[ Ariane still has memories of school. Of avoiding classes when she could, and more importantly, avoiding people. She'd much rather learn from forbidden books instead. This is what they taught her:
There are heroes, in other worlds. Heroes are strong, and they are courageous, and they have fine weapons and finer armor. There are also monsters, which are disgusting and ugly and threatening. You should be afraid of them.
Ariane hears the howl. Then, the crack. Then a voice, and she is being picked up, and the creature does not move. Ariane shifts into position easily, like she's been held like this before, and when she looks into the stranger's eyes, she is afraid.
There is something else she is supposed to remember. It's in the way that she is being held, in the way he tells her it's over. It's a promise, she has to remember her promise - ]
cw: monster violence
There are heroes, in other worlds. Heroes are strong, and they are courageous, and they have fine weapons and finer armor. There are also monsters, which are disgusting and ugly and threatening. You should be afraid of them.
Ariane hears the howl. Then, the crack. Then a voice, and she is being picked up, and the creature does not move. Ariane shifts into position easily, like she's been held like this before, and when she looks into the stranger's eyes, she is afraid.
There is something else she is supposed to remember. It's in the way that she is being held, in the way he tells her it's over. It's a promise, she has to remember her promise - ]
I'm sorry. Do I know you?