If there was any word to describe the way Kurt was walking; Blaine would describe it as ‘skulking'.

After all, they were walking in circles.

At least that's what Blaine thought they were doing. It seemed that Kurt had gone quiet at least an hour ago and they were revisiting the same crossroad spot for the third time; he knew that the hunter mentioned the tunnels as an easier way around but at the moment, they seemed hopelessly lost.

Blaine hesitated to solicit a response from the hunter; judging by the dark scowl on his face, Kurt didn't seem to be in the mood to entertain questions. In the dark abyssal tunnel, the curly haired boy could not figure out which way to go either, eyes trailing after the glow of the torchlight.

In the dark cave floor, there was an echoing a tune of footsteps falling through.

The silence was almost unbearable. Watching closely, the dark haired boy eyed the lean figure in front of him, examining the wear and tears on the hunter's jacket. They had barely enough rest and it seemed almost futile to stop the search for sleep. He let out a soft sigh, the murmur of fatigue escaping his lips.

His mind drifted. What happened back there? He was captivated by the Merman's deceit and it was needless to say, rather embarrassing for the hunter to have to snap him out of his dark thoughts: to stay down in the cave, waiting for the beast to unthaw. ‘Just because something is beautiful doesn't mean that it is good.' That stray thought slithered into his mind as he found himself staring back at the thin framed brunette's back.

But then again, the Merman was merely lying.

“Stop.” Kurt's soft whisper tapped through the tunnels.

Blaine did as he was told, blinking in confusion.

There was a click and the torchlight went out. At once, darkness engulfed the tunnel they stood in. Without sight, Blaine had to rely on his other senses, stiffening at the sudden dreadful realisation that as he stood still, running footfalls from a distance could be heard. Blaine held his breath, almost too afraid to even breathe.

Warm hands pressed onto his side and he found himself being shouldered towards the jagged walls of the cave. Commanding but gentle, Blaine recognised it as Kurt's and let out a small inhale of breathe. Body pushed up against the wall, the two companions stood in silence.

A good minute passed and the footfalls disappeared into the murky distance.

“What was that?” Blaine breathed, voice shaking slightly. “I thought no one else comes down here?”

The figure beside him let out a grunt of apathy.

“That's what I thought as well.”

Blaine gulped. If it wasn't bad enough they seemed lost in the tunnels, someone or something else had to crawl its way down into the maze of the mermaids. There was a ‘tick' as Kurt switched the torchlight back on, the luminescent yellow glow once again lighting up the gloom of the cavern.

“It could be just another lost bandit?” He tried to reason; after all, bandits found themselves often lost in the mazes of the woods.

“If it was just another bandit, he would've been stuck at the entrance, ogling at the mermaids.” Kurt countered gruffly, sounding just as perplexed as Blaine. “It can't be a beast either, judging by the light fleet-footed running.”

There was a pause.

Blaine bit his lips in anticipation.

Was it Cooper? Had his brother managed to catch up with them?

After all, Rachel Berry had stalled them for quite a bit back in the forest and he seemed to have elected help from the hunters in the town. Was it possible that Cooper had found them? Blaine's heart sunk a little. They were too close to give up now.

“Let's keep walking.” Kurt suggested after a while, his voice calm. “Perhaps it's a lost creature.”

The dark haired boy nodded and waved his hand in a gesture to ask the hunter to move on ahead. That's a possible: perhaps an elf. Those creatures weren't affected by the mermaids that caused most men to fall head over heels in love with them. They were protected by old elf magick, or that's what the books said.

Not wasting a second, the brunette began his pace, seemingly going faster than before, Blaine had to take bigger strides to keep up. He knew that there was something awfully wrong, judging by that tone of voice. Even as unruffled as he sounded, Kurt probably knew that they were in possible danger.

So much for family ties, Blaine frowned darkly.

Without so much of a warning, a garish whizzing sound rocketed past his ear.

There was a click as the torchlight fell onto the ground, flickering.

Heart in his mouth, the dark haired boy pressed his back against the closest stone wall, unsheathing the sword behind his back and prepared to attack. Swiftly, his eyes darted over to the hunter, facing Blaine now, had his bow and arrow aimed at the direction of where the noise had initially came from.

Hazel brown eyes travelled to the small torch on the floor. What had caused Kurt to drop it: probably whatever whizzed past inches away from his ear? Who did it? Blaine mused, observing the sudden silence that penetrated throughout the cavern. Cerulean lit up the space. The familiar glow of Kurt's fire engulfed the cave walls with a sapphire-copper hue as the hunter let his arrow fly, illuminating the darker distant hedges.

