The sky had turned white as snow and icy winds blew harshly against any and all that were unfortunate enough to be without shelter. The blizzard was sudden and without warning. Earlier that same day the sun shone warmth to all those below. The land was soft and green and the forests were buzzing with life. On the edge of one said forest, a being of the forest was enjoying the company of a few fauna and had even brought gifts of sweet fruits. Now, everything was covered in thick falling snow. The fauna had all but found cover from the harsh winds, but when the blizzard came without a warning the forest being was forced to retreat to his smallest form and tough the blizzard out. There at the edge of the forest, a sprout struggled.

Cold winds tore at Sacha's close fitting clothes, and though he wore a long cloak as well, it did little to keep the sudden blizzard out. His long hair was half pulled out of his tie and the blood on his hands and cheek had frozen. The blood wasn't his of course. That at least gave him some comfort. The storm was getting bad though and he was far from city and no one in the area would help him anyway, even if he turned back and sought shelter in the city he had come from.

Just as the storm was getting so bad that it was difficult for him to see a foot in front of him, Sacha saw a splash of green in front of him. He almost kept walking, but something compelled him to stop. Just like him, this little plant was struggling. He dropped down to his knees and put his back to the wind to protect the sprout. "Shall we brave the storm together?" he asked as he unhooked his cloak and swung it around in front of him so he created a tent with the plant between him and the cloak. His belt with its bloodied blade fell to the snow in the process.

Honestly, he didn't know why he was doing something like this. He was a strong man and capable of surviving a blizzard if need be, but he felt he couldn't do that right now. In reality, he knew exactly why he was protecting something as insignificant as a sprout. He was punishing himself. After a kill, he always felt hateful toward himself, but today it was especially bad. There had been a child and now that child's blood was on his hands. This was his job though, even if he hated the act of killing, he was a killer for hire. He hated it, but it was the only way of life he knew. So if he punished himself from time to time, it wasn't a big deal.

The cold were getting worse and worse. The sprout curled slightly downward in hopes of hiding behind snow drifts to avoid the winds. He entered in to 'sleep' to save his energy and internal warmth. As he slept, he was unaware that the winds were suddenly less harsh against the thin stem of his sprout form. He was unaware that someone had taken it upon themselves to create a shelter around his being.

The winds no longer whipped harshly at his being, the sprout straightened his stem and the leaves stretched upward to a warmth within the shelter. Stretching upward to the unknown body heat. Still, he slept with in the small form. Soon enough the blizzard will end as suddenly as it began.

Sacha began to doze during the storm, though he knew that this was the most dangerous thing that he could do. The cold was getting to him and yet he still did not move. He was too cold for moving. His body began to tilt forward until finally he lay curled up in the snow next to the plant, unaware that it was stretching out toward him. By the time that the storm ended, he was already too far gone to notice it. He smiled stiffly only because he was already feeling the dangerous warmth that came from being in the cold too long. The warmth had nothing to do with the sun that was beginning to peek out from behind the greyish clouds again.

Awaking from his sleep, the sprout shook and glimmered faintly with energy as he uprooted himself from the ground. Retaking his original form, his body blossomed into a humanoid being with leafy appendages sprouting from his various places of his body. Wing like leaves unflurled upon his back and his hair fluttered as soft meadow grasses. As he stood the cloak that provided shelter moved with him. To his surprise there was a being down at his root gnarled feet. This man must have been the one that had sheltered him from the sudden blizzard. Kneeling down, the forest fae placed a hand upon the man's cheek and could feel the same warmth he felt when he was asleept, but the man was blue in the face and so pale.

Shifting the cloak, the forest fae gingerly wrapped the man up before lifting him up into his arms, holding him close against his body with unnatural strength. The man was so cold to the touch, it made the fae's flesh crawl on contact. Turning from the snow drifts and the rays of the sun that had found it's way through the clouds, the fae carried the man deeper into the forest.

As they went deeper and deeper into the forest, the trees and foliage thickened creating the perfect natural shelter from any icy winds and snow. It grew warmer and warmer as wild life were a buzz and everything was wholesome and green. The forest fae brought the man to a clearing that was completely circled in by trees except from the one path the fae took himself. In the center of the clearing was a small naturally grown one room house. Trees and plant life seemed to have grown and twisted together creating the place this fae called home.

The man was brought inside and settled on a bed of the softest grasses and flowers. Once the man was comfortable, the fae climbed into the small bed and wrapped himself around the man to warm him.

Sacha was aware of a comforting warmth nearby and he pulled himself toward it. He could feel softness underneath him when he began to wake. The grogginess clung to him though and he found it difficult to open his eyes, and he didn't think it would be so bad if he did not. He felt the ache in his body and a stiffness all over, but his memory was still in a fog as to why he felt this way. Slowly and with much effort, he cracked his eyes open half way.

