Kurt had been told since he was very young never to wander into the forest alone. His mother and father told him that menacing things lurked where the trees were thickest, that there were plenty of creatures that would trick him and lure him away from his home and safety. He was told it was dangerous to travel unequipped for the things he might meet lurking in the darkness.

Seven year old Kurt was happy, quiet and always did what his mother told him. But, not long after Kurt turned eight, his mother left Kurts world and he was forced to live without her guiding wisdom. She died, and Kurt was left alone with his father, both their worlds a little darker.

It was on the day of Elizabeths death that Kurt disobeyed both his parents. Distraught he ran from their little rickety house at the edge of the village and into the forest, his little heart broken. The thought of what creatures lay in wait for him didnt frighten him at all. He tore through the trees feeling the willowy branches of bushes and foliage cut at his clothes and skin. His chest felt tight and his cheeks stung with his drying tears. He ran and he ran, feet stumbling over tree roots and catching on rocks until he burst through into a clearing.

It was a beautiful grassy meadow, lined with trees and at the far end, opposite to Kurt was a bubbling stream. It reminded him of the times hed gone down to the river with his mother in the summer time. The thought made him crumple with sadness at the edge of the clearing.

Little Kurt sat and sobbed until his hands felt numb and his eyes were red raw and puffy. He didnt even feel bad about the grass and mud staining the knees and cuffs of his pants. He was so preoccupied by his thoughts of his mother that he almost missed the rustling of the bushes just a few feet away from him.

Kurt was frozen in fear. Something screamed at him to run yet he remained, his still wet tears clinging to his skin. The rustling stopped but he darent make a sound. He sat on the damp ground as a boy slowly shuffled out from between the leaves. Except he wasnt quite a boy, at least, he didnt exactly look like Kurt himself did.

The boy stepped timidly into the clearing, his bare feet brushing against the dew soaked grass and the sound of a low, wary growl the only sound he emitted. In the brighter light of the clearing, the leaves like stained glass casting the boy in emerald light, Kurt could see the boy was most definitely not like him.

The boy had large amber eyes with pupils narrowed into slits. Kurt had the feeling that this particular peculiarity should have scared him but for some reason the almost reptilian eyes of the boy in front of him still exuded warmth, kindness and compassion. Kurt simply watched him in curiosity as he crossed the clearing until the boy stumbled and fell to the ground with a startled yelp, having tripped over something that had been dragging along the ground.

It became apparent very quickly that the boy had tripped over a very large leathery pair of brown speckled wings protruding awkwardly from his back. Sprawled on the floor, mere inches away from Kurt and attempting to brush unruly, brown curls out of his now normal looking wide eyes the boy - thing - didnt look at all as frightening as he had first thought.

The boy sat up, looking at Kurt curiously. He said something that Kurt couldnt understand and when Kurt shook his head, confused, he simply smiled. "I said," The boy said shuffling closer to him "Im Blaine. I thought for a moment you might have been a fae that had wandered too far from the fountain."

"A fae?" Kurt asked.

"You dont know of them?" Blaine replied bewildered "They are lovely. I havent met many, Ailidh - I mean Elder Cerridwen says to be wary of them for they like to play tricks you see." Kurt pondered this, mind reeling with the knowledge that there were more strange creatures hiding in the forest, maybe some even stranger than Blaine.

"Forgive me my rudeness," Kurt began "but what are you and how do you know my language?" Kurt asked as Blaine continued to prattle on about the creatures of the wood. "I will tell you many things..." Blaine said and Kurt noticed that he spoke the words very strangely "If you tell me your name."

"Kurt Hummel." He replied immediately, smiling toothily. Blaine smiled back.

"Im a dragon of the Milaukan caves!" Blaine said proudly, puffing out his chest. "I know your language because Elder Cerridwen taught me all the tongues of the beings of the forest ever since I was a hatchling."

"A hatchling?" Kurt commented bemusedly."

"Yep a baby. When Id hatched from the egg like all babies." Blaine replied equally confused as Kurt tried to stifle his giggles with the sleeve of his sweater. "Thats not where babies come from." He sniggered. Frowning indignantly, Blaine pouted. "Okay then where do babies come from if youre so clever."

"Well the stalks bring them to their mothers and fathers of course." Kurt stated matter of factly. Blaine cocked his head to the side as if considering, the light glancing off the two stubby horns protruding from his forehead. "Thats silly," he replied, "babies are much to heavy for stalks to carry, theyd drop them."

"Well that explains you then." Kurt said scornfully, eyeing Blaines wings and scaled shoulders.

Blaine scowled at Kurt and crossed his arms moodily. "If youre going to be rude then Ill leave you here to cry." Blaine got to his feet and stalked off toward the trees again. At the sight of Blaines retreating back Kurt began to panic, he had no idea where he was and the sun was beginning to set above the trees, the light underneath the canopy of their leaves diminishing by the minute. "WAIT! PLEASE!" Kurt called out to him frightened and his eyes began to well with tears again.

He saw Blaines footsteps falter just as he reached the edge of the clearing and could hear his sigh just above the sound of his internal panic. He turned back around shuffling over, still stumbling over his wings every now and again. He sank to the ground next to Kurt and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Feeling his shoulders shake Blaine let him cry for a little while; his mother had always told him that compassion, aside from love was the greatest gift a person could give. "Kurt, why are you so sad?" He asked tentatively, still holding him tight. Kurt told him all about his mother and how he was left all alone with only his father for company. He sobbed about how he was afraid he would forget her, her smile, her laugh, her singing voice. Blaine listened and tried his hardest to stop his own tears from falling.

"I lost my mama too, and my papa." He said and Kurt looked up at him in surprise. "I was very young when they left for the beyond. I remember very little about them." Kurt pulled Blaines hand into his and held on tight. "We will miss them forever Kurt, but theyre forever with us, in our hearts and our souls. Our ancestors are a part of us, no matter how long we knew them for. As long as we know that well never forget, at least, thats what Elder Cerridwen has told me since I was a youngling." Kurt smiled a watery smile; sure that Blaine was the kindest person he had ever met besides his mother and father.

.oO0Oo.

They sat and talked and laughed in the clearing until nearing on sundown. "I should go home," Kurt said, "my father is probably worried." Blaine nodded seriously, Cooper would most likely be furious at him for wandering off and exploring the forest on his own again. "Okay." Sad that Kurt would have to leave Blaine stood up and offered his hand to Kurt, helping him up from the ground "I want to show you something first."

Blaine lead them through the ever darkening trees and Kurt stuck close to him, still terrified of what might be lurking in the shadows of the great oaks that lined their path. Soon they arrived at a dark cave. Grinning from ear to ear Blaine signalled for Kurt to stay hidden behind a near by bush before tiptoeing toward the cave. He disappeared inside for a long while and the sky grew dark, the sounds of the creatures in the surrounding forest grew deafening to Kurts ears and he shivered in the chill of the night air.

Kurt sat crouched behind that bush for a very long time until he finally spied Blaine, creeping out from the cave lit by only a fraction of moonlight slithering through the leaves of the canopy above. He appeared to be clutching something in his fist, something Kurt couldnt really see until Blaine had joined him behind the bush. With a manic looking grin, Blaine opened his palm, and resting in the centre as big as taw marbles, were two beautiful blue gems. "Sapphires" Blaine whispered "to remember me by."

Kurt had never seen something so beautiful. "Thank you; youre the best friend ever!" He cried and hugged Blaine tight. He vowed to never say goodbye to his new friend even after he had left the forest and returned home.