In a split second, Blaine's eyes caught a flash of blonde hair, hidden behind a small formation of rocks, just a few metres away from them. Ignoring his hammering heart, he darted forward, almost horrified at his own reckless impulse, and begun to swing his sword at the figure behind the rocks when Kurt's sudden shout halted his tracks.

“Wait!” The hunter's voice roared through the caverns.

Small, loose stones that littered the floor were unceremoniously kicked away as the brunette approached the tattered stone formation. A light blue flame lit up in Kurt's pale hand and they got a closer look at the shadow that hid behind the wall. Blaine's jaw dropped at the sight in front of him.

It was a girl.

Her hair was a rich shade of gold and it flowed in waves to adorn her glowing, porcelain-like skin. Her bright blue orbs framed by long lashes seemed to brighten in recognition as she examined the brunette that stood stiffly beside Blaine. A straight nose, full lips that curved into a playful smile as she stood up to face them, eyes bright with curiosity and interest.

“Kurt?” Her pencil thin eyebrows eased down gently to her eyelashes. Blaine couldn't help but stare in complete incredulity, a sculptor could not have fashioned her seraph's ears and pixie nose any better.

An elf! The dark haired boy finally tore his eyes from the wafer-thin girl to examine the brunette beside him. They had the same porcelain pale skin, bright unwavering blue eyes that looked like jewels melted onto snow and the pointed ears that curved out in a subtle way.

“Quinn.” Kurt's response was tart but even with his hostile reply, the blonde elf broke into a smile, her beguiling, oyster white teeth lit up the cave. It jolted Blaine like an electric current when his hazel eyes met with that megawatt smile. Hesitating slightly, she emerged from the shadows, stepping out with her arms outstretched.

Blaine's gaze flittered nervously between the two. Unlike the elf, Kurt seemed to be wary, his ice blue eyes guarded as his dark gaze swept over the girl, as if trying to figure her out but to no avail. Ignoring the arms that were reaching out to him, the brunette paced back slightly.

“Is Smythe here?” He questioned crustily, eyes narrowing.

“No.” Quinn spoke in a dulcet voice as sweet as any songbird. In the dim light of Kurt's flames, her voguish clothes kept captive an aroma redolent of cinnamon and meadow fresh mint. “Shouldn't you be contented that I'm here? We've haven't seen each other for ages.”

Blaine rubbed his arms awkwardly, feeling the displeasure that leaked out of Kurt's growl of response.

“Isn't that Smythe's gun you are holding?” He jabbed a finger accusingly at the elf's right hand. “The gig's up, Quinn. I know that gun anywhere.”

The girl's sigh was melodious. Jewel sapphire eyes darted to Blaine instead.

“So you are the one everyone is looking for.” She raised the gun to his head and the dark haired boy let out a sharp inhale of breath, “I've been told that you are the Wendigo.”
In a flash, Kurt had his hand on the gun, twisting it as it let out a rounding shot that bounced through the cave walls behind them. Not wanting to waste the chance whilst the girl was caught off-guard, Blaine elbowed the elf onto the ground, sword raised with his free hand. Her bright eyes bore into Blaine's hazel ones and at once, he felt the air sucked out of him.

It almost looked like Kurt's.

Quinn let out a bored lament once more.

“I did tell the truth, Smythe is not here. Honestly, I didn't even know Kurt would be down here.” She blinked, unfazed by the sword that was held above her. “I was just sent here to get you,” Quinn nudged her head at Blaine, rolling her eyes.

He frowned.

First Rachel, now Quinn. Why is Sebastian after me too? Blaine furrowed his eyebrows. Then again, they are probably working together. He stopped, a strange sort of realization dawning upon him. It seemed as if they were just trying to stall time instead of getting rid of the obstacles in the way: sending both of Kurt's past acquaintances to reel in some sort of emotional trauma to the boy, causing him to backtrack on his journey to the real Wendigo.

What if they were just waiting for something?

“We don't have time for this,” Blaine found himself blurting out, pushing himself away from the blonde elf and facing Kurt, trying to mask his panic. “We have to get to Burt.”

Instead of giving a sardonic quip, the hunter nodded in agreement.

“Hold on,” Quinn leaped up from the ground gracefully, dusting herself gently before folding her arms in akimbo. She grabbed Blaine's arm tightly and he winced at the sudden pressure, “You've caused a lot of trouble around, I am not going to just let you go.”

Blonde wavy locks bounced around as she turned to Kurt coolly, “You can get Burt yourself. I need to get this boy back to town.”

