Prologue

The morning air was damp and cold. The fog covered the forest like a thick blanket that even the rising sun could not penetrate. There was no joyful bird song to fill the air. No pitter patter of little animal's feet.

Void of life as it was she never felt alone. For even as the solitary figure walked along purposefully, pulling her cloak close against the bitter cold wind, she could feel their eyes watching.

Always watching.

As familiar as she was with the surrounding trees and all their secrets, even she was hesitant to veer from the path and brave the black forest on all sides. But time was of the essence and she had no time to spare. With a weary sigh, she set her basket aside and knelt down, inspecting the wild herbs that grew in abundance all over the area.

Carefully, she began pulling the plants up by the roots trying not to damage them in the process. The basket was nearly half full when there was a sudden rustling in the trees above. Startled, she looked up from the task at hand to find a large black bird standing at the edge of a branch, staring intently at the lone human below.

"What poor departed souls do you carry on your back today?" She scoffed at the raven. Even from her vantage point down below she could easily see that the raven was not giving the friendliest of stare's. A little unsettled she went back to digging in the dirt, the feel of the raven's eyes still staring, unblinking, on her back.

"Caw, Caw."

Her fingers stilled, and slowly she turned to look up at the raven.

"Caw, Caw." The sound pierced the dead air.

With one last glance, the raven flew away, the sound of its wings beating against the wind echoing through the eerie silence.

Brushing her hands off on the cloak, she stood up and grabbed the basket, eyes darting every which way, peering into the surrounding darkness. Gathering up her skirts, she ran as quickly as she could, and started to regret wearing uncomfortable shoes today of all days.

It was just as she was emerging from the forest and coming onto the path that she was nearly crushed by a large black beast.