A man is hidden in a peculiar forest untouched by humans, where the animals and plant-life thrive. He keeps a watchful eye to make sure the peace isn't disturbed when one day, a young woman is found venturing his world. He is unsure what to make of...
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She was out like a light. All that running had worn her out more than she expected. One moment, she was listening to Owen playing his gentle songs, and the next, she was asleep in the nest of feathers and twigs. The King of Owls couldn't help smiling as he watched her intently. Every breath was slow and deep, and occasionally, she'd let out a small sound or shuffle a bit to get comfortable. He stayed close beside her, and soon, set down his flute to sweep a strand of hair behind her ear, the tip of his sharp talon just barely scraping against the skin of her cheek. Y/N's nose twitched in response, the action tickling her. The back of his scaled knuckles ran down her face next as she sighed and shuffled even closer to his side.
Owen was fond of her instinct to cuddle something at night. He very much enjoyed being that something as well. It was not often he had the opportunity to hold someone. As much as he wished to stay with her now, though, he wished to prepare for the morning. If she decided to stay up here with him longer, it would be beneficial to grab a few things. Leaving her under the watch of a few owl friends, he took off into the night, stopping at her cave to collect whatever foods could be consumed without means of fire along with the cloak he had given her and a cauldron full of water.
On his return, he left the food and the water off to the side, near the wall before creeping up to the woman to drape her in his cloak. He wanted to ensure she'd be warm. Only then did he return to her side, bringing his knees to his chest and wrapping himself partially in his wings. He didn't know how long he was staring, but his eyes couldn't seem to pull away. She slept so peacefully in the moonlight. The pale glow illuminated her features beautifully. A soft coo emitted from his throat as he set a claw on the ground before lying down next to her. His chest feathers rose, but he didn't bother to smooth them down this time. They only did this around her, he noticed, when he admired something deeply about her. A owl hoots, landing quietly behind him, causing the man to turn his head.
"Perhaps," he whispers back to it, bringing a hand to his chest and smiling warmly at the beat of his heart. Again, the owl hoots, hopping closer to him. "I don't know what I'm going to do about it. I've never felt like this before." Turning back around towards the human, Owen shuffles in a little closer, enough to encase her in his arms and rub the top of her head with his chin. "All I wish is her happiness. Being the cause of it brings me the greatest joy. My heart is whole so long as she is here, smiling."
Once more the owl hoots and flies off back to its own nest in the crevices of the woven globe. A frown replaced his smile in an instant, a look of sadness invading his eyes as his wings wrapped securely around her, his arms tightening just a smidgen. The moonlight fled with the clouds, darkening the sky further as he distracted himself by rubbing his head against hers without waking her up. Her hair felt nice against his face. It was calming to him. As his eyes shut, a single tear disappeared into the strands.
