Half a league could be more treacherous than many, once the dark forest closed behind a person. And this forest had become so treacherous as of late.

Maybe if she took pains not to be spotted, maybe if she moved swiftly and quietly and kept her eyes and ears wide open, maybe if she knew secret ways and secret paths, she could make it to her grandmother's house without being met by the dangerous things that lurked in the woods.

But she was not taking such cares. Already, she'd drawn eyes from the shadows alongside the open road.

It seemed to the beast in the trees that the woman on the road was defenseless, underclad for a dangerous journey,

But looks and manners could deceive. He knew that well, for a beast of the forest. She might have a quieter guardian, following behind in secret. She might be her own guardian, with a secret weapon and skill in it that gave her confidence.

He did not know, so it was best to find out.

"This is not a good road for lone travelers," he spoke aloud, dropping to the ground.

Though sunlight dappled the flowered hillsides on either edge of the road, the thick trees still cast such deep shadows that he, for the most part, appeared one - a looming darkness in the shadow of a towering oak tree.

Polite, for such a deep-voiced growl, such a voice with a promise of claws and teeth.