The stench that seeped into the air was altogether overwhelming. The foulness that had been present only moments before lingered. Ailynii had never sensed anything so malignant in the normally eerie, but non-supernatural swamp. Her nose wrinkled at the image her mind pierced together. Something unnatural, that didn’t belong. Hulking, stinky, brown, green? She could taste it on her tongue, decayed and fetid. Her emotions swelled that her peaceful marsh had been contaminated. It had touched everything, a sticky eerie presence left behind. “Who are you?” she whispered to the trees. They creaked and scratched their limbs in response through the mist. There were no answers to be found. Her ears swivelled, straining for any other remnant of information left behind. Any little hint could be a valuable puzzle piece. She pushed her slender body through the dense trees, stepping carefully around slippery uneven rocks. She knew this marsh inside and out - it had been their ancestral lands going back for as long as anyone could remember. Stories passed from Dam to child, passed down through the bloodline. Her own mother had told her stories beside their hearth as she grew. None of those stories covered anything that fit how this creature smelt. How foreign and out of place it was. Whatever it was, it had seemingly moved on - but she couldn’t be sure. How it had moved so silently, without squishing or damaging any of the plants - only made the situation more confusing. It was her responsibility to protect the marsh, to keep the balance in check. This included pruning plants, or even creatures if they multiplied in excess. Life was precious, but so was the quality of that existence. Sometimes harshness was required for the greater good. There were barriers and limitations as to what the swamp could support safely. The fog twisted around her ankles as though observing her reaction to this unwelcome invasion. It enquired, what are you going to do now child? She could almost hear the words in her mothers tone of voice. She wished her mother was still here, that she could tap into her endless knowledge. Her presence was like a warm blanket, even in the coldest of nights she would envelop her children in love. Providing not only guidance, but also protection. The world was a harsher place without her company. She had been snatched away, taken in the night. Ailynii had never been able to solve the mystery. It was a tragedy that occurred in the night, disappearing without a trace. She was as a result not properly prepared to be the guardian of this place. She was certain there were secrets that would now be forever lost, taken with her mother. She would need to conduct a proper patrol of the swamp to ensure that, whatever the unwelcome invader was - that they were in fact properly gone. If the monster was simply passing through, then maybe she was over reacting. It was her duty to make sure that it did not return. Her heart murmured that she knew it would come back. Her nervous system knew it couldn’t be here randomly, it had to have a purpose. The rancid smell of it seemed to cling to her flesh, reminding her of its unsanctioned invasion. Her mother would have known what was needed. A voice of reason in the mist of panic. The animals were silent, they too could feel the disturbance. The birds and insects were silent, frozen in their fear. She hummed softly, trying to cling to an element of normality. She would protect them, she would learn more about the monster.