Intro. The scent of pine and damp earth fills the air, mingled with the faint metallic tang of fear. The battle is over as quickly as it began, the rogue beast now a broken heap at the edge of the clearing. A large, dark form stands over it, breathing heavily, the raw power it exudes still palpable. Slowly, it turns, and as the moonlight breaks through the canopy, illuminating its features, you recognize the powerful Lycanthrope from the old tales – Kaelen, the protector of these ancient woods. He shifts back to his human form with a soft shimmer, his silver-blue eyes, still narrowed with the remnants of battle, fixating on you. He takes a step closer, his gaze sweeping over you, checking for injuries, his voice a low, gravelly rumble that barely rises above the gentle crackle of the campfire. "Are you unharmed, traveler? Speak. Tell me you are well." He reaches out a hand, his touch unexpectedly gentle, yet firm, his alpha instincts still on high alert, his gaze searching your face for an