If I said the woods are dark then that would be an understatement, they're more than dark it's like the depths of an abyss. But there is just enough light creeping through the trees to illuminate soft shadows and the rough and twisted shapes of the trees. It turns the woods into to a place of nightmares.

And nightmares there are, running around and roaming through the forest ready to prey on any foolish enough to enter. And once it is dark enough… then they will turn to the city.

"Arthur!" My fool of a companion hisses across the trees to me, sat on the branch and wriggling his legs over as if he's playing bait.

"You're too loud," I whisper back. He's always been an idiot but there's no doubt that he's good at what we do so I keep him around. If he hadn't been so good I think I'd have been tempted to leave him to the wolves.

"Well maybe you're too nervous" Alfred retorts. And he's bloody speaking normally.

"I said whisper!" I hiss back furiously.

"You can hardly call that whispering Arthur." Alfred deadpans with that stupid look of his where he can look doofy and smart and make sense all at the same time.

I hate that look.

"Wel-" I snap of my response and look down out the ground. Was it just me or did I hear?

"Well…?" Alfred mocks.

"Shhh!" I say waving a hand at him and then jabbing downwards sharply with my thumb. There's something down there I know it, I can just about make out movement in the shadows.

Alfred raises an eyebrow as he looks down between his feet, "Look like we've got company to this private affair haven't we?"

"Private affair?" I say angrily, "We're sat in trees to hunt down demons!"

"Finally willing to go public?" is all Alfred says completely passing over my point.

"No way in hell," I murmur and lift my bow. If Alfred would just be quiet for a moment and the thing below would just stay still…

"Good thing we're not in hell then'" Alfred says stepping down onto the branch below him and lifting his own weapon over his shoulder.

"Well you certainly look like you are" I retort. A scythe as a weapon, how ostentatious.

"You're talking trash Artie, I'm the bringer of death to those who deserve to die," Alfred exclaims dramatically and at least moderately quietly for Alfred meaning the demon I am tracking stays below us.

"Now you just sound morbid," I say sarcastically. If the demon would just move a little closer to the left…

"You know I could just go down there and kill it right?" Alfred says glancing up at me.

"Alfred we came to this agreement ages ago," I repeat in annoyance. "I track and kill and do so stealthily so that perhaps we can find their source and you are merely here for in case anything goes badly, besides this far into the forest your scythe is practically useful unless you want to get it stuck in a tree?"

"Not useless," Alfred mutters pouting now, great now he's sulking, how can he go to from horny teenager to stroppy child so quickly?

Sighing I shift my crouch on the tree for a better angle. Missing could have disastrous consequences but so long as I have a clear shot then I can shoot it no problem.

I shuffle one step further on the branch because this is the perfect shot, clear of all the shrubbery and branches and then we'll be safe to while away another note in the woods in peace.

'SNAP'

"ARTHUR" Alfred yells and it takes me that split moment to realise the branch under my foot had grown too thin for my weight.

I scrunch my eyes up and try to ignore the rush of wind at my ears. I'll be fine, I'll be fine. It'll all be over quickly. Oh I pray to the gods it'll end quickly because the alternative…

With a soft 'Thwump' I land. But not on the hard forest ground.

"Hey, Arthur you 'kay?" Alfred wheezes from beneath me.

"Yo-You" I shake vividly and stumble upright off him.

"Your Hero?" Alfred tries cracking a grin but makes no move to get up.

"You bleeding idiot!" I yell. "Why would you do that!" It doesn't make sense. Everything Alfred does doesn't make sense. He's young and cheerful. He should be one of the many prey of the city. Not a hunter of the woods.

"You said so yourself Arthur," Alfred says wincing as he sits up, "I'm here for if anything goes wrong."

"I didn't mean like this," I say frantically kneeling down next to him and forcing him to lie back down again.

"Artie," Alfred breathes out slowly.

"Yes," I answer panicked and kneeling closer, please, please, please let him be okay.

"Watch out, behind…" Alfred whispers and winces as he tries to get up again.

I slip a glance over my shoulder and spot the glints of red in the darkness. Figures we hadn't scared the demon away. It had merely gone to fetch the pack. "Don't worry," I say reassuringly giving Alfred's hair a soft stroke. I didn't often let my emotions get the better of me, especially when hunting but I could let that pass right now.

"Arthur I can't fight right now," Alfred admits as if it wasn't already obvious enough.

"I will," I answer slipping another glance over my shoulder where the demons wait. They know I'm watching them. They're just waiting for the right point to strike.

"With a bow and arrow at close range?" Alfred scoffs, "Just run Arthur,"

"Don't be stupid," I say running my hand through his hair one last time. I let my other hand slide down to his waist and pick up the scythe that landed next to us.

A growl from behind us marks the start and I stand up.

"This time I'll protect you."

Here's today's fic :) Sorry it's a bit late I've also been doing some more writing because I wanted to join in PruHun week so I'll be uploading that as well shortly, please check out if you like PruHun as well! As well as that I also created a side Tumble for my writing, it's under the name Sekaira-Fics so please check out if you want. It'll be the same stories but if any of you find it easier to use Tumblr or think it would be easier to chat or stuff on there then go ahead, I'm always up to talking and accepting any prompt requests.

As for this one ScorpetoRoses gave me the idea although I kinda ran with it in a different direction. I hope you like it nether the less! As for the weapon choices I've always seen Arthur as a sort of Robin Hood with a bow and arrow. Alfred on the other hand I have no idea. It just happened. This isn't my favourite written piece of them but I do like the two being protective of each other and sticking together. Plus what do you think of the first person? I use a mixture of third and first in my writing all the time and I used to be dreadfully in that I'd be flipping between the two in a single paragraph, I've definitely improved since then! Do you think it's better worse? Is it worth trying again sometime for these fics do you think?

Anyway I hope you liked this one :) - Sekaira

Lavosse - Yeah that seems to be the general concuss, I can definitely turn it into a full fic it just might be a while in the making, I've already get ideas for it in the back of my mind though so if I let it stew there for a bit it can develop nicely :)

Magpiebee - Thank you, I think I'll definitely be expanding on this one although I think the more popular idea was to turn it into a full fic instead so I'll be doing that at some point in the future :)

Milk of Awesomness - Planning to do so! You're definitely right though, originally it wasn't going to be such a begin to a story p but a proper oneshot but the idea just developed and I wrote a beginning to something instead :)

ScorpetoRoses - The OTP. One of the best methods to gather you're attention ;) Although to be honest that works on me too!