It was the funniest of things to meet such a creature,
One steeped in such mystery and rumour,
But the day I met Aby it was immediately obvious that he had the kindest of natures.

The village folk had spoke of a monster, as black as the night and with teeth like daggers,
Such tales made any visitor stagger,
with fear and a shudder.

Never go out into the woods they said,
For the nest time we see you, you will surely be dead.
Surely such a creature could not exist I thought,
My mind filled with that modern rational doubt which I had been taught.

Ignoring the warnings and heeds, I set off into the woods with my stomach in knots,
Resisting primeval fear is something not even I can stop.

As night set in, my fear grew greater,
The twisted limbs of the bare trees creaked louder and louder.

Then with a sharp howl of the wind it happened,
Aby appeared from nowhere carrying a weapon.

I tried to run but my blood turned to ice, my eyes were frozen,
I couldn’t move, my legs were so cold,
They felt as if they were broken.

What are you doing out here so late? He asked,
Lowering his weapon and giving an astonished gasp.

Come on, he said. Come back to mine,
You can have some food,
Then we’ll get you back home in no time.

It was the funniest thing meeting such a creature,
One called Aby with such a kind nature.