The tall pine tree that rose up behind Alec's house was slowly being lit up by individual, purply blue lights. The elf smiled softly as he spoke soft words of magic to form the balls of light, then more words to place them on the tree. A tradition he remembered from before his magic days. But instead of little lights, they were lanterns. He smiled to himself as he finally finished the task. Now he needed to work on all the other trees, but maybe tomorrow. Dusk was starting to fall.

In the town on the edge of the forest, people were going on about the witch lights in the woods that would show up every year around this time. One man was even telling a full blown tale of how these witch lights would lead them to the witch that loved there. It got into a bit of a heated debate, too. What was evident was that these witch lights were talk of the town.

Again he found himself in the bar, a half empty glass sitting in front of him as he listened to the number of conversations around him. Most were nothing, some more than nothing, but a few proved useful. Witch lights? Sounded like the witch was back again, and just in time too. It just happened that he had a lead that wanted the witch dead. That amount of cash would make the holidays a bit better, least it would make the selection of liquor tastier. The gruff looking man ran a hand through his hair, lightly tying it back against his neck. Maybe he could even get a hair cut if he could just remember to make an appointment. Sighing some he picked the glass up, tipped it back before putting it down again. A twenty dollar bill was left in his place as he rose swallowing the harsh contents of the drink. His throat burned as the whiskey made its way down it. Whiskey wasn't exactly his favorite beverage but it would do for now, and it was enough to dull the pain he was about to face. Slipping his hat one the man made his way out the door of the bar and out onto the street. It was a quiet night. Ten days till Christmas...it was hard to believe the year just seemed to fly by. So much had happened as well though it all seemed to be a blur. A gust of wind made him draw his coat closer. Forecast had it that it was due to snow any day now and it better if it was going to be this cold for so long!

By the time he reached the edge of town his nose was beet red and numb from the cold. These were the woods right? Hopefully. He lived on the other side of town. This better not have been just a waste of his time. A cloud formed about his mouth as he let out another sigh and entered the woods. It was quiet a walk before he saw the first of the lights. They were magnificent! So shiny and bright compared to those you bought. A sound behind him made him turn to find three large men had followed him.
"Would you look what the cat drug in? A little witch." The one in the front said. Well to them that would be how it looked wouldn't it?
"Cute." Gale said glaring at them. "Did your mom tell you to say that? Why don't you boys head home before something bad happens?"
"Is that a threat little man?" A second one asked.
"I believe it was." The first answered. At once they advanced, grabbing at Gale. From its sheath at his side the flaming blade was drawn leaving an orange streak in the air as it cut. A cry filled the night as the first attacker was hit in the face by the tip of the blade. He stumbled back holding his wound while his friends stepped forward to avenge him. He was fast enough to catch one but not the other. A heavy arm wrapped around his arms and chest preventing him from attacking as the second attacker repeatedly hit him. With the third hit the man fell unconscious. He was quickly tied up, strung up by his feet and left hanging from one of the glowing trees.

With nighttime came extreme cold. The elf wrapped his robes closer to himself as he got a fire going in his wood burning stove. He gazed out the window at his handiwork in all the trees around him. He loved to put a touch of the holidays on the forest this time of year. He turned back to his stove as it started to belch warmth out into the room. That's when he noticed he had forgotten to restalk his wood pile. He huffed and rubbed his face as he realized he couldn't afford stupid mistakes like that. That's how people die of hypothermia.

He pushed the door of his cottage open and he stepped out into the freezing cold. He had dawned a heavy cloak with the hood pulled low over his face. He grabbed his sled that he used to drag things home, whether it be food or wood. He was half tempted just to gather all the loose branches that were close to home, but his urge to examine all his handiwork took over, so he set off to find a dead tree that had been felled by the wind. His breath billowed in clouds as he trudged along, trying to keep warm while still looking at the bushes and trees lit up with his little balls of light. Up ahead, he saw a silhouette of something dangling from one of the trees he'd lit up with bright yellow lights. He walked over to see what it was and jumped back upon seeing a human.

