Gerard stood up and placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder, "Look, I understand. It's just that.... Gaston has been the only one to try to win your hand. None of the others have so much as mentioned an interest in you, and that worries me. I want you to be happy Belle, I really do. But we have to think about the future. Would you really rather be an old spinster, alone and cold than be in a nice warm house with plenty to eat, with Gaston?"<br/><br/>He let out a sigh, then leaned over and gave her cheek a kiss. "I respect your decision, but just remember that I won't always be here to protect you. Now then, I'm off to Faris to sell some of my woodworkings. Mr. Botts found interest in my things, and he wants to see samples. I should be back by tomorrow evening, so don't worry." He smiled lightly, pulling on his jacket and heading outside to reign up the old mare to the wagon, already packed with chairs and tables and other sorts of wooden trinkets, and he headed out, not realizing the snow that started to fall.<br/><br/>------------------------------------<br/><br/>Only an hour later, the wind picked up to blizzardlike speeds. Gerard pulled his collar up, trying to guard his eyes, when he saw it. A shadow, perhaps a person, was just standing there in the distance. A few grains of snow got into his eyes, and as he blinked them out, he soon found the massive being was right in front of him. The horse reared, squealing in fright, sending Gerard into the snow before it ran off with the cart, spilling furniture as it went. A large, clawed hand suddenly took hold of his neck and lifted him a full foot off the ground, to face the snout of a horrendous beast. Its fur was long and shaggy, a mix of silver and ashen streaks. Its eyes were two pools of swirling void, currently fueled by terrible rage.<br/><br/>"Who are you?" Asked the deep, threatening voice. Gerard, suddenly as pale as the snow on his jacket and pants, stuttered a few times before he was choked off by the beast clenching his fist tighter around the poor man's throat. "No matter, you don't deserve to live after seeing my person." The terrified man began to think of his daughter, feeling regret of not being able to see her again. "My-my ...Daughter- she-"<br/><br/>"A daughter...?" Gerard was surprised to feel the creature's grip loosen as it appeared to contemplate this new information. After what felt like an hour, the beast finally spoke again, "You may live, but you will bring me this daughter of yours. Fail to do this, and I'll kill you both." Before Gerard could protest, he was plopped back into the snow. When he looked up, the beast was gone, all that was proof of such a thing being there was disappearing pawprints in the snow, slowly fading as they filled in.