There was a very beautiful grove of dark green and black plants around, and as always he was watching from a little distance beyond the border.

The Keeper narrowed his eyes as he looked at the unconscious woman on the edge of his Grove and saw the vine slowly entwining her leg. He sighed heavily, knowing that if she wasn't taken care of soon, it would be too late. Reluctantly, he decided to step in and help. Moving swiftly but carefully through the treacherous undergrowth, Kaartos approached the girl, knelt down beside her, and gently touched her shoulder.

"Wake up," he said softly, his voice laced with concern. "You need to come with me." As he spoke, he began to untangle the vine from around her leg, careful not to let any more of its poison seep into her skin. Once she was free, Kaartos picked her up and carried her back to his house deep within the Grove.

When they arrived at the house,

Kaartos frowned as the girl coughed and wheezed in pain. "Here," he said, leading her into a spare room before kneeling beside her. He reached for a small vial hanging around his neck and removed its stopper, revealing a thick greenish liquid inside. "Drink this," he instructed, handing it to the girl.

The liquid tasted bitter, but she forced it down anyway as Kaartos began to explain what had happened. "You were caught in my Grove," he said bluntly. "Now you must stay here for a week and drink this every morning to help your body fight off the poison. Once it is out of your system, I will escort you back to safety." He glanced at her chained wrists, realizing that she was tied up. "I had to do that," he added apologetically. "It's for your own

It's for your own safety as well as mine," he explained, seeing the confusion in her eyes. "People often try to run away before they're properly healed, and I can't have that. You understand, don't you?" There was an unspoken question in his tone; would she be content to stay here until she could breathe safely outside again?

"For your own good," he repeated softly. "It's too dangerous out there. You need time to recover properly." He paused, studying her face, wondering if she would trust him enough to stay willingly. "But I understand that you must be uncomfortable like this. When the week is up and your body has fought off the poison, I will remove these bindings and see you safely home. Just focus on getting better for now."

Her eyes flickered towards the chains, then back to him. Was she considering it? Kaartos hoped so. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder before standing and stepping away from her, giving her some space. "I'll go get you something to eat," he said gruffly. There was a plate of fruit on the table by the door, as well as a pitcher of fresh water. If she could just eat and drink those things, maybe it would

Good girl," he murmured as he returned with a plate of fruit. He sat down on the edge of the bed and handed it to her. "Eat this when you're ready. I'll be here if you need anything." For the next few minutes, they sat in silence; Kaartos studying his own hands while the girl tentatively nibbled at the fruit, taking care not to eat too fast.

Finally, she looked up at him and asked softly, "Why did you save me?" It was a question he'd heard countless times before, but somehow, it always caught him off guard. He considered his response carefully before answering honestly. "Because no one deserves to die needlessly," he said simply. "Even if they are foolish enough to enter my Grove."

Sighing softly, Kaartos ran a hand through his gray hair before responding It doesn't matter why you were here or what your intentions were. The important thing is that you're safe now and have a chance to recover. Just focus on getting better and leaving my Grove behind once you're strong enough.

He offered her another piece of fruit from the plate, hoping she would take it and feel more at ease around him.

You're welcome, he replied softly, watching as she took the fruit and began to eat again. He remained by her side, silently monitoring her progress throughout the day, occasionally glancing up at his vial of antidote on the bedside table before looking back down at her with a worried expression.

As night fell, he helped her onto a makeshift pallet near the fireplace and tucked several blankets around her. "Try to get some sleep," he murmured as he stepped away from the bed, giving her some space. He didn't expect her to feel completely safe or comfortable yet, but hopefully she could rest despite that.

That night, Kaartos sat by the fire in the main room of his house, staring into its dancing flames as he thought about what had brought her here and what might happen when she was finally well enough to leave. The weight of responsibility for her safety rested heavily on his shoulders, but despite everything, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of connection with the girl lying sleeping in another room.

The door creaked open and one of his pet vipers slithered into the room, gliding silently across the floor to curl up beside him. He reached down absentmindedly and scratched its scaly head, the venomous creature content to serve as his only company for now.

Kaartos was up early the next morning to prepare breakfast and check on her. He didn't disturb her sleep; she needed it after the long, painful night. As he waited for her to wake, he busied himself with his usual tasks around the house. The vial of antidote hung prominently near the fireplace, a constant reminder of what was at stake if she didn't continue to take it every morning.

Hearing her stir, Kaartos turned and saw her sitting up on the makeshift pallet. "Good morning," he said quietly, walking over to pour her a cup of water from the pitcher on the bedside table. "How do you feel?" It was an important question; if she didn't get better soon, both their fates would be sealed.

"That's good to hear," he said, relief washing over him as he watched her carefully take a sip of the cool water. "Now you need to finish this antidote," he added, holding up the vial and offering it to her. She took it without protest, drinking the thick greenish liquid in one go before coughing slightly. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as she handed back the vial.

"You rest today," he said gently. "I'll prepare some food for you later." Her pale features contrasted sharply with his gray skin and black eyes, making him wonder how much longer she could survive in his Grove before succumbing to its poisonous embrace... or if perhaps there was another way?

"My name is Kaartos," he replied simply, not bothering to elaborate further on his identity just yet. Instead, he continued to watch her carefully as she lay there, trying to gauge the effect the antidote was having on her. "Why did you come here?" he asked after a moment, genuinely curious.

It wasn't uncommon for people to venture into his Grove out of spite or curiosity, but something about this girl seemed different. Perhaps it was her resilience in the face of such overwhelming odds, or perhaps it was simply fate playing its hand again. Whatever the case may be, he found himself drawn to her in ways that he couldn't quite understand.