Blaine had always visualized how sleeping people would look like with the help of story books; lines of care and toil smoothed, virtually disappearing from the skin, how the body would be a peace, like a baby in its first throes of slumber. Not a twitch or a spasm, breathing deep and relaxed. The books that he read told him about how poles apart a person would look like in sleep and in wake.

Kurt however, was a complete contradiction to whatever that was etched in Blaines head.

Lying on his shoulder, the hunters face was completely scrunched up, as if he was getting slapped over with a sledgehammer. Instead of sleeping peacefully like a log, Kurt was twitching uncontrollably in his sleep, his teeth gnashing loudly and occasionally letting loose a few incomprehensible words. A nightmare, Blaine thought, watching his companion jerk in his sleep, pondering whether to wake him up or let him rest.

He looked utterly distraught.

The first time Blaine spotted the hunter, he was completely in control, the perfectly coiffed chestnut brown hair with not a strand of hair out of place. Pale skin cleared from any sort of dust or bruise, and ice blue eyes bright with a glimmer of thrill; unlike now. Settled on his shoulder, Blaine wouldnt have recognised that the Kurt he laid eyes, on the first time, was the Kurt that rested beside him – the usually faultless hair in a mess of twigs and dirt, face covered in cuts and clothes forked with holes.

Even when he was awake, those ice blue eyes held nothing but unease.

Sure the hunter shot the dagger stares and sporadic quips, but it seemed as if he wasnt as vicious as he was before. In the span of time that the dark haired boy got to know Kurt, Blaine knew that those eyes spoke defeat.

Blaines heart wrenched with a stab of guilt. After all, Kurt was just a kid and kids werent supposed to go through all the terror that the hunter did. Not especially when he didnt even do anything wrong to begin with. He opened his mouth to wake Kurt up but closed it hurriedly, realising that the hunter would probably spite him a mouthful of dont pity me speeches.

Overwhelmed by the fact that he might have to face the Wendigo and possibly lose another family member again, Kurt had probably succumbed to the wishes of the beast – the reason why the Wendigo even came back in the first place. With a heavy heart, Blaine knew that Kurt would surrender himself to the Wendigo in replacement for his own father, even knowing it could probably just be a trick, a gambit for the beasts hearty revenge.

Blaine Anderson sighed, glancing up to gaze at the morning sky as the first orange hued rays kissed the white snow laden grounds, the first slither of sun peeking over the skyline in the distance. An easy breeze buffeted across, caressing his face and blowing loose strands of his hair. It was finally daylight.

A sudden beeping caught his attention.

Was it there before? Blaine froze, trying to figure out where direction of the noise was coming from. Just as rapidly as it started, it disappeared. Straining his ears to hear, there was nothing but the angry clicking of Kurts teeth. Relaxing his muscles, the dark haired boy exhaled loudly, and mist escaped his lips.

The only sounds were the chattering of forest life, a bird cawing in the outlying sky. Like an orchestra of his mind, the forest played one enchanting symphony after another; naked branches dancing to an unheard beat, whispering their songs to the wind. Blaine held his hands up to feel the cascading light, a brilliant white shaft illuminating the pathways of the ancient forest.

Smiling gently, the boy glanced over to his shoulder where the hunter slept, albeit not so soundly. Soft winter flakes had begun to form on Kurts clenched face and Blaine fought the urge to reach over and dust it off. It elucidated the fact that they had been sitting around for a long time, considering that they were starting to get covered in falling snowflakes.

Blaine wondered whether he was to wake the hunter up when a loud beeping noise to his left caught his attention.

Before he could move, there was an abrupt gasp from his right. Whipping his head, he was greeted with a pair of owlish ice blue pools, ringed with dark circles , glowering as if he did something wrong.

"Wha-" He was rudely interrupted as Kurts hand swung out and clamped over Blaines mouth.

What on earth? The dark haired boy was just about to bite the hunters palm when several footfalls caught his train of thought.

"Well, well, well!" A loud piercing voice called out as the two boys jumped in astonishment, "What do we have here?"

Kurt was already on his feet. The hunter had his bow and arrow out, aiming at the direction that they had come from. Blaine, on the other hand, struggled to get up, his legs exhausted from all the walking they did the night before and anaesthetized from all the sitting. When he managed to get his bearings right, he glanced to the direction of the noise and was rendered speechless.

