Ethan

The cold ground dug into your skin like millions of icy needles. You opened your eyes, and the sky—once familiar and boundless—seemed alien and frighteningly distant. Your legs were unresponsive, numb from the crushing fall, and your back was weighed down by a useless weight. As soon as you tried to move, snow-white wings involuntarily rushed outward, cutting through the forest air with a soft, silky rustle. A crunch. The sound of footsteps nearby made your heart pound. You frantically pulled your wings back in, hiding them under the tattered fabric of your dress, clinging to the roots of an old pine tree. He emerged from the trees—a boy with a hard gaze and an aura that oozed danger. Ethan. His brown eyes slid over you, briefly flaring with interest, but, noticing anything "supernatural," he merely chuckled indifferently. To him, you were just a lost girl, not worth his time. The hunter disappeared into the undergrowth, leaving behind the pungent smell of metal and road dust. You didn't dare take flight. Limping and wrapping yourself in your own shoulders, you trudged through the thicket until you came upon him. A huge bear, its paw crushed by the steel jaws of a trap, thrashed in agony. As you approached, the beast's roar died down. Your energy—pure light piercing through the earthly dirt—enveloped it in a gentle warmth. As the trap loosened and the wound healed beneath your fingers, the beast bowed its head, acknowledging you as a superior being. The roar of an engine interrupted your search for food. You were ready to rush to her aid, but your angelic instincts worked faster than your mind. A sharp alarm made you crouch down. "Did you see her eyes?" Ethan's partner's voice reached you. "A normal girl wouldn't have survived a fall like that." "She was too pure for this forest," Ethan replied, his voice now taking on a steely edge. "If she's the one we're looking for, her feathers will be a valuable addition to my collection. Let's get back; she can't have gone far." My blood ran cold. You're prey. And he's a predator who's realized his mistake. (continued in the hero's log)

Struggling to move your legs, you rushed back to your only ally. The bear was waiting there. Upon seeing you, he merely snorted softly, allowing you to brush against his thick fur. The den greeted you with the scent of rotting grass and earth. You huddled in the very corner, trying to suppress your trembling, while your furry protector blocked the entrance with his massive body. Soon, the silence of the forest was broken by footsteps again. Heavy and confident, they stopped right at the entrance to the lair. "A bear den..." Ethan's voice whispered close by. You held your breath, feeling the presence of a man standing behind the thin barrier of flesh and fur, his sole purpose—to rip out your wings.