The sight that met his eyes was unexpected. The first thing he noticed was green. Everything was soft and pleasant and green. The image started to come into focuses and he realized that he was laying amongst nature, although it seemed not to behave as he was used to grass and trees behaving. The unexpected thing was the source of the warmth he was curled up close to though. A man? A plant? He could find no words for what he was seeing, so he decided that this must not be earth anymore.

"I've died and hell is not at all what I expected," Sacha muttered. He closed his eyes as much to ignore what he had seen as the fact that he was more comfortable with his eyes closed.

Hearing a sound unfamilar, the fae opened his eyes and stared at the man. It took a moment for him to realize it was this man's sound he had heard. Shifting about, he slipped from the other and stood beside the bed. Reaching over he placed a hand over the man's forehead and his brows knitted. He was too warm, much too warm.

Moving from the bedside, the forest fae went about the small naturally formed house. He collected dried herbs and rainwater from a basin. Mixing them into a thin cold soup, a portion was scooped into a clay bowl. He returned to the man and knelt beside the bed. With a small touch, he urged the man to sit up and drink.

Just as Sacha was about to fall asleep again, something touched his shoulder, urging him awake again. He opened one eye, offering a weak glare to whatever was keeping him awake. Once again, he saw the strange creature and he was sure he was hallucinating now. He was starting to remember sleeping in a blizzard, although he couldn't quite remember why he had done something so stupid. At least it would explain why he was sweating and yet felt cold at the same time.

He turned his back on the leafy creature and curled up tighter on himself instead of sitting up. "Just let me sleep, whatever you are." He didn't close his eyes this time, but he was determined to ignore whatever was going on around him.

The forest fae stared at the man blankly feeling no threat from the attempt glare. He placed the bowl on the solid dirt floor. Rising to his feet, he reached out to the man and placed his hands on the other's shoulders. Carefully, he hold him firmly and rolled the man onto his back before pulling him upright. Holding him up, the forest fae reached down and picked up the bowl of herbal soup. Lifting the bowl to the man, he stared at him and urged the man to drink.

Sacha let himself be rolled over because he didn't really have the energy to resist. He was beginning to think that this might be hell because he didn't feel dead and there was a comforting aspect to this place. He had a feeling that the strange creature was trying to help him. Finally, Sacha gave in and took a drink of what was offered to him. Almost instantly, he felt energy start to flood into him. It wasn't much, but he did feel better. He drank more until the bowl was empty. After that, he sunk back down into the bed, feeling like he might be able to sleep and wake up feeling well again.

Once the bowl had been emptied, the forest fae helped him lay back down and tucked some grasses around him as a blanket. Placing a hand upon the man's forehead, he felt the fever was still there. Of course it wouldn't leave so soon. Cleaning the bowl, the fae glanced at the man before leaving the hut to ask the forest for an easy food for the man. A few critters approached the house but didn't enter. After a little while, he returned with fruits, roots and fresh herbs and started to prepare a light meal for the man.

It was what felt like a long sleep later when Sacha finally opened his eyes again. This time, he felt alert almost instantly, although he was still tired and comfortable where he way laying. He didn't give any sign that he was awake for many minutes. He spent the time observing the area instead. He appeared to be lying on grass, though it felt like a bed, and he could smell food nearby. Finally, he felt like making his presence known. "Why are you helping me?" he asked like it was truly strange that someone might do so. And to him, it was. He was serious with his question and he was hoping for the sort of answer that could help him understand.

Finishing up the meal which turned out to be a soup as well, a bit more hearty but easy on the ill body. Hearing the sounds again, the fae paused and tilted his head to stare over at the man. "Why?" He repeated, his voice soft and faint but the quite of the forest was enough for him to be heard. With that he turned back to the bowl and moved to the bedside. Kneeling before the other, he held the bowl out to the man. Why was he helping the man? Indeed why, when so many men before him had ruined so much of the forests that other faes had called home. There were only a few faes left because of man, yet this forest fae was helping this man.

Sacha sighed to himself and took the bowl of soup, eating a bit before he said anything more. Whatever this creature was that was helping him, he seemed to be one of few words. Even his voice sounded quite and never used. Sacha's own voice which was scratchy and much louder probably didn't fit in a quiet forest place like this. "What have I done that's worth bothering over?" he asked again. He wasn't going to give up on his question so easily. "Even I would not bother to help me. So why would you?"

When the bowl was taken, the fae closed his eyes before standing again. He opened them again and stared down at the man who continues to make those sounds. The more the man spoke the more the fae learned of those sounds. "Even I bother. . . " He spoke before turning back toward the water basin and got another bowl. Returning with the bowl of water, he offered it to the man.

Now he was beginning to get suspicious. Sacha's brow furrowed at the creatures response, because it seemed more like a repetition than a response to what Sacha had said. He held the soup bowl loosely in his hands, forgetting about it as he tried to figure out the puzzle of what was going on. "What are you? Do you even understand?" he asked more carefully this time. He had no idea if this strange creature spoke his language or not. "Ah...thank you," he added as he took the water and drank. The water was appealing to him than the soup although it felt good to eat.