Just a few metres away, stood two men and an incredibly mammoth mouthed woman, grinning ruthlessly back at them.

Unsheathing the sword that was swung on his back, Blaine stood tersely, watching the hunter examine the group that stood haughtily in front. The two men wore identical black turtle necked clothing and had masks covering their mouths, their eyes were a strange shade of puce but the person that caught Blaines interest the most was the lady that was flanked by the two of them.

Her bouncy curly locks were an intense shade of cinnamon, dark heavy makeup on her almond shaped eyes that fluttered flirtatiously at both Blaine and his companion. A perilously wild grin appeared on her deep cherry lips as she giggled stridently, covering her mouth leisurely with a furry gloved hand.

"Oh my, look at this little dreamboat," She whispered seductively, her voice almost in a purr as she winked avariciously at Blaine.

There was a snort that came from Kurt.

"I would never guess that muddled hobbit sized men were your type, Berry." The hunters voice sounded raspy.

"Come on now, Hummel," The lady beamed coyly, "Thats no way to talk about your friend."

Blaines eyebrows rose lightly. They knew each other? He glanced sideways at Kurt curiously, noting that the hunter still had his bow and arrow ready to shoot. Hands tightening on the hilt of his sword, the dark haired boy gulped in perplexity, unsure what to do.

"Lets cut the chit-chat." The ladys voice grew solemn now as she dusted her chiffon skirt daintily, tilting her head and smirking at the two boys. "Im here to pick up your little buddy here."

At once, a frenzy of ire filled Blaines chest.

"Did Cooper send you to do this?" He hissed tetchily, feeling four pair of eyes falling onto him. "I am not going back with any of you."

The cinnamon haired woman let out a boisterous guffaw, her smirk never leaving her tinted lips. "Oh dear, I forgot to mention that you dont really have a say in this, Blaine Anderson. You will be leaving with us, whether you like it or not."

The grip of his hilt tautened harshly.

"Now Kurt," The woman tore her gaze from Blaine and rested her striking tawny coloured eyes onto the hunter beside him, "You can choose to play no part in this, I just want the boy and you can be on your merry way."

Once more the brunette let out a thunderous scoff.

"What makes you think Ill just hand him over to you without a fight," There was a hesitant pause. "Miss Rachel Berry?" He highlighted the ladys name callously, venom underlining every word he spoke.

They were on a first name basis? Blaine froze as he recalled the night before; Kurt was telling him about other hunters that lived in the towns and he specifically singled out the name Berry. So this saliently dressed lady is one of the well-known hunters that the brunette had spoken about?

Shes a hunter? Blaine gawked at Rachel; her entire outfit could have fooled anyone: bright coloured clothes matched with a pair of startlingly high heels – and she looked unscratched. For one to travel so deeply into the forest and remain as flawlessly clean as her, it took some extent of skill.

"How did you get past the werewolves?" Blaine inquired hotly, wondering how she even managed to get through the forest wearing a pair of red high heels.

"I know the forest, duh." Came the snotty reply.

The cinnamon haired huntress sighed, rolling her eyes melodramatically.

"Ill give you one more chance, Kurt." She looked at her nails coolly, seemingly bored by the events that were unfolding, "After all we are friends arent we? I wouldnt want to devastate our lovely bond."

There was a loud snap.

Blaine gasped.

Kurt had let his arrow fly and almost robotically, the man that flanked Rachels right stepped forward with astounding speed and had literally took the arrow for her; however instead of burning away into Kurts bright blue flames, the man stood stock-still, seemingly unharmed and composed. Unhurriedly, he pulled the arrow out from his chest and snapped it into half with one hand, dropping it onto the floor coolly.

Blood didnt seep out from the hole in his chest.

The dark haired boy stepped back, feeling dread creep up his chest. On his side, he could feel antagonism radiating from the hunter as he shot another arrow into Rachels puce-eyed bodyguard. Once again, without hesitating at all, the arrow was ripped out of his chest and dropped calmly onto the snowy grounds as if nothing had happened at all.

"What is this?" Kurt hissed through gritted teeth.

