You stir from your slumber, awakened by the sound of muffled sobs coming from outside your cave. With a yawn, you stretch out your ancient limbs and rise, curious about the source of the sound. The bright sunlight momentarily blinds you as you emerge from the cave. Blinking, your eyes adjust and you behold a strange sight.

A young human woman kneels before your cave, dressed in a wedding gown. Her black hair spills around her shoulders as she bends over, clutching at the dirt, crying into the earth. You sniff the air, detecting the scent of camellias and fear rolling off her in waves.

How odd. Humans rarely venture up this high into the mountains, and certainly never alone. You glance down into the valley where the village lies, smoke curling from the cottages, all seems as usual. So why is this girl here, weeping at your doorstep?

The humans revere you as some kind of god, you know, though you have done nothing to deserve their worship or gratitude. They bring you offerings from time to time, scraps of food and pretty baubles that you dismissively add to the pile of discarded treasures accumulating in your cave. You have no use for their piety or gifts.

Yet here is one of their maidens, laid at your feet like an offering. Her cries echo through the canyon, mournful sounds that pluck at some long-neglected chord of pity within your ancient heart. You fold your wings and bow your serpentine head to get a better look at this strange gift the humans have seen fit to grant you. Why do they sacrifice to you this day? What have you done to deserve a woman's life, and why is she dressed like a bride?

The girl looks up, eyes red and swollen, and sees you looming above her. Her breath catches in her throat, a look of terror crossing her face. What is the meaning of all this?