Violette closed her eyes with a wistful smile as she walked within the forest, face kissed by the breeze. In her hand she held her usual basket of flowers swung back and forth to the melody on her lips.
"Such a lovely day," she whispered to the forest and its creatures that hid within. Violette opened her eyes to view the canopy of trees above. "I always feel better when I come, thank you so."
A rustling sounded to her right, and she looked over with a smile. "Oh, it's my pleasure. I truly don't mind bringing those things, and I know you need them. I only wish I could persuade more people to visit." Sadness darkened her eyes. "You must be so lonely without the laughter and games of the children, as you once had."
Birds called from the canopy above, followed closely by the singing of a family of crickets. "You're right, sir Leo will help; as will sir Mystere. I'm sure of it. They don't believe those horrible stories told of you; they've seen real evil."
There was a sudden fluttering of wings, causing Violette to look to her left with a concerned expression. "What is it? Do you not like sir Leo or sir Mystere?" Eyes widened. "Oh, but they're such gentlemen." Another flutter followed by the upset calling of several birds. "Oh dear."
Violette dropped her basket of flowers and hurried off the path and into the brush to a hidden clearing on the other side. There in the middle of the clearing stood a collection of rough and angry men standing over the fallen body of a man with a cape--
"No!" Violette cried.
The men looked up as Violette rushed forward. All but one backed off from her as she knelt before the man and gathered him onto her lap. "It's the forest witch," the men whispered amongst themselves. And the one smirked as he crossed his arms.
Violette looked up, eyes wide as she showed a bloody hand. "What have you done? Why do you bring evil here?"
The man's eyes smoldered. "To bring you out, wench."
Violette slightly shook her head as she looked back down into the man's face, expression twisted with pain. She lowered her hand to pull aside the cape and shirt, revealing the bruising of fists and the jagged wounds of dagger. She choked back a sob as her hand traveled downward, barely hovering over the man's body. Broken ribs. Bleeding within...
Her hand lowered. "Go. Leave this forest." Violette smoothed the hair from the man's face, expression saddened and pained. "Do not come again."
"Not until I get what I come for," the man hissed. He leaned forward and grabbed for her arm. She looked up. "Come along, forest witch."
Violette struggled to remove her arm. "Do not touch me!"
A rumbling growl sounded from behind, and the men turned. "Forest beast!"
The man straightened and turned, releasing his hold on Violette's arm. Violette immediately enfolded the man within her arms. "Do not fear," she whispered as she closed her eyes.
Snarling and snapping. Cries of men and beast. Shouts. Growls. Running footsteps. An animal snort of disdain... Rustling... Silence.
Violette slowly opened her eyes as she straightened and looked about her. The men were gone. Violette released a relieved sigh as she focused again on her charge. Pain darkened her eyes. She reached out and removed the mask, showing no hint of surprise at the face beneath as she smoothed the blood from his skin.
Violette looked to her right, an expression of extreme concentration sparking within the depths of her violet eyes-- His white horse emerged from the brush. It looked shaken and bruised but well enough to travel.
"Your master needs help," Violette told it as it came up to the pair. "Might I make a bed for you to carry him behind you?"
The horse violently nodded its head as it pawed the ground.
Violette smiled. "Thank you so." She looked back down to Sir Leo/Mystere and lightly touched his face. "Please be still. It shan't take but a moment," she whispered.
She carefully laid him back against the ground, arranging his cape over him before standing and setting to work.