"Something you wouldve known if you stuck alongside the hunters." Rachel mocked boldly, chuckling lightly.

"Kurt?" Blaine blinked, nonplussed.

Even in the morning half-light, the brunette looked worse for wear. They were caught by Coopers tracking hounds and had barely enough energy to make it through the day, let alone fight a group of seemingly insuperable hunters.

Without thinking, Blaine grabbed Kurts sleeve and turned tail.

Pulling the hunter with all his might, the brunette seemed to finally snap out of his reverie and had begun to lope with breakneck speed. Behind, the dark haired boy heard the loud exhale from Rachel and then an equally noisy snap of her fingers.

Turning around, Blaine almost tripped himself at the sight that befell – Rachel was actually sitting on one of her bodyguards shoulders and he was actually able to dash forward with the heavy weight on his back.

What on earth were they?

An unexpected weighty pressure on Blaines back caused him to fall face first onto the snowy ground. Slamming onto the snow hard fern floors with an unsettlingly crunch, the dark haired boy fought hard to get back on his feet.

Struggling, Blaine flipped the heavy weight off his back only to have another pair of strong arms pin him back down.

"Make sure you keep him that way!" Rachels sing-song voice sounded distant now, "Im going to catch the other one!"

Face first on the ground, Blaine felt his nose scrap the snowy floors harshly as he thrashed about violently, trying to get the ruthless grip off his arms and legs. He was restrained, completely unable to even get himself to twist around to see what was holding him down: though he was sure that it was the bizarre pair of bodyguards that Rachel had.

What were they? The grip on his arms felt cold and stone-hard as if they werent even alive. Blaine let out a growl. Whatever they were; they were pretty brawny to be able to hold him down.

"Get off me!" He snapped, froth flaying about but it was useless; the things didnt move a muscle. What about Kurt and Rachel? Surely the hunter had no strength left to eliminate the enemy. Panic filled his veins, there was no more time to lose, and he had to think of a way out.

Quieting down, Blaine reassessed the position of his enemies and adjusted his plan of attack in response: if he could just trick them into thinking that he was too tired to move, perhaps they would loosen their grip and he could strike.

Just as speedily he allayed, a sudden weightlessness from the two bodyguards that seized him occurred: there was a rather strident crack as the sound of solid rocks battered the ground. Whatever that had happened, it caved in to Blaines wishes and he simpered dangerously: they were going down.

Twirling as hastily as he could, the dark hair boy rose to his feet once more, ignoring the metallic taste of blood on his tongue; gripping his sword forcefully, the boy was prepared to swing the silver blade onto the enemies when he was stopped short.

Brilliant scarlet eyes addressed him.

A gasp escaped Blaines lips as he found himself staring right into the face of the Wendigo.

"You!" He whispered urgently, watching the long wolfish face part into a sneer.

With its left claw hooked onto one of Rachels leftover bodyguards (Blaine wondered quietly where the other went), the Wendigo clutched the peculiar clothed creature forcefully until it cracked, instead of the sound of breaking bones, the black clothed bodyguard was compressed into nothing but rubble as if he was made out of stone.

Dust escaped the beasts fine sharpened paws as it looked at Blaine inquisitively, raising its large bony head in acknowledgement.

It had been a elongated time since the dark haired boy faced the physical shape of the creature and it partially granted him a sigh of relief to know that at least Burt wasnt under tenure of the Wendigo: it could mean that he was one of two things; alive or dead.

Swiftly, Blaine swung his sword forward, hoping to hear the clang of metal hit bone but instead the beast flickered out of existence and back, completely dodging the blow. He wasnt the beasts target, Blaine noted, eyeballing the Wendigo darkly, it was Kurt that the beast was after so why did it appear?

What did it want?

"Im not your plaything anymore," Blaine announced, feeling his voice waver at the glower that the Wendigo threw him, "Where is Burt?"

The beast split open its jagged jaws, revealing rows of prickly teeth and let out a low haunting howl. Blaine felt icy fingers crawl up his spine, the familiar sounding yowl filling his gut with dread – it reminded him of the time he first heard the lonely beast.

Instead of attacking the Wendigo merely stood, towering over Blaine, its bright blood orbs observant; almost as if it was waiting for the boy to do something.

