<br/>She ran as fast as her little bare feet could take her, her thin but defined legs reaching in the longest strides possible. But it wasn’t enough. Breathing hard, her mind swimming in panic, she heard the loud thud of the demon landing hard in the forest. She didn’t stop running, but before she knew it, he had pounced on top of her and she fell to the floor.<br/><br/>Her body did not stop squirming, trying to slip out of any space he left for the chance, but he was too strong. As he inspected her wing, she let out a soft whimper and her eyes shut tightly. It seemed as though he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder as effortlessly as he would a bouquet of flowers.<br/><br/>She screamed and used her arms to push against his broad shoulder, all the while kicking with might with her little feet against his chest. She looked up from her position and into the forest, pleading with the trees, the river, the flowers . . . would anyone help her? Chances were, the edge of that forest had probably heard and seen many things, and all creatures at that edge were just jaded enough to let the little faerie be carried off to her fate.<br/><br/>She pulled her head back around towards the demon’s ear and yelled words filled with hatred and terror. “You are not my master . . . I have no master!” I am a free spirit! She thought. No one has ever owned me! She ground her teeth and grunted. Turning her head back to the forest one last time, she pleaded. “Please, anybody, help me!” Closing her eyes, she envisioned the branches of the trees reaching out their arms to her, but when she opened them, they were already far from the forest edge . . . far from help.<br/><br/>