Seating himself on the solid dirt that was the floor the forest fae stared at the man, looking him over carefully. Once in a while, he'd blink for an instant and continue to stare. His lips parted then closed a few times before he spoke again. "What are you?" He asked, then tilted his head slightly as he heard something outside move. The movement was just on the edge of the clearing and there it stopped. Without another word, the forest fae rose to his feet and left the small house, leaving the man alone.

Sacha bit back a groan and gave up on speaking. He wasn't getting anywhere. Although the creature watched him intently, there was no indication that he understood. That left Sacha in a quandary though. How could he interact with someone like this? He supposed he should just move on quickly as he always did whenever he felt strong enough to venture out. As Sacha was thinking this, the creature suddenly left. "Where are you-?" Sacha didn't bother finishing the question though. It wasn't like he would get an answer. Was this mysterious helper offended somehow? Sacha couldn't understand why he would leave so suddenly.

Without needing to think about it, he set the bowl on the ground and pulled himself to his feet to go see just where the creature had gone. He managed to get a few steps before he stumbled and dropped to all fours. Damn, he couldn't remember ever feeling this pathetic before. He pulled himself toward the door part by staggering walk and part by crawling.

The movement was that of another forest creature, one with hooves and antlers that twisted high above his head. The creature had sensed a new strange presense with in the fae's and had ventured over to investigate. The forest fae had greeted the creature with a respectful dip of his head and extended hand. The creature brushed the palm of the fae's hand with it's muzzle then huffs a small sound before turning and leaving the clearing, it's curiousity sated.

Once the other creature had departed, the fae turned back toward the house and his stare widened slightly in alarm when he saw that the man had dragged himself out of the bed before he recovered. Quickly he rushed over, causing a slight breeze to follow him and knelt down before the man. "What are you-?" He spoke again but stopped having no more words to speak. Reaching out, he placed his hand on the man's shoulder and assissted the man to stand.

When the creature returned, Sacha watched him with curious and slightly irritated eyes since he still didn't know why the creature had left. He wanted to say that he didn't need help standing, but in reality he did. It ruined his pride although he'd never had much to begin with. Sacha leaned against the creature, using him to help stand. "You left..." was all he said. He didn't want to admit that this was reason enough for him to go crawling across a room. He didn't care if he was understood or not. It would probably be better if he wasn't. He disliked that he had said something so embarrassing.

The forest fae said nothing, only softened his stare into a gaze and breathed out softly as he shifted the man so he could carry his weight without carrying the man completely. Leading him back to the bed of grasses, the fae laid the man back down and got him another bowl of water. Placing a soft flesh plant-like hand on the man's forehead again, his brows knitted and his eyes narrowed. The fever had worsened from the exertion the man put himself through.With a soft exhale, he set the bowl beside the bed and started to climb back into the bed with the man.

Sacha laid back on the grass bed, happy to be there again. Even if he had been determined to walk to the door, he was ready to relax again. Even such a short journey had tired him. Only when the plant-man started to climb into the bed did Sacha tense up again. Eyes wide in confusion and distress, he lightly pushed the creature away. "What are you doing?" he was surprised by such a move and considering he couldn't read this creature, he was worried over it.

The forest fae had never been shoved before and safe to say he reacted badly. Half off the bed, he froze up, he became completely and unnaturally still as he stared wide eyed at the man. Pools of amber boring at the man. His lips parted slightly as he bared several rows of thin, needle sharp teeth. Every leaf, roof and sprout like appendage of his body stood out on end like thorns on a rose ready to protect himself if the man had made even the slightest movement to harm the fae. And he stayed like this, unnaturally still, teeth bared and staring at the man as he anticipated the other's next move.

Sacha shrunk back, not even able to speak as the creature shifted into something fierce and deadly looking. Maybe on another day he would have reached for his blade to defend himself, but he did not have it on him, so he could do nothing more than inch away until there was a foot of distance between him and the thorny creature. "Sorry," he whispered. The speed with which he'd pulled away made him dizzy and he ducked his head so that his black hair fell into his face. He hadn't meant to provoke this kind of response and his distress had only increased.

As the man shrunk away, the forest fae remained still. Only those eyes shifted as he watched each and every move the man made for any threats. When he heard the other's voice again and the way he ducked away, the forest fae's body rippled slightly as his body visibly relaxed to his original composure. With a soft breath, he blinked and stood properly from his position and trembled as he worked the tension from his roots.

Stepping away from the bed, the creature collected a few soft grasses and soaked them in the rain water basin and returned to the bed. Reaching out slowly, he carefully shifted the man's hair from his face and placed the damp cool grasses upon the other's forehead.

Staring softly at the ill creature, the fae tilted his head slightly as the damp grasses cooled the fever. "Sorry,"