Kurt woke up very slowly and became increasingly aware of the sharp pain in his side. He winced as his eyes fluttered open and he stared at the expanse of grey, stone ceiling above him. The bed he was lying in seemed soft and comfortable, layers of soft blankets and animal hides bundled on top of him. Groaning he sat up slowly, but froze when he saw the man curled up in a chair by his bedside sleeping peacefully. He was the man that he vaguely remembered saving him. He didnt remember him looking so... weird yes because the man had wings but also handsome. He had unruly curls from which protruded short brown horns. The large wings that Kurt remembered had scared him the most in the darkness of the forest were now draped around him as he slept, twitching slightly as the man snuffled in his sleep.

Despite being so disarmingly adorable while he slept Kurt still didnt know who or even what the man was. He was still just a strange creature who had picked him up and carried him to his lair. Kurt couldnt help but think this man was exactly the kind of thing his father had tried to warn him about. For some reason, however, he didnt feel quite as afraid as he should have. Wincing with every miniscule movement he got up from the bed and tip toed toward the door.

The door barely creaked as it opened, which Kurt was thankful for as he wanted to escape quickly before the mystery man woke up. Once the door had swung open however, Kurt slammed it shut again. He had expected to walk straight back out into the forest instead he almost fell from a fifty foot high ledge in a cavern wall. His back pressed firmly against a stone wall and his chest screaming in protest. The man was with him within seconds, eyes concerned and soft as his hands hovered in front of him, not daring to touch. "Breathe, breathe its okay youre safe." The man said trying to placate him, mesmerizing amber eyes glowing with sincerity in the flickering fire light. "You should sit down." He said again once Kurts breathing had returned to normal.

Gently he was guided back to the bed which he now realised just to be a large flat rock mounded with animal hides and woollen blankets, which mustve been the reason Kurt woke up so hot. He perched on the edge and the man sank anxiously back into the chair. Kurts heart had slowed since the shock of his attempted escape and more than terrified he found himself... curious about the man in front of him. "Who are you?" Kurt asked and the man introduced himself as Blaine, the dragon, or at least half of one in his current form. He chuckled nervously and blushed, and Kurt thought the pink hue colouring his cheeks made him look adorable, for a dragon of course. Blaines accent was thick indicating that mortal wasnt his native tongue but Kurt understood every word he spoke. "Where am I?" Kurt asked, anxiety starting to build that he was in a place so foreign and so far from home. "Youre in my home, in the Milaukan caves. Its where I and my people have lived for a very long time." Blaine answered patiently, determined to make his guest as comfortable and at ease as possible. "So there are a lot of people here, like you? Im sorry if Im being rude its I-Ive just never-"

"Youre very far from home, and Im sure our existence has been unbeknownst to you your whole life. I understand. There is just one thing though-"

"What?" Kurt asked intrigued.

"What is your name?" Blaine asked smiling.

"Oh Kurt, Kurt Hummel."

"Its a pleasure to meet you Kurt Hummel." Blaines smile grew as if he had just been given the greatest gift a man could ask for. Everything about him was warm and gentle and welcoming and Kurt didnt even allow himself to be surprised. The closer he looked, the more Blaine started to look familiar, as if hed met him in a dream.

They chatted amicably for a while, Kurt almost forgetting that Blaine was one of many beings that several hours ago he had never even imagined existing. His mannerisms were every bit as human as Kurts until he saw his tail twitch out of the corner of his eye or heard the swoosh of his wings shifting as he gestured animatedly, describing what he did and asking questions about Kurts home and his life. By the time there was a knock on the door Kurt felt as if he had known Blaine his whole life. Blaine called for whoever it was to enter and then immediately stood.

A beautiful older woman with long chestnut hair swept into the room, with kind green eyes and an impish grin. "I see you two are getting along very well." She said slyly. Her white cotton dress seemed to almost float around her as she came to sit daintily by Kurts side. "For heavens sake Blaine be seated, Ive known you since you were a youngling and youre a leader here you need not abide by the same courtesies as the others." Cheeks flaming Blaine sat as instructed. "Ahem Kurt this is Elder Aine, Elder Aine this is Kurt Hummel."

"Its nice to meet you." Kurt mumbled and they both beamed at him.

"Its nice to meet you too, Kurt, how are you feeling?" She asked the same kind look in her eyes that Blaine possessed and although it seemed unlikely because she looked so young, it was clear that the woman had indeed raised him. "Overwhelmed and sore." He said, finding himself smiling. "And Blaine he...?" She began to ask but Kurt just nodded.

"He explained what happened." He looked over at the man watching quietly from his chair. "Thank you." He said again. Blaine just smiled and shrugged, as if it was no big deal and he saved strangers lives on a daily basis. "Lovely," Aine said smiling even brighter, "lets see how your wounds are healing shall we?" She asked and shot Blaine a look as Kurt stood. Blaine leapt to his feet and turned his back to them, the tips of his ears turning pink.

Kurt sat confused for a moment until he looked over at Aine, smiling softly and with a gleeful sparkle in her eye. Kurt felt his cheeks flood with heat and his eyes fill slightly with tears. Blaine was like him. He searched Aines face and she nodded reassuringly, patting his hand. Unlike Blaine, Aine had extensive knowledge of the world, Blaine had more so than the average member of their clan but Aine was wise and blessed with the knowledge only Elders possess. That look meant that it was okay, that what Kurt had been hiding his whole life out of fear of rejection and hate and humiliation. Here, with these strange new people, only having eyes for members of the same gender was normal, it was okay, and he could be himself. He smiled, broadly for the first time since hed found himself on his weird, suicide mission of a quest. Blaine liked boys too and Kurt thought he was very handsome, wings, tail, horns and all.

It wasnt long before Blaine began to fidget where he was standing with his back to them so Kurt quickly pulled off his shirt and let Aine poke and prod at his skin. She explained that she had applied a special balm to the cuts and bruises to soothe them and prevent them from becoming infected. She didnt say that it was also known to speed up the healing process thinking that was a little too much for Kurt to be able to comprehend seeing as it was his first foray into the world beyond his little village. When Aine was satisfied he was healing fine, Blaine span back around almost before Kurt had completely pulled his shirt back on. He stood, still flushed slightly and bouncing on his toes, looking less like a scary man-dragon and more like a cute half reptilian little boy.

"So can he go?" Blaine asked Aine excitedly, clearly referring to something they had spoken about whilst he was asleep. "Yes, but be careful, hes still healing." Aine said unable to keep the amused smile from her face. She kissed them both on the cheek and swept from the cave, as ethereal and commanding as ever. "Soooooo," Blaine said, "would you like me to show you around?" Kurt thought for a moment, he was still terrified of being in a new place but Blaine looked so eager and enthusiastic, clearly desperate to show him everything, proud of his home and his kinsfolk. He couldnt deny that he was curious, after all this is what he had set out for, adventure and discovery as well as finding a solution to his problem and he wasnt going to get very far unassisted if previous experience was anything to go by. When Blaine looked at him like he did all wide eyes and pouted lips, Kurt definitely couldnt say no.

Blaine lead him to the door, a steadying arm around his waist and what Kurt saw when he threw the door open took his breath away.