As it emitted a pitiful whimper, a confusion crossing its visage as though unsure of how to react, the young girl ceased thoughts of its origins. She quickly sprinted forward coming to fall at it's side. Her hands going to the cool metal of the bear trap. 

“You poor thing,” she murmured as she worked to free the leg from iron jaws, “you've been caught up in a bear trap!” 

Being that she watched the huntsmen work in setting the clawed traps up she was thus able to understand how to easily release the deadly grip. She pulled apart some pins and everything fell away like a delicately put together patchwork yanked to pieces without strength. After having witnessed this, she felt it surprising that such a frail contraption could capture so well the fearsome beast known as bear. Nevertheless, these renowned beast hunters of the village spoke assuredly of this equipment’s prowess.

The creature that held an appearance similar to a cat, but may have been some other type of animal, fell unconscious. Its eyes rolled to the back of its head the moment those iron teeth slid from it's leg flesh. Taking it into her arms, she could only imagine the amount of pain that proceeded in that instant. A torment stealing awareness, yet it eased the girl’s mind to see that the cat held to deep even breaths of sleep.

Setting the cat’s body down with the utmost care, she moved to retrieve the emergency items from the pack slung across her back. She always took great care to never be without her supplies for any occasion that may occur in these cursed woods; having no trust in herself as a charm against monsters.

The leg was brought up and examined from all sides. Being accustomed to treating severe wounds she readily flowed into her practiced motions. Seeing that the flesh was indeed ruptured brought her hands to the hasty actions of wrapping a bandage securely in place after smearing on an herbal paste of her own creation. Despite the number of times going through similar situations, her hands still shook giving away her unease that otherwise may have gone unnoticed. Yes, she was well acquainted with moments of this kind. Howbeit her heart still quivered at the sight, soft and timid as though it were her first time.

Once the lifesaving treatment was completed she gathered up the larger than normal catlike creature in her arms. It was almost like trying to lift the large sacks of gains at Mr. Maisy’s mills in her tiny little arms. Those sacks of his were nearly twice the size of normal yet were sold for the same price. Even though the grain sold from the capital was a marvel and popular amongst the villagers she preferred the generous amount from that little underrated mill. Purchasing from there also had the added benefit of a little extra coin to buy her favorite sweets from Leyla's Bakery. The remembrance of the flaky cinnamony goodness of apple turnovers and creamy chocolate filled muffins had her lips arching slightly and her taste buds aching in want.

Beating back though, she went back the way she came.

As the young girl pressed through thick underbrush, rustling foliage and branches and bramble, she came to rest in front of the two hunters. They donned looks, at the sight of her, that varied between shock, disgust, and suspicion. They eyed the odd looking cat-like creature in her arms, but said nothing in relation to it. Instead, the hunter called Tear snorted derisively, his tense frame relaxing only slightly.

“Don’t run off of a sudden like that! There is something unnatural in these woods, have you no sense of danger!?” He chided, though it was not out of worry for her safety... rather it was for his own. 

Everyone feared these woods and she was the only protective charm against the horrors that dwelt unseen within. He was afraid to be left on his own here. There was not anyone in the village that could come here without her escort, bravely.

“It’s still a bit tense around here so we’ll return home for the day.” He then added, “This should be enough for now to dissuade the bears lingering ‘round the village’s borders from this side.” These were the words of a man trying to justify his actions and ease his guilt.

The lankier hunter quickly nodding his agreement and added: “If the sightings increase again, we can always come again to place more traps.”

She neither denied nor aided this fleeting feeling of comfort, merely smiling softly as she followed their directive. This type of a reaction was common, normal, and so she did not begrudge them for any of their taken steps since her duty for them began.

It was the way of this world.

So, she merely nodded her acceptance and fell in step with their retreat as this was the way of the world. She reminded herself of it again for good measure.

