"Rohan!"

The forest spirit Rohan woke with a start, his eyes being met with stinging, thick smoke. Jenny, the old traveller human, was the one calling for him in a panic. At first he had been apprehensive letting her camp so close to his territory in the forest, but she had done nothing to provoke his anger. In fact, her friendly neighbourly demeanour and shared love for the outdoors had sparked an odd friendship.

"Rohan! Fire!"

Now Jenny was in danger. The entire forest was in a dire state, but he could sense it already placing protective measures. Right now he should focus on only saving her.

Shifting to a stag form, he galloped with thunderous hooves across the forest. Numerous flames tried to blockade his path, but he boldly jumped through every one without flinching. An elk passed him in the opposite direction, as Rohan’s forest was swiftly guiding all the animals to safety. The forest was loyally protecting its inhabitants from any causalities, but humans were the exception to this rule.

"Rohan, please…" Jenny’s voice was growing weaker.

For the first time in his life, Rohan stepped outside of his territory boundaries. His mind was too focussed on saving Jenny to second-guess it. Her bright orange tent was still on its last legs, but the same could not be said about its owner. The heavy-set woman was lying on the brink of unconsciousness. At one point the fire had caught her. Somehow she’d managed to put it out by rolling on the grass, but her hands and legs were badly burned. Furthermore, the smoke was at its thickest here. Rohan suspected that it was the will of the forest for the intruder to die.

"Jenny, I’m here."

"I’m so sorry."

He was surprised to hear this, but now was not the time for talk. The forest’s patience had clearly worn thin of her living here. It was time for Jenny to go back to where she belonged, and she’d do this riding on the back of a stag or die trying.