The first sign was the unusual clap of thunder and the over-bright lightning, flashing in the sky and illuminating the grounds as clear as day. It was quite awe-inspiring and um... frightening.

Dead, winged creatures and crows – lots and lots of crows, dropped from the heavens like flies. My heart lunged into the wall of my chest as I watched from the kitchen window. "This can't be good," I muttered. I couldn't be certain, but I thought I saw a massively built half-man, half-beast far bigger and taller than a giant. He had two horns, springing from his head, and was riding a pegasus, a four-winged horse. He held a thunderbolt, waging it like a sword and descending mightily into the woods. And then another one rushed after it.

My curiosity evidently outweighed my sense of self-preservation. I mean, what could possibly explain me gingerly heading out of my cabin and to my front porch? Any normal person would have gone down to the basement and stayed there until whatever madness was happening here ended, but I wasn't a normal human neither was this a normal realm. Besides, there was a reason I live in solitude after all with nothing but woods for miles and animals as neighbours. I took a step down the first staircase and then another, swallowing hard. Like a moth drawn to a flame, I found my way into the woods.