Kurt pocketed Sebastian Smythe's gun before rolling his eyes uninterestedly.

“I need him to find Burt.”

Blaine let out a groan. They had no time for this. Standing around the rugged and weary walls of the cave with cold air filling every nook and cranny, he quivered, feeling the girl's heated gaze on him.

“We are in a hurry.” He muttered exasperatedly, trying to tug himself away from the vice grip of the elf, “I will be going back to the town once we've found Burt so –“ Before he could finish his sentence, the blonde girl glowered darkly at him, cutting him off immediately.

“My village is in danger because of you,” Quinn hissed, “All the elves, they are in peril.” At that she twisted her head to scowl at the brunette hunter.

Curiosity seemed to have sparked into Kurt's eyes.

“What did Sebastian do?” He questioned nonchalantly, his blue flames dancing wildly on his fingertips and Blaine wondered if the flames would go out.

“He sent hunters to the elves village.” Quinn snarled, baring her teeth. “They've everyone captured.” She bumped her head towards Blaine sketchily, “Smythe sent me here looking for you, he said you killed a fellow hunter, a lass called Rachel Berry?”

The dark haired boy shivered at the memory.

“Told me you were dangerous. I've seen the hunter that you attacked, broken bones, torn flesh. We were forced to heal her.” Quinn continued, observing him with a softer gaze now, “But you don't seem too much of a menace, considering that Kurt can put up with you.” She seemed to reconsider her thoughts as she stole at glance at the brunette.

“Did you harm her?” The blonde elf directed her query at Kurt now, seemingly alarmed.

“She attacked us.” The hunter's lip curled. “I was merely defending myself.”

“Gosh, Kurt.” Quinn's voice trembled, her face contorted into worry, “She looked as if she was torn apart by a Wendigo.”

Her grip loosened.

Gently, Blaine tugged himself away from her, breathing a sigh of relief when she did not pull him back. Instead, Quinn seemed to be in a state of confusion, her striking baby blue eyes looking down onto the ground in trepidation.

“What lies did Sebastian spin to you?” Kurt probed, cool eyes now fixated on the blonde.

“He said that the Wendigo was weakened into a form of a boy thanks to that female hunter,” Quinn elucidated hurriedly, “And if I didn't catch him in time, he would be coming for us. Rachel Berry supposedly sacrificed herself for the sake of all beasts in the forest.”

At that the hunter let out a snort.

“But he knows Kurt's here and he knows I'm here.” Blaine blinked in perplexity, “If he knows we will tell you the truth, why did he send you here in the first place?”

“If I didn't hear Kurt's voice, I would've just shot you.” Quinn shrugged dispassionately, mirroring Kurt's nonchalance. Blaine frowned gloomily, were all elves just as disquiet as the two of them? Ignoring the guilty look on the blonde's face, he waved it out with his free hand, silently making a note to stay alert at all costs.

“There's more to that.” Kurt prodded, eyes lit with a strange sort of concern, “Sebastian's as sly as a fox. He has something else up his sleeves, with all his dirty tricks, he probably said something to try to disarm you as well didn't he?”

The blonde nodded in agreement.

“He did say not to trust you,” The elf pointed at Blaine, “But I've never trusted Sebastian's words as much as my own intuition.”

There was a short pause.

The blue flames on Kurt's fingers died out and darkness swallowed everything. In surprise, the curly haired boy turned around only to stumble on the jagged rocks beneath him and found himself being held steady by a pair of strong hands.

“We have to get out of here.” Kurt's voice was beside his ear. “I'm not going to waste any more energy on creating light for you when we have Quinn here.”

That's right. Blaine remembered, a wisp of memory of him reading a book about the creatures of the forest wafted into his head. Elves were able to see in the darkness; it helped them fend against other night beasts like the vampires and because of their enhanced ability of sight that allowed them to be solid archers of the forest.

Fingers folded themselves neatly into his own and Blaine let out a gasp of distress.

“Hold on tight. She's leading us out.” Kurt sounded apathetic as he hauled the curly haired boy through the damp caves with the help of Quinn. His face reddened when he realised that the hunter was actually untwining his finger's with his own; not that he minded. Blaine flushed in complete embarrassment, thankful for the darkness of the caverns.

Attempting to move hastily through the dark cave without stumbling, the boy tried to kept up with the two fleet footed elves. In the gloom ahead, he could feel moisture seeping through, rocks to his side as he kicked and staggered through the loose stones on the ground maladroitly.

“We are almost at one of the exits.” Quinn called out. In the dim lighting, Blaine couldn't tell how far she was. “I can't tell where it leads but an exit is better than none.”