"Where is Burt?" Blaine repeated himself, jabbing the sword at the beast again. "What do you want from me?"

Once more, the beast dodged the blows neatly and materialized in front of Blaine once more, glaring menacingly at the boy.

He had no time for this. He needed to get to Kurt.

The dark hair boy let out an annoyed grunt and tried to push his way past the beast but he was instantaneously slammed back by a powerful whirlwind of force. Back slamming against a tree trunk, Blaine hissed in pain as he glowered at the monster that stood before him: it was trying to impede onto the boy getting to his friend.

Blaine lashed out with his sword, swinging furiously back and forth, trying to hack at the limbs of the Wendigo but the beast was exceedingly speedy. It waited till the dark haired boy was almost out of breath before slamming its front paws against the boy forcefully, throwing Blaine backwards once more, his entire body chucked across the snow laden floors like a doll.

Cheeks stinging with pain, the boy struggled to stand up once more.

The Wendigo was buying time. If it wanted, it couldve eaten Blaine a long time ago instead of play fighting with him. Indubitably even in Kurts state, he wasnt in danger, was he? Was Rachel truly such a potent foe?

"What do you want?" He spat viciously, feeling the hard gaze of the Wendigo upon him. "Why are you stopping me?"

There was a snarl that escaped the beast.

"Are you working with the huntress?" Blaine retorted frigidly in disbelief.

An unearthly screech shattered the peace of the forest. The dark haired boy froze in alarm: it didnt come from the Wendigo; which meant – Kurt!

Furrowing his brow in determination, Blaine rushed forward once more, his sword ready to swing into action. If he could just distract the beast, perhaps he could push past swiftly. Pouncing onto the large figure of the creature, Blaines sword clashed against the monsters long claws as it tried to block the blow.

Taking the opening, the boy flung himself over the Wendigo and dropped gracefully onto the ground with a soft thud.

Spinning around with a large grin on his face, the boy brandished his silver weapon with satisfaction, smug at the fact that he managed to follow through without failing. Uncannily, instead of chasing Blaine, the Wendigo vanished.

The dark haired boy put those mystifying thoughts away. He had to focus on the now; Kurt and Rachel. With breakneck speed, he sped through the woods towards the sound of the cataclysmic wail.

It wasnt difficult to spot out the hunter; it seemed he didnt get far either for he was standing in the middle of the glade that the small woody path led out to. Blaine was about to yell out his name when he felt a chaste movement to his right. Ah-hah! So that was where the other bodyguard was!

Reacting swiftly, the boy stabbed his sword towards the cold body that appeared at his side. You cant fool me twice! He twisted the plunged sword and pushed the weird humanoid onto the ground, watching its face crack into rocks and ebb into nothing but dust. Rock golems? Blaine blinked in amazement, lifting his sword out of the guard.

Rock golems werent supposed to look like humans at all. In fact, they wouldnt be servicing hunters; they were not bodyguards and they never worked for humans, let alone look like them. Eyeing the receding rock figure, an uneasy chill gripped him.

Panting slightly, Blaine turned towards where Kurt was standing and at once his heart dropped.

The hunter had his pale fingers wrapped tightly around Rachels neck, blue flames biting into her skin as he lifted her up from the ground, the woman now in tattered wear, wriggling defiantly with stubs for her arms, her entire length of limbs cut off from both sides.

"KURT!" Blaine gasped, feeling his legs almost buckle as he treaded heavily across the clearing, unable to tear his gaze away from the armless huntress.

He stopped a few feet away from the hunter, stomach lurching at the gagging sound that Rachel was making. Staring hard at the brunette, Blaine felt a sinister chill wrap around his heart. Ice blue eyes were unfazed and filled with merciless rage, Kurt paid no heed to the boy that was in front of him and tilted his head, sneering cold-bloodedly.

"You sordid excuse for a human," He curled his lip distastefully, shaking the huntress gallantly as she let out a blubber of pain, "An eye for an eye." The blue flames around her throat were staring to form burn marks into her skin.

"Or in your case, both limbs for a he-"

"Stop!" Blaine grimaced, cutting the hunter off, "Let her go! This is torture!"

