A young ashen haired woman stumbled through the forest in the dark of night to a lone cottage. She barged through the door with a frustrated grunt as she was welcomed to her humble cabin warmed by a small fireplace. Her brown leather coat was tattered and torn to shreds by claws. Most noticeably was a gash on the back of her shoulder which she tried to keep as still as possible. Shutting the door behind her, she immediately sat down by a wooden desk.

  “Lilia.” she called out, still short of breath. From the shadows of the single-room home flew a snow owl who landed on the desk. The woman prepared a sewing needle and thread, tying a knot to one end before the owl took it and perched on the back of the chair. With one talon Lilia moved the woman’s torn clothes aside, revealing the gash. With a tilt of her head, the owl cooed.

  “Oh all right.” The woman sighed. She stood up, removing what was left of her coat and shirt, before laying face down on her bed. The pain of the wound was easier to forget with the warmth of the fire on her bare skin but she was soon reminded as the owl pierced her skin with the needle. With a strange finesse, Lilia was able to slowly stitch the woman’s back using her talon and beak to guide the needle. With assistance from the woman, Lilia tied the final knot and cooed to signal she was done.

  “Thank you Lilia.” The woman said, rolling off the bed and walking over to a large wooden tub, big enough for a human to sit in. As she undressed with one hand, the other began making gestures creating magic runes in the air. The blue symbols floated over the tub and arranged in a circle above. Steaming water poured down from the air preparing a bath. Kicking off her boots underneath her bed, the woman walked over to the bath and slowly sat down in the hot water. “You should’ve seen how close I was, Lilia. He was right there… damned wolves. This is the third time I’ve lost his trail.” She reached behind her, grabbing some loose hair from her ponytail, pausing for a moment.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Lilia cooed before flying over behind the woman and grabbing her hair with her beak. With cooperation, the two were able to begin braiding the loose ponytail.

  “Oh no, the wolves are dead. Dragged them to the roadside. Hoping someone will find their pelts useful at least.” The woman sighed glancing over to the pile of torn clothes on the floor. “I quite liked that coat. Shelly sewed it for me, do you remember? She was always so fond of you.”

  Lilia let out a soft growl.

  The woman laughed. “Be nice. Sure she was a bit eccentric but she meant well.” With one last sigh, she finished braiding her hair and stood out of the bath. Then with a wave of her hand, the water droplets were whisked off her skin, formed a floating sphere, and dropped into the bath. She looked to the fireplace and waved her other hand; the once dim fire was stoked to a full flame that warmed the entire cabin. The woman dressed into a folded cotton nightgown from her bed and laid herself to rest.

  “We’re getting close, Lilia.” she said. “He’s not far now.” With a yawn she pulled a blanket over herself. Lilia hopped over to the window and looked back to her human companion. She let out a few soft hoots. “Good hunting, Lilia.” With that, the owl flew into the night. As the dull pain of her wounds began to fade, the ashen haired woman drifted to sleep.