A Tale Of Mortals

Kavan.

Kavan's eyes were drawn to the white flowers that adorned the mortal's hair.

The forest's intentions were not lost on him, and he would rather face death than submit to their will. Not only did the mortal have to stay in his own personal abode, but now the forest had to take care of him too - it was becoming unbearable. With a grimace, he snatched the crown of flowers off the mortal's head and flung it to the ground.

With a firm grip, he took hold of the vine that was coiled around the mortal's waist and began to pull. Frustrated, he shook his head and wrapped his hand tightly around the vine, his grip tightening with each passing moment.

"Stop. I have no need of this."

'I do not need him.'

He felt a sharp prick in his chest, like a needle piercing his skin. His confusion evident, he blinked and directed his gaze downward. The mortal's slap caught him off guard, and he winced as he felt the sting in his chest a couple more times. The mortal's face turned a deep shade of red, causing Kavan to tilt his head in confusion.

According to what he had heard, a mortal's face becomes flushed when they have a fever.

Did the mortal suffer from an illness?

Brushing his knuckles tentatively along the mortal's face, Kavan's frown grew deeper. His action was driven by pure curiosity, with no malice intended. He held onto the mortal tightly, but their sudden weakness and shallow breathing only added to his confusion.

Abruptly, Kavan came to a standstill. He held the mortal tightly. The scent of the flowers was so overpowering that he instinctively pulled the mortal towards him, delicately removing the crown of flowers from their hair.

Frowning, he shifted his eyes downwards again.

The mortal's face was still red, but now he seemed to be looking at him more curiously than angrily. Rather than speaking, he pouted, casting his gaze downward. The mortal's voice became a distant murmur as Kavan's attention was consumed by their close proximity.

"Can you let go of me a little?" The mortal's words were barely audible, but he still managed to catch them. "You're crushing me."

With a slight tilt of his head, Kavan loosened his grip just a fraction.

Kavan held onto the mortal tightly, unwilling to let go just yet.

He couldn't help but wonder why the mortal's face turned red so quickly. It appeared to be a form of camouflage strategy. Unfortunately, the mortal was failing miserably. Looking around, there was not a single object with a tinge of red in the vicinity.

Was the mortal attempting to attract attention?

If that was true, then the mortal was doing well, since it had turned a brilliant shade of red.

Kavan's eyes narrowed as he moved closer to the mortal, tilting his head down to intimidate him.

"Mortal," The human couldn't help but shudder at the sound of his voice. The mortal's arm was pushed against Kavan's bare chest, and Kavan could feel the goosebumps rising on the mortal's skin."Your facial hue seems to have changed. I need to know why."

Something that reminded Kavan of a rat's squeak came from the mortal's throat.

"Stop holding me, let me go!"

The mortal didn't hesitate to order once more. With a forceful slap to Kavan's chest, the mortal began to push away, putting space between himself and him. Kavan felt a sense of amusement as he watched the mortal struggle in his attempt to hurt him. It all began with a single rock, then a forceful push, and now, a flurry of slaps. He wonders if it would be better to feign injury from the mortal's actions.

With emphasis, the mortal repeated, "Let me go, stop smirking!"

Despite himself, Kavan chuckled darkly at the futile attempts unfolding before him.

The mortal went still and stopped moving. It looked up at him with surprise in its eyes, frozen in place by his chuckle. When Kavan heard Havu's voice inside his head, he was wondering whether that truly was what he did.

"Master, the mortal appears to be uncomfortable with the manner in which you are handling him." Havu spoke, adding, "I am of the opinion that it is time to let him go."

Kavan had to admit that Havu's argument was sound.

He needed to let go.

To his surprise, he discovered that he had no desire to do it.

The mortal was surprisingly light, not weighing much at all. His face was like a canvas, constantly changing and always entertaining. None of the other mortals that entered the forest lasted long enough to be considered entertainment for him. It was hard for Kavan to comprehend how someone like him could survive this long.

What set him apart from everyone else?

The forest appeared to be fond of him. Even more surprising was the intricate pattern of leaves and flowers that they used to wrap around him. The village had offered other mortals to Kavan, but none had received the same special treatment. No one received such treatment as they fell down the cliff and did not survive.

There was no denying the mortal's intelligence.

His familiarity with the forest was evident in the way he moved, without hesitation or fear.

Kavan's mind was made up - the mortal was not going anywhere.

He will keep him.

Though he was alone, he never felt lonely in the forest, as the trees and animals provided him with a sense of companionship. Havu had always been a loyal companion, but lately, the old serpent had become quite dull. Having a mortal that lacks camouflage skills was exactly the kind of entertainment he was looking for.

Kavan's grip on the mortal tightened, and he felt a warm sensation spread through his chest. Frowning, he tried to recall if he had eaten anything that made him feel sick to his stomach.

He found it strange because he couldn't recall the last time he had eaten anything. It's been so long that it's probably been several decades.

Luckily, he didn't have to depend on human prayer alone to sustain himself. To the animals within the forest, he is still a revered figure, even though the villagers of Gashea have forgotten him.

In his memories, the forest of Gashea was once a place of joy and exploration, not a source of fear.

He could almost hear the crackle of the small fires and the murmur of the villagers' prayers as he thought back to those days in the forest. It was hard to believe that everything could change so quickly. Though it had been centuries for others, for him, it felt like only a week had passed. Time seemed to lose its meaning for immortals, stretching out into an endless expanse.

He knew that the mortal's life was fleeting and would end in the blink of an eye.

As he was about to speak, a distant cry echoed through the air.

"What was that?" The mortal's tone softened as she asked, no longer pushing against him. When the mortal looked at him, he saw a mix of curiosity and apprehension in his eyes. Without realizing it, Kavan's grip around the mortal's waist tightened again. Looking up, the mortal met his gaze. "Did you hear that?"

Nodding in agreement, Kavan turned his attention towards the sound.

"It appears that someone is in need of my help."

"Your help?" Kavan's words elicited a snort from the mortal, as if he couldn't quite believe what he had just heard. "What makes you think they need your help, demon?"

Havu gracefully slid off Kavan's antlers and landed on the mortal's neck without a sound. The anger in Havu's eyes was unmistakable. Havu had taken it upon himself to educate the mortal about the true nature of Kavan, whom the villagers of Gashea had wrongly labeled as a demon.

Kavan was nonchalant about the situation. If mortals don't pay respect, what good are they? They have no knowledge beyond the acts of killing and cruelty.

'"I have conveyed this message to you on numerous occasions," Kavan watched as Havu reprimanded the mortal, his voice cutting through the silence. "The master should not be mistaken for a demon!"

Kavan couldn't tell for sure if the mortal replied, as he couldn't read his thoughts.

With a quick movement, Kavan scooped up Havu and placed the serpent snugly and safely around the mortal's neck. His time together with Havu stretched back as far as his memory would allow. He valued the serpent's life too much to risk it over the mistake of a single mortal. With everything in order, he spread his wings wide, but before he could take flight, he was pulled back by two strong arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

"Not a chance in hell!" Kavan winced as the mortal's screech pierced his ears. "Put me down now!"

An annoyed expression crossed Kavan's face, and he clicked his tongue in irritation.

Does the mortal think he's an amateur when it came to flying?

The sky was his second home, next to the forest.

With a single, dismissive glare, Kavan brushed off the mortal's request, as he so often did. Kavan took one final glance at his surroundings before wrapping his arms around the mortal and soaring into the sky.