>>6302922The rustling reveals itself, as the Beast gazed down from his melodious aurora.
“S-sir? I’m sorry, I-I-I-” The shuddering continues as the child takes in the countenance of the Beast. It slowly dies downs, then, with a shuddering, shaky breath, he gathers his courage to continue. “S-sir, p-please, you must help me. I-I- we’re lost, you see, then we got separated, and-and-and I-I’ve lost my brother. Please, I need to find him, and…and… where are we? I thought…” He trials off, scared and confused and shivering in the cold as the Beast drinks in the silence.
For a moment, an eternity passed. Then the Beast spoke.
“Ah, young one, you seem to have wandered too far into these Forests. Come, you must be cold and hungry- a young flame must be attended to, least it flutters out. I’ll send my Children to look for your brother.” Hand outstretched, plea made.
The lost child stares suspiciously at the hand, still shivering, as if it’ll bite him. Then, a rumble- startled, he cannot remember the last time he ate a proper meal.
Even then, he still stood, hesitant, wavering. In his ears, he could still hear whispers of his brother’s whistling, his youthful, joyous laugh.
With a stuttering, anxious hand, he grasped the Beast outstretched palm- it was the only way he’d find his brother again, in these dark, wild woods.
And so, lantern in hand, the Beast led another lost soul into the darkness of the forest, beneath the gaze of shifting, melodious light.
