Lost and Found

Prompt: Winter Forest

Summary: Alfred ends up getting lost in more ways than one.

~o~

Alfred sniffled as he rounded another tree, this one looking exactly like the previous one. He had been wandering through this forest for what felt like hours, weakened, tired, hungry, miserable. He wished he hadn't wandered off. Hadn't seen what he thought to be some kind of strange apparition, following it, further separating himself from the group. Now he was lost and alone, with no way of telling which direction to go.

Alfred whined when it started to snow. Now he had to deal with this too? It simply wasn't fair. As if the gods were out to get him, he kept stumbling from one misery to another, out of the frying pan and into the fire. He'd already wet his feet in the river earlier on, ripped his shirt on some branches, scraped his knees when tripping over a rock. His body wailed, shivering and quivering, and he wasn't sure how much longer he was able to hold on.

Alfred stopped dead in his tracts when he could hear a faint whisper being carried on the wind. "Hello?" he called, heart speeding up as he protectively slung his arms around his torso, giving himself a comforting hug. He heard the voice again, something light and fragile, and then he caught a glimpse of a figure. "Wait!"

Alfred immediately began running toward the place, feeling both anxious and relieved, hoping to have somehow stumbled upon society. He didn't immediately notice the trees growing thinner and higher, greenery making place for leaves made out of ice, the forest slowly changing all around him.

Panting, he finally entered an open area, dozens of flowers sprouting from the ground, as if winter had somehow preserved this small area for later use. He marvelled at all the colours; soft purples, deep blues, all wintry and yet vivaciously diverse. Was this some kind of refuge for the lonely wanderer?

However, it appeared he wasn't alone.

Alfred jerked back when someone moved into his peripheral view, spinning around until he was facing the intruder. His heart all but stopped when he gazed upon the newcomer.

Before him stood a man… Or not exactly a man, but too human-like to be called a creature. He was tall, had the very same colour scheme of the scenery behind him, but above all, a cloud of frost seemed to surround him, pour from his every fibre and pore, dance between his fingers. Something flashed through Alfred's consciousness. He liked to pretend he was standing before the very king of the forest. And he was both awed and terrified, momentarily overwhelmed by this sublime manifestation.

The being moved an arm towards him, and Alfred flinched, eyes screwed shut, every muscle snapping taut. He shuddered when an ice cold hand touched his cheek, travelled along his jaw, tilted his chin up. Hesitantly opening his eyes to slits, he boldly gazed right back at the other, feeling empowered by the fact that he had yet to faint.

In fact, he was feeling a lot less tired too. Less hungry as well. The longer he was touched by those frozen fingertips, the more his energy returned to him, until he was standing proud and tall, eyes now wide and curious, expression both grateful and confused.

His breath hitched when the man pressed a feathery light kiss to his forehead, before leaning down further to whisper in his ear. "You will leave and never come back."

He blinked. When his eyes opened again, he was standing outside the forest, watching the smoke leave his chimney back in the village down the hill, waiting for his homecoming. He looked back at the forest, confused, scratching his cheek. He could've sworn… But no, nothing seemed to be out of place.

Alfred turned around and walked home, never quite noticing the eyes watching his every step as he made his way down the hill.