He reached forward to push Kurts fingers off. Upon brushing across the blue flames, the dark haired boys hands was ablaze with a throb of pain and he quickly snatched it away, blinking in as if he was kicked in the teeth.

The hunter was not amused.

"Stand away, Anderson." The brunette glowered darkly, "This is not your fight."

"Not if you are going to kill her! You already took her arms, shes defenceless now!" Blaine implored tetchily, frowning back at the impassive hunter.

"She will die either way." Came the snort.

"This senseless killing is not going to help!" Blaine roared, feeling sick at the petrified choking coming from the huntress, "I just saw the Wendingo – in its physical form – which means Burt, is still alive!"

At that the hunter dropped Rachel unceremoniously onto the floor with a thud.

Kurt glanced back at Blaine with a half lidded unaffected look before nodding curtly.

He bent down to grab Rachel and the dark haired boy bit his lip in dread, prepared to stop Kurt from doing anything else to the already armless woman only to see that the hunter had grabbed the rather dowdy handbag that Rachel had been holding before and was spilling the contents out.

Blaine observed closely as the hunter dug hurriedly through the huntresss objects, smashing her cell phone in venomous rage, removing food, medical supplies and passing them to his companion. Licking his lips, Blaine held the provisions guiltily – sure he was obliged that he had food now but knowing that he came from Rachel, it made him culpable.

"So this is how you found us," Kurts expression was unreadable as he pulled out a small device the size of a matchbox. It beeped in response and Blaines eyes widened: that was the sound he heard that very morning before the huntress and her lackeys appeared.

Beside, Rachel managed to sputter out something. Winter trees around them shivered in the bitter wind, their naked branches adorned with snow, looking down upon the bloody disarray on the hidden ground. The huntress appeared with stateliness and was bashed into a pulp just a few moments later, now laid on the ground, harmless and coughing out blood from time to time.

The hunter didnt look too good in shape as well, judging by the rips on his jeans and the blood stained gash that was drawn from his neck to his chest. Blaine glanced over to a few metres away where a pink coloured sword was snapped into half and covered in metallic smelling liquid – Rachels sword possibly. The boy gazed over to the hunter as he fiddled with the weird gadget.

"This will come in handy." The ice blue eyed hunter smirked as he stuffed the device into his pocket.

"What is that?" Blaine questioned inaudibly, twisting away, feeling nauseous at the sight of the once clean cut huntress that turned into a mess of blood and contusion.

"Nothing you need to know." Came the grunt.

"Are we going to leave her here?" The dark haired boy pushed on further, earning a helpless gasp from the woman on the floor.

"Yes." There was a hint of sadistic malice in the other boys voice.

Blaine whipped around as Kurt stepped onto Rachels forehead, the huntresss gorgeous orbs filled with panic as she let out a wail of terror. Feeling rather perturbed, the dark haired boy grabbed Kurts arm desperately, trying to haul him away from the wounded lady.

"Then lets go," He tugged onto Kurt fearfully, unsettled by the terrifyingly spiteful smirk that formed on the brunettes cold blood stained lips; "Theres no time to waste."

Blaine froze when Kurt twisted to sneer forebodingly at him. There was a complete look of impassive glee in those ice blue eyes, almost inhumane. The hunter tilted his head leisurely and pressed his foot down harder onto the huntresss forehead, a devilish smile tickling his lips as Rachel let out a snivel of hurt.

"You sound exactly like Cooper." Kurt exclaimed, the hunters eyebrows rose in revelation, "But we all know how he turned out."

At that, Blaine frowned deeply, not letting go of Kurts arm. He was not Cooper Anderson. He wasnt just going to let Kurt torture another human just because he was heated. Even though Rachel was probably a ploy from Cooper, she wasnt a danger to any of them; in fact, Kurt didnt need to cut off both of her arms!

All this blood-shed can be avoided.

With a final jerk, Blaine pulled Kurt away from the motionless woman with much vigour, causing the hunter to fall onto his chest, in a make-shift awkward hug. He could feel the brunette freeze in jolt surprise and Blaine furrowed his brows realising that Kurt did not emit any sort of warmth from his thin frame: it was as if he nothing but a void. Gawkily standing in the hold of Kurt, Blaine opened his mouth to say sorry but he was cut off by Kurts chortle.

