The Black Forest is crawling with hallucination gas, and it is normal to see things. Weird things.

But the Huntsman knows the Black Forest better than the back of his own hand. As long as you don't breath in the deadly gas, your mind is safe from the wretched images the Forest has in stock for you.

However, he was sure he did not trigger any hallucination gas when he saw the small figure dashing through the forest.

The Huntsman was not sure what that is. It was too small for a troll, way too small, having the frame of a young man, and the colour of the creature's skin was a deep, tantalizing blue, which is not normal for any creature except for insects. The last time the Huntsman checked, humans do not have blue skin.

The curious Huntsman followed the figure, stepping on the ground which was caked with a layer of deep snow, as well as the wilting trees around him. This was also the blue thing's hobby, appearing only at the worst of the winters. The Huntsman first spotted the Blue – that was what he was naming the creature – when he was hiding from the people who wanted his money. The Huntsman had experienced the first and the closest contact with the Blue at that time. The Blue's skin was as cold as ice, and when he tried to reach out to it, the figure ran away from him.

He was trying to track it down since then. Of course, selling such a creature to the town will surely provide an ample amount of money to pay his debts. He was sure of this. That was the only reason to track the Blue down.

"I demand you to come to me!" The Huntsman yelled, feeling frustrated by chasing the creature down for at least 2 years on end. The Blue was playing with him, that's for sure. No animal could escape his clenches, and this was the first. "Oh god, I'm so stupid." The Huntsman realized that hollering in the dark forest will not bring that blue, prancing creature to him.

"Now why should I go to you?" A crisp, light voice resounded around him. "Are my games getting boring to you?"

He's playing a game with me? Thought the Huntsman angrily.

"I thought Hunters liked to play chase with their prey." The Blue's voice said again once more, and the Huntsman felt the small of his back froze. Like literally, froze. "I have always envied humans. They have such warm and delicate skin." The Blue pricked his finger through the hunter's skin, inciting blood on the tip of his finger. The colour of the red clashed beautifully with the blue of his finger.

"What do you think you are doing?" The Huntsman, clearly snapped back into life by the draw of blood, turned quickly and grasped the Blue's neck, pinning him against the nearest tree, and watched as the Blue chuckled breathily under his clenches, the vibrations of his neck resounding through the Huntsman's palm.

"I just want to be caught," The Blue whispered in a tone only audible for the both of them. "For real."

The blue body beneath him disappeared with a flash of green and yellowish light, leaving the Huntsman gripping the chilling air in between his fingers. He looked around him, but there were no more footsteps, no more rustling of the branches, and no more signs of the Blue. He sighed and walked himself back to the castle, preparing himself for another round of story-telling about his encounter with the Blue to the Snow Queen – she loved his hunting stories.

Back at the castle, the Queen's eyes sparked a mischievous green before turning a sweet shade of hazel upon the sight of the returning Huntsman.

It's been so long since I properly wrote a fic. But here it is!

This was inspired by ric951's fanart on DA, When The Winter Is Near, You Know I'm Here.

Remember to drop a comment for that fantastic artist, yo!

Sush out! Happy reading!

~Velonica Sushi