Just as she said that, a small bright blinding light appeared in the distance. Picking up speed, Blaine leaped, trundling through the cave towards the glow at the end that was growing bigger as they approached it. The cavern finally wormed it's way out, the bright entrance arched at least a hundred feet up was definitely a sight for sore eyes.

With the light illuminating the cave, Kurt let go of both Quinn and his hands, casting a disgruntled look at his own. They had slowed down as the three figures stepped out into the open, a blast of fresh forest air greeting them in glee. Serrated mountains loomed in the distance, flour-white snow brooding over the land; Blaine let out exhalation of respite, finally drenched in the brilliant light. Even though the malachite grass as swaddled with necklaces of powdery snow, it was definitely better than the engulfing damp darkness of the caves.

An amethyst purple tiny invaded the winter skies, signalling the evening that was oncoming. They slowed to a stop, panting and breathing in the dusk air. There was a long silence before the blonde elf spoke up.

“What do I do?” Quinn broke the moment of enchantment, looking at her hands in disappointment. “If I go back without him, what will they do to the elves?”

Blaine felt guilt worm a hole in his heart, feeling mortified at the terrified look on the girl's face. In the twilight, she looked much younger than she sounded, her rosy cheeks tinted in contrast to her insipid face.
“You fight.” Kurt commanded sternly. “Sugar-coating this won't do any good, you do realise that it is possible that Sebastian's cronies have already started war with the elves whilst you were gone – there might not even be a home to go back to.”

Quinn let out a distressed gasp.

“I shouldn't have gone.” She whispered, her eyes filled with misery.

“Even if you had stayed, what could you have done?” Kurt expounded coldly, ignoring the look of disdain that Blaine threw him.

“I knew this would happen, yet I continued to do so.” The girl covered her face with her small delicate hands and she let out a small sob.

“Go back.” The hunter ordered dispassionately, “Standing here in regret will not do you any good.”

Quinn rested her hands beside her draped skirt, eyes fixated on the floor. Blaine couldn't help but feel guilt-ridden, watching the girl with culpability and trying desperately to wreck his mind on how to help the poor small elf. Kurt seemed to have read his mind for the brunette side-stepped the blonde elf and was now standing in front of him, expression unreadable.

“Let's go.” He spoke dryly before moving past Blaine.

“But what about Quinn?” The dark haired boy cast a sad look at the small blonde figure.

“I don't care.” Came the irritated rebuke. “It is not my problem.”

“Aren't the elves part of your family too?” Blaine hissed, turning to glare the retreating figure of the hunter. “Shouldn't you at least do something to assist her?”

Kurt did not reply, instead, he continued walking onwards, ignoring the frustrated scowl on Blaine's face.

“It is okay, Blaine.” Quinn spoke up, “I understand. After all, Kurt still blames us for not being able to save Elizabeth.” With that, she gave a nod and the small petite blonde elf leaped off into the dense snowy forest, her locks disappearing into the mist of the winter evening.

Frowning darkly, the curly haired boy headed over to where the hunter was briskly walking down the mountain path, washed over with smooth rocks and thickly dark green boughs that arched over the snowy path from each side, competing for sunlight. Under their dappled shade, the evening orange hue was muted. Hurriedly, the dark haired boy sheathed his sword and stepped up to hike on the hunter's left side.

Kurt lifted his eyes to shoot Blaine an irate glare before stopping his trek. Why was he even annoyed? The dark haired boy frowned back hotly, it wasn't as if Blaine did anything wrong this time. All he wanted to do was to help the elf; even if he didn't really know how to. He paused his strides as well, fixing his gaze onto the pale boy's.

“I am not an elf.” The hunter grunted unflappably, “They are not my family. Don't spout things that you know nothing about.”

At that, the boy started to pace ahead, stirring his companion to move alongside as well.

Of course. That's what he's upset about. Blaine forced down the urge to roll his eyes. Quinn didn't seem too bad in any case, he pondered quietly, trying to disregard the scowl that Kurt was giving him. She seemed lost and confused, mostly like him, just trying to find a way to help the people that she held dear. Well, she did try to hurt him but it was all in the name of protecting her people and getting fooled by the green-eyed trickster. The blonde elf seemed almost akin to Kurt though, with her sharp features and aloof nature – it seemed as if they were almost identical. Hunting trajectory skills, healing abilities, the ability to see in the dark – wait.

Blaine blinked.

