I am surrounded by a lush green forest, filled with towering trees and the chirping of birds. I'm here to gather firewood, which I plan to sell for the upcoming winter season.

Even though the snow hasn't arrived yet, I can already feel the chill from the wind. "It's so cold!" I murmured, shivering as I wandered through the woods.

As I picked up broken branches, a butterfly landed on my hand. "A butterfly! Is this a sign?" I wondered aloud, leaning in closer to observe it.

The butterfly was small, with blue and purple wings edged in black, dotted with tiny white specks. It sat quietly on my index finger, opening and closing its wings. As I watched, it took off, and I found myself chasing after it. I knew this entire forest like the back of my hand, so I felt confident enough to follow it; after all, I'd lived here for as long as I could remember.

"Hey, wait! Where are going?"

Running through the vast forest to chase the butterfly, I eventually found myself in a place I didn't recognize. It was filled with dandelions, their seeds drifting through the air like tiny bubbles swept up by the wind. When I saw it, I could only feel amazement at the beauty around me. It was my first time seeing such a breathtaking place.

It felt like I had stepped into the pages of a book, where my imagination was the only limit and reality seemed distant. I dropped the logs I'd been carrying and ran freely through the wide clearing, the joy overwhelming me. A few seconds later, I reached the center and lay down on the ground.

Beautiful.

That was all I could say as I felt the softness of the grass beneath me, accompanied by a strong, cold breeze. In that moment, I closed my eyes and let my body relax, soaking in the fleeting peace. With each gust of wind, I drifted further from consciousness.

I didn't realize I had fully fallen into a deep sleep until a figure, a young man around eighteen, stood over me, watching me sleep.

Curious, he leaned closer, wondering if the body he saw was lifeless. As he brought his face near, he reached out to check if there was any breath from my nose.

Once he felt the warm air brush against his hand, he knew I was alive.

The man froze, something stirring inside him as he watched me. He didn't know what this feeling was, but he was certain he'd never felt it before. He looked away, sighed, and got up, ready to leave me sleeping there. But as he tried to walk away, a strong gust of wind picked up, almost as if it didn't want him to leave.

He scratched his head, puzzled by the strange feeling surrounding him. He tried to leave again, but like before, he was met with a powerful, chilly breeze. Giving up, he looked back at me and watched me for a few moments before approaching again.

"What should I do with you, hmm?" he whispered softly so as not to wake me. He gently reached out to brush the hair from my face.

He smiled while he did it, seeming to enjoy the small act. "So beautiful," he murmured before scooping me up in his arms.

***

"W-where am I?" I muttered groggily as I slowly opened my eyes. I noticed it was slightly dark, with just a little sunlight filtering in. "Did I fall asleep?"

Why is the spot under my head so soft?

As my vision adjusted, I could hear leaves rustling in the wind. How did I end up here? I wondered as my mind processed everything around me. When my eyes fully focused, I noticed a tall figure beside me—he had gray eyes and black hair.

"So handsome," I murmured, studying his face, reaching up to touch his cheek. "Am I dreaming?" I whispered, feeling the warmth of his skin.

Why does this feel real? Why is it so warm? Wait, don't tell me—

I sprang up, realizing that the person I was touching was real. "Ahhh!" I screamed, startled.

"W-who are you? What did you do to me? How did I get here?" I stammered in a panic, holding my arms tightly around myself. "Answer me! Who are you?" I picked up a nearby rock and pointed it at him.

"Calm down!" he shouted, his face showing clear annoyance. "You should be grateful I brought you here," he said, frowning even more as he crossed his arms and leaned against a tree.

"Don't change the subject! Who are you?" I yelled back, uneasy as I took in his handsome face. "Answer me! Who are you?"

"Aid!" he snapped back, letting out a deep sigh. "Now shut your mouth, kid." He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the tree.

"Kid?!" I raised my eyebrow. "Kid? Really?" I smirked and let out a rough laugh. "How old are you, anyway, old man?"

"Shut up! You're noisy," he said calmly, sounding far too casual. His eyes remained closed as he seemed to enjoy the cool breeze.

Does he think I'll just let that slide? Huh!

"How old are you, old man?" I asked again, this time in a softer tone. "Answer me, and I won't hit you with this rock," I challenged.

But he didn't respond; he seemed to be drifting off to sleep.

He fell asleep with someone threatening his life? Unbelievable.

I put the rock down, realizing it was pointless to hold it since he was already asleep. Who would I even hit at this point? I thought, glancing over at him.

"Should I hit him while he's asleep?"

"Try it," he muttered softly, nearly under his breath, startling me. I froze like a statue when I heard his deep voice.

"Y-you were awake, old man?!" I stammered, surprised. "You were only pretending to sleep!" I added, picking up the rock again. "I'll really do it!"

"Eighteen, I'm eighteen," he replied quickly, still with his eyes closed.

"Did I even ask, old man?" I asked in a normal tone, surprised he was so tall at that age. "How did you end up here?" I pouted as I asked.

"I've already answered your first and second questions. Do you want me to answer the third too?" he smirked, eyes still shut.

"Why, you—" I stopped mid-sentence as I heard a group of men calling a name nearby.

"Looks like my ride is here." He opened his eyes, and once again, I was met with those gray eyes. He got up from where he was leaning against the tree, giving me one last look.

"See you around, kid!" he called out, tossing a necklace into my hand. It was silver, with a dandelion charm in the center.

"Wait! What's this for?" I asked, but he didn't turn back.