Instead of moving away, the hunter remained still, lying on the other boys upper body.

"You of all people should know how humans are nothing but squalid." The brunette whispered, his voice dangerously low, "They shouldnt be pardoned for anything."

Blaine stilled his breathing as Kurt stepped away from the other boy, completely unaffected by the gauche haul and hug, watching the other boy with a wicked smirk on his face. In the winter morning illumination, the hunter stood tall and daunting with all the cuts upon his pale usually unblemished skin. His clothes were tattered and torn in different places, with gashes on his thigh and neck – even still, Kurt looked everything but feeble.

He looked intimidating.

He looked inhuman.

"They arent all bad." Blaine retorted gently, feeling his breath hitch as the hunters face fall into a dark glower.

"These humans are no better off than the Wendigo." Kurt snapped back, eyes blazing with fury. "They should not be acquitted from what I would do to any beast." He raised an accusing finger and jabbed it in the direction where Rachel laid, unconscious now.

"I rather her suffer from the fate of the werewolves, unable to fight back without her precious arms," the hunter hummed coldly, shaking his fists now, "Its a better punishment than letting her die promptly."

Blaine felt his heart drop.

Kurt sounded so malicious. Cruel and impassive towards his own race; what did they do to make him so mad? After all she was just a girl under orders, she didnt even hold a candle to what Kurt could do and he just surmounted with his strength, overpowering a weaker enemy.

"Whats wrong with you?" Blaine gasped, feeling puzzled at the sudden iciness of the hunter. "Why are you so unrelenting on causing anguish on her?"

There was a soft scoff.

"Stop being so meek, you unassuming spoiled brat." Kurt hissed back bitterly, flaring his nostrils and glowering. "Her death means nothing to me. Ive saved your ass all this while and all you do is whine about how Im wrong."

Blaine was irked by that. He did not whine nor did he accuse the hunter of being erroneous, although he did not take pleasure in watching all the blood-shed. Perhaps he was a little weak-hearted, but he did not bask in the fights that they had. He regarded the other boy with wrath, ignoring the pointed stare the hunter shot back.

"You can watch the werewolves die but you cant even leave me to torment this woman?" Kurt denounced coldly, "Dont be a hypocrite, Anderson."

"Shes a human being!" countered the boy, "Shes not a beast!"

Kurt looked far from remorseful as he made an acidic quip.

"There is no difference."

Blaine let out an exasperated growl, wanting to reach out and shake the frostiness out from hunter.

"Then are you calling me a beast as well?" He quibbled, glaring strongly at the brunette, clenching his fists, his nails biting into his skin as he shuddered in rage.

Kurt did not reply.

"Are you calling me a monster?" Blaine refuted poisonously, an ache in his chest growing as he saw the brunette turn away from him gradually, outwardly ignoring the rebut. "Just because people make mistakes, it doesnt make us monsters!"

There was a pause.

"It does, you meandering fool." Came the disquiet rejoin.

"Then you are no better than any of us, Kurt Hummel." Blaine spat, feeling dreadfully betrayed, "You are the prime example of why everything is in bedlam!" He curled his lip in disdain, resentment towards the immature-acting hunter growing.

"You dont see from my eyes," The brunettes voice was perilously low, "You wont understand."

Blaine stepped forward to grab Kurts shoulder only to get pressed back with another pair of cold hands. Ice blue eyes met hazel. Blazing with fury, the dark haired boy pulled out his sword, the silver glinting in the morning light and held his ground.

Kurts eyes widened slightly.

"Enough!" Blaine hissed, swinging his sword and narrowing his eyes. "Im tired of hearing you belittling humans as if you arent one yourself! You may be part elf but it doesnt entitle you to criticizing everyone you see!"

Kurt rose an eyebrow.

"You constantly blame everyone for not being you, you cannot fault me for feeling discontented at this unvarying blood-shed! You listen to me, Kurt Hummel, Im g-"

A sharp stinging pain flashed past Blaines face and he hissed in disbelief.

In front of him, Kurt had drawn his bow and arrow out and shot one out at the dark haired boy.

"Oops." The hunter purred coldly, "My hand slipped."

Blaine saw red.