strong. He almost made it halfway to our home."

The man in green clicked his tongue in irritation.

"Arrogant too, sleeping so soundly out here. He must've thought no beasts would dare approach him."

Without another word, the man turned and vanished back into the forest, the campfire dying in his wake, surrendering the scene once more to darkness.

The green man patrolled his domain, hunting any unwelcome intruders. Where the light of a fire was found, life was swiftly extinguished. Those who sought only temporary shelter were left with a clear warning to leave immediately.

This was the green man's territory, and he would not allow it to be invaded.

...

As the long night of slaughter came to an end, the sun slowly rose, casting its purifying light over the blood-stained forest. 

Deep within the woods, nestled inside the mouth of a giant cave, stood a small hut crafted from wood and stone. Beside it, a lush farm flourished in the early morning light.

The man in green pushed open the wooden door of the hut, its creak muffled by the dense forest outside. The tiny translucent creature fluttered from his shoulder and hovered nearby as he stepped inside.

The hut was small but meticulously kept. A simple bed made of woven vines and soft animal furs stood against one wall, while a sturdy wooden table held a few essentials—a lantern, a knife, and a small clay bowl filled with herbs. The smell of earth and wood filled the air, a stark contrast to the blood and death outside.

With a weary sigh, the man in green shrugged off his leather pouch and tossed it onto the table. He sat on the edge of the bed, pulling off his boots, stained with dirt and dried blood. The tiny creature landed on the pillow, watching him with keen, glowing eyes.

"How many this time?" the creature asked, its voice a soft, melodic whisper.

The man rubbed his temples, trying to ease the tension from the night's work. "Seven," he replied, his voice heavy with fatigue. "Most of them were fools, like the one near the campfire. They didn't know what they were walking into."

The creature flitted closer, its translucent wings shimmering faintly in the dim light. "Seven is fewer than last time. Perhaps they're starting to learn."

The man in green gave a bitter laugh. "Perhaps. But there are always more. Always another fool thinking they can take what isn't theirs. This forest... it attracts the desperate, the greedy."

He lay back on the bed, staring up at the thatched ceiling. "I'm tired of it," he muttered. "Tired of killing. Tired of defending what's ours. But what choice do I have?"

The creature settled on his chest, its tiny form barely noticeable against the broad expanse of his torso. "You have no choice," it said softly. "This is our home. We protect it because no one else will. Because it's all we have."

The man sighed again, closing his eyes. "I know. But sometimes I wish... I wish it didn't have to be this way."

For a long moment, they lay in silence, the only sound the faint rustling of leaves outside and the distant call of a nightbird. The weight of the night's violence hung heavy in the air, but in the quiet of the hut, there was a small measure of peace.

Finally, the man in green spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper. "We'll rest for now. But tomorrow, we'll have to check the borders again. Make sure there are no more intruders."

The creature nodded, its tiny form glowing a little brighter in the dimness. "We will. And we'll keep this place safe. Together."

With that, the man in green drifted into a restless sleep, the tiny creature perched on his chest like a silent sentinel, watching over him as the forest outside slowly came to life with the dawn.