A: Hello everyone! This is my first story on here so this is really exciting! I read a lot Hetalia stories but I've never thought about writing a story of my own till now. Hope you enjoy it!

You have to keep running! You'll be caught if you stop! The blonde panted loudly as he sprinted through the maze of trees in the thick forest. The sun was setting fast and the night was engulfing the woods from behind. Shadows followed him on the heels with every tiring step that he took. Everything around him was all but a blur. The only thing he was able to make out was the exit that leads him safely from the woods. If he kept his focus on that, surely he was going to be ok.

Tree branches scratched at his arms as he passed the tight spaces. His lungs were in pain from panting, legs on fire for non-stop running, and slices on his skin stung where the twigs would catch him. The little blonde wanted so dearly to stop for a moment and catch his breath, but sounds from behind kept him running. He had to escape.

Wind blew from behind and the boy could tell he was in danger. The chilly air nipped at his cuts and tickled his neck. Whispers traveled in the breeze but the words were non-audible to be heard.

The boy looked up and saw the sun was nothing but a slither. No! His mind raced along with his legs for the finish line that would hopefully save him. Almost there!

Suddenly a loud howl was heard from somewhere close behind. The young boy almost stopped in pure fear at the sound. Tears started pouring down his cheeks, no longer being able to hold them back for what he feared. He almost wanted to scream to be left alone, but screaming would only take more air from his exhausted lungs. The howl came again but this time much closer…too close…

The boys legs were practically flying from under him as he soared over the dried leaves and forgotten pathway. There! His watery sapphire eyes caught sight of the opening and close he had come. Atlas I am safe! He have could almost smiled when he saw his distanced cottage siting on the hill peacefully.

The excited blonde stuck a hand out to grasp the light that would grace his fingertips in a matter of seconds! But all thoughts of escape vanished when a growl came from close behind. His pace faltered as his heart completely stopped.

He could feel the beast right behind him; grinning madly as it finally caught up to its pray. The blonde didn't turn to already know that clawed hands were being outstretched to snatch him up. His sides quivered as every second flew by, knowing it was soon to be grabbed at.

No! The blonde boy leapt forward with ever ounce of strength that his legs had left and sprung out from the trees. He covered his head as he went crashing down onto the long flowing grass that glistened in the suns final rays. Warmth kissed his tanned skin and as he almost dared to kiss it back. Rolling over, the boy let out a quivering breath up to the red and orange tinted sky. His chest heaved up and down from exhaustion rapidly. He could feel all the muscles in his legs quiver and jolt from under him.

He sat up from the spot where he landed and looked around to find that he was alone. I did it! As exhausted as he was, he was able to muster the strength to spring up and start jumping around in the tall grass with joy. He flung his hands in the air and continued his dance of happiness and achievement. His dancing halted when he heard the sound of someone calling his name. He turned around and grinned brightly up at his caller before waving hand high in the air.

"Alfred! Enough of your fooling around and come freshen up! Dinner is ready and we wont wait long on you!" his older brother called out to him in slight annoyance till his green eyes noticed how closer his younger sibling was to the woods.

"What in the blazes are you doing so close to the forest at this hour!? I demand you come up here at once!" The other blonde yelled from his position near the houses front entrance.

Alfred didn't hesitant in that command and ran up the hill of tall grass and over-grown flowers to meet up with his older brother. He kept his eyes glued to his brothers green in complete glee as he thought he would never see them again. But he made it. He made it safely home…

The elder of the two grabbed the younger's arm and pulled him along inside with him as he nagged him on the safety of staying indoors when night drew near. Alfred listened but his mind was still racing from the twilights recent events. He let him be dragged but turned his gaze to the woods for one last glimpse before confirming his victory.
He only looked back for a second, but Alfred could have sworn his gaze directly meet with another's. The door slammed shut behind him and the house was filled with the clatter of dishes and the rustle of the young blonde changing into new clothes, not daring to explain was he was in such a mess to begin with.

The sun was finally put to rest as darkness claimed the land that it owned hourly. Winded sputtered in all direction without a certain destination where to flow yet. It seemed like another peaceful night as heads were laid upon pillows and stories of the dark spooky woods were told to young ones. Some said their prayers as others cast spells to assure their safety.
The night had come and the day dwellers were ready for rest till the next morning when the sun brought along its rays of light and its security.

For those who had their windows shut or were already asleep in the comforts of their bed, the sound from the woods came un-heard. The wind picked up and twirled furiously around one certain house up on a hill near the woods. The breeze carried curses and grief as it circled the house for an opening to peck into. Leaves crunched loudly as a beast walked over to the edge of the shadows and gazed up at the little house full of three sleeping boys. The beast craved to be inside that house but it could not get close without inflicting harm upon itself. The eldest of the brothers cast a strong spell that kept monsters such as him away.

The beast took a step from the shadows as he dared to be closer to his forbidden flower that laid himself to sleep after a tiring afternoon of chase. The creature of the night closed its eyes and imagined his flower at his fingers like he had once been only but a couple of hours ago. His fingers were a splinter from that shimmering gold head of his till he was out of grasp and in security of the suns rays.

Once the little blonde escaped from his claws, he could do nothing but step back and hide in the shadows as he watched the young one dance in joy. It hurt, but the look on his precious face was enough to make him smile. He wanted to watch his sunflower dance more among the earth's flowers but an annoying voice called for his sunflower to retreat. The beast watched as his precious flower ran off and escaped his grasp and gaze once again.

How could he have let him go when he was so close? The boy finally wandered into the woods alone and traveled quite a bit by what the beast could smell from the tracks that he left behind. He snapped his eyes opened and growled at his own loss, snapping the small tree that his hand was wrapped around. He froze in fear that he awoke someone in the house but no noises were heard and all candles were left burnt out.

The creature looked at a particular window where he knew his flower was fast asleep in a bed that he wished he too could also fill. The curtains were drawn closed so all he could see was the reflection of himself in the glass. His silver hair glittered in the moon's light as his violet eyes flowed with pools of desire and longing.

The beast took one last look at the house before he turned and disappeared back into the dark forest where he would wait patiently for his sunflower to hopefully wander in again someday soon.

A: Chapter 1 is complete.