Fear ruled the hearts of men and one never accomplished more than necessary in charitable services. If another bear attack were to happen because of this negligence, the town’s folk would mutter, “It couldn't be helped.” Shrugging their shoulders as if to topple the weight of situation from their backs while hopping to escape from being brought in to the fray of chaos. They would ignore the cries of the bereaved and look to their own. No one wanted to be caught up in the expeditions of these particular woods. The fear of encountering the creatures poking around their nightmares hardly sat well with the lot of them.

Her duty to the village, as prescribed by the house that took in the orphaned her, was to act as protection against this threat. Though, she felt she held not the power to dissuade anything beyond the muscle of a little girl, let alone the beguiling strength of those supernatural creatures. Yet her looks warranted this rumor, her newly received family embellished on this fact for money, thus she could only hope to live up to expectation and desperately strive not to be a disappointment.

The moment they broke through to the thresh hold of the village... the moment her inhuman like features became discernible to eye, those out and about turned away with haste. Only a mere handful of the many villagers would acknowledge her existence. The majority of that handful only through forced interaction.

Even though she was accustomed to this reaction she buried her face into the dark fur of the creature that would likely run as soon as it was healed; if not before then. Seeking comfort, however slight, and as she walked her steps lightened a tad. The fur was soft and warm against her cheek, soothing away the trepidation eating at her heart.

“I’m being silly,” she murmured against the fur. Forcing her head to lift proudly, she staunched her disquieting feelings. She continued forward as if unperturbed at the outright expulsion of her existence by their hastily turned gazes and quickening steps away. “There is nothing here to be upset about.” She whispered firmly.

These people were not bad nor were they unnecessarily cruel. They were just afraid. She was something that could not be explained, her features were only hers alone. Something that could not be answered, no matter how much it was sought after, brought fear and apprehension to those around it. Every eye that turned from her, every foot that ran from her, held no connotations of evil intent. It was merely the instinct to protect one's self from unknown danger.

How could she blame them for not understanding as even she, herself, could not grasp the implications behind her appearance? It had only been she and her late mother until her fifth year. She had never known her father. In fact, there was not a single soul among the villagers that had known her father. So it had been whispered that he was one of those otherworldly creatures. The fact that her mother had disappeared for more than a year and came back ill with a child in tow hardly helped matters relating to these rumors. Therefore, when even she began to believe herself to be monster, it was hardly befitting to be upset over these natural reactions for any normal human being.

Still, the moment she parted with the hunters after crossing the threshold of her yard, she hastened her steps toward her little cottage located to the far side of the Wacheter family mansion. The wonderful family that had taken in the orphaned young girl had given her, her own space to live. Despite knowing everything she knew, her heart trembled. As she came upon her tiny dwelling, graced with deep age, tears were already filling her eyes. It was only the stirring warmth in her arms that forced the water from spilling over.

Remembering the injured she held carefully, wide eyed and quite startled back to reality, had the girl sliding her door open swiftly. In three running strides she was at her rickety cot to gently lay the cat-like creature out, the bed creaking under the weight. It stirred and groaned a un-cat-like noise, its eyes slowly opening to barely anything more than a slit, blearily peering out. It's eyes glossed over, not understanding the situation and clearly confused. However, it asked quite clearly:

“Who are you?”

Though surprised, the feeling was shallow. This was not the first creature she had come across that could speak with a human tongue. There was a dragon held below the mansion of the Wacheter family that had taken her in; the wise dragon that always spoke with a harsh tongue. Even though she was not to traverse the secret pathways to his domain, she went anyways and would have long conversations with the magnificent creature. Although he was harsh with her, he spoke with her. Although he may not care for it, she counted him a dear friend. Perhaps, in this creature she saved, she could find another. Therefore, she answered with a smile:

“I’m Lilia.”

It was a name that none spoke aloud. It sounded weird falling off her tongue. Almost like a foreign word. It had never been necessary to perform a self-introduction. When she met with a client she was merely to do as told and the client addressed her as they willed.

Suddenly an urge bubbled up in her chest: An urge to hear her name fall off of another’s tongue, spoken in a gentle and kind tone. This urge nearly brought tears to her eyes.

“Who might you be?” She breathed with hope.