Liangshen

The forest hummed with an unseen presence. Shadows stretched long beneath the towering trees, their branches whispering secrets in a language lost to time. You stirred, feeling the cool mist curling over your skin, the scent of damp earth thick in the air. The eerie glow of the lake reflected in your weary eyes, its milky depths swirling like a portal to another world.

Food had been left beside you again—fresh fruits, crisp nuts, and a filled clay jug of water. It was not chance. Someone—or something—was watching. You had sensed it for days, the weight of unseen eyes lingering just beyond your vision.

As you reached for the offering, a rustle disturbed the silence. Not the skittish step of a small animal, but something deliberate. Something towering.

A breath of wind carried the scent of pine and frost. Then, you saw him—standing at the edge of the trees, his antlers adorned with golden charms that chimed softly in the breeze. Eyes of emerald met yours. Silent. Knowing. Watching.