If elves could see in the dark, why would they need that blue flame in the first place? Why did Kurt need to rely on those flames to light up the dark? He used a torchlight to see in the dark didn't he? It seemed strange for Quinn to not have those flames and instead the ability to guide herself through the dim murky cave – but then again, it was not that he recognised the blue flames as something an elf would have in the first place.

That brought back to the question that had been bugging him ever since he had met the boy: who exactly is Kurt Hummel, or in this retrospect, what?

He glanced nervously at the hunter's back. Whatever he was, he seemed oddly compelled not to say it. Then again, Blaine examined his own hands, he didn't know who he was either. A troublemaker? A nuisance? Cooper called him a calamity and it seemed so, for he appeared to be causing misfortune for almost everyone around him.

“We have been side tracked.” Kurt broke his train of thought, “It's going to take a bit longer to find the Wendigo cave.”

Blaine let out an exhale, his breath ghosting in the misty winter evening. Night would soon approach and the land would be covered over by the condensed night. Carefully, he treaded beside Kurt, examining his surroundings. Unlike the territory they had crossed before, where the pine trees decorated the forest area, the snowy path they were taking was lined with boughs and large oak trees.

If they were near to the oak trees, it signalled their proximity to the Wendigo's cave. In spite of everything, they weren't too far behind, Blaine noted unobtrusively, eyeing the wide trunks of oak, their old ancient branches sagging to touch the ground and curling up again like a gnarled climbing frame.

They continued in silence, something Blaine found himself growing fond of. It wasn't an awkward muteness between them; moreover a calmness that stretched out between the both of them, hunter and companion as the day grew old and the hearth called out for the sun to sink down beneath the tree tops.

“I have a hypothesis.” Blaine spoke up, realising that he did not speak his mind about his sudden grasp of cognizance that happened back in the cave. “It's a wild guess but I think Cooper and Sebastian are just trying to steer us away from getting to Burt instead of trying to get rid of us. They might be just waiting for something.”

The hunter seemed to deliberate for a moment before replying taciturnly.

“It doesn't matter anymore.” He let out a harsh chortle, shaking his head. “As long as Burt is safe and the Wendigo is dead, it doesn't matter what they do.” The brunette's fists were clenched up as he stared soullessly at the dark haired boy.

The light streaks through the boughs were in both brilliant and shadowy beams, illuminating the snow into sepia tones and casting a gold light upon Kurt's porcelain skin. His ice blue eyes seemed different from Quinn's now, it's artic gaze locked onto hazel warm pools. It beheld an utilitarian expression and seemed bleak compared to the blonde elf's bright jewel ones.

“What are you?” Blaine found himself whispering out loud.

Kurt narrowed his eyes.

Scared stiff to upset the hunter, the dark haired boy continued on, “I-I mean, what are you going to do?”

Thin eyebrows were raised.

Blaine found himself stammering for words, heat rushing up to his cheeks, forming a rosy hue on his face. The sharp, astute regard Kurt gave him made him feel incompetent and unapt to form a reply. Instead, the boy turned away from the hunter, feeling appallingly exposed.

A long pause followed as they trudged down a path, the woodlands filled with bird calls from above, pecking for grub. The orchestra of the evening forest whispered their songs to the wind as Blaine tried to still his mind. There were so many questions he needed to ask Kurt, so many things he wanted to know; but as enchanting as the hunter seemed, he was an enigma with an intolerant nature.

His thoughts coasted up to the canopies above, free, but protected by the boughs. Noiselessly, his emotions sink back to base-line, like a reboot for his brain. Blaine glanced upwards, holding his head up the feel the cascading light. How long had they been in the forest? It didn't matter, for the forest did not care for seconds, minutes, even hours were inconsequential. The smallest measure of time remained as the cycle of daylight and darkness.

“I can answer your first question.” Kurt spoke out, his voice euphonious as it harped through the darkened foliage.

Blaine blinked in surprise, turned to study the boy's expression.

“I –“ Before he could finish his sentence, a vulgar gun shot rang through the woods, halting Kurt's riposte.

To his utter horror, blood had begun to seep out of Kurt's lower abdomen, a look of revulsion slowly plastered onto the brunette's face.

“Darn it, missed again.” Dulcet voice echoed from the oak trees above, sounding hauntingly unimpressed.


Whipping himself around to the direction of the noise, the both boys gasped in unison when they found themselves staring into the same jewel pools they had seen earlier on. Blonde hair bounced gently on her shoulders as she leaped onto the ground graciously.

“Looks like we'll have to do this the hard way.” Sapphire bright eyes sparkled in mischievousness as Kurt let out a snarl of malice, gripping his lower half tightly in wild fury.

Quinn smiled and lunged forward.