It had to be a human. Only humans had ugly, rounded ears like that. But why was he hanging upside down from a tree? His eyes looked down at the ground and saw a sword and a hat. He shifted nervously at the sight of the blade. Why was he carrying that around? Why was it unsheathed? Was that blood? He swallowed thickly as he decided to try and think positively. The human must've been attacked, that's why his sword was out and bloody. He lost, since he was unconscious and hanging from a tree by his feet. Alec took a deep breath of the freezing air, making his decision. He spoke an unbinding spell and the human fell to the frozen ground. He then pulled him into his sled and slowly dragged it home. "Ugh, heavy."

How many lights were there? It hurt to look at them all then again it hurt to even open his eyes. Everything was fuzzy and blurry when he looked at it. And he was freezing. As he saw the figure approaching though he watched it for a moment. Were they back already? He let out a breath it pushing steam into the air. Though as he saw the elf he tried to make a questioning look yet the swelling on his face made it nearly impossible. When he fell he hit the ground with a thud, wincing some. He wasn't able to stand it was as if his limbs were submerged in water and he drowning. As he was picked up he could do nothing to protest other than make a slight sound as he was pulled onto the sled. Well this was it...this was how he died. Killed by the witch in the woods. Throughout the trip he slipped in and out of consciousness.
"W...where are we going?" He muttered some at one point though his words were slirred and almost unnoticeable. It hurt to speak though the cold that crept into his body numbed the pain. It was so cold...

Alec heard a small sound come from the human on his sled. He turned and leaned over him, then realized he must be freezing. His cottage was just up ahead, but it was much too far for a man who'd been out in the cold for who knows how long. He pulled off his cloak and laid it over him. "We're almost there," he said. He started to pull the sled with more urgency. He was starting to freeze now, too, without his cloak. His breath billowed more frequently as he panted and pulled. Finally, he pushed into the clearing with his home in it. He was feeling numb, now, and quickly went to get the human to his feet. He almost couldn't do it, with numb muscles and a weak physique. At least this human looked like he'd actually exercised at some point in life. He stumbled with his burden leaning on him towards the door, making sure to keep the cloak around the other.

There was a sudden weight about him nearly startling him. He couldn't feel the warmth though his arms and legs started to burn. That was a good sign. In a agonizing motion he was lifted to his feet his thoughts and vision swimming. Gale stumbled forward nauseous from the motion. Where were they going? Though the light before him made him want to walk that way. Though he couldn't feel his legs and his one good eye was nearly swollen shut he managed to push them forward even if it wasn't graceful. The door stood in his way, though as he shouldered it gave way. He fell forward numb arms catching him yet not stopping his fall. The warmth hit him instantly, burning his skin as it touched him. Least he could feel his arms and legs again...

The human seemed to move a bit too fast, and Alec knew it. He tried to keep up, but he was still trying to keep the other one balanced. They got to the door and as the elf turned the doorknob, the human shouldered it open and promptly fell forward. Alec tried to catch the human, but to no avail. A pouty frown sat on his face as he started getting the other one up again. He needed to place the human in the bed nestled in the next room. Again, the tireless journey continued. He made sure to keep the human going slower this time. "Dont rush yourself." He had the other sit on the bed and he grabbed one of the human's booted feet. "Now to get these off. Don't want dirty shoes in my bed." He was talking more to himself than anything, really. He began to tug at them.

Again he felt nauseous as he was lifted to his feet. His feet almost drug behind him as he leaned on the person carrying him, a hand about their shoulder and the other gripping the shirt on their chest. The room span still the light fading away some. Now the pins and needles had started as the blood returned to his extremities. He hit the bed with his legs unable to stop as he fell forward into the covers. It was warm here...he wanted nothing more than to sleep. As the elf tugged at his feet he pulled back trying to free his foot from his grasp.

The poor guy must've been through quite the pounding. Cold could do things to you, especially if you were hurt. He tried to brace himself against the other pulling their foot away. It helped pop the boot off, only to fling the elf back onto his bottom. He huffed as he grabbed the other one and pulled on it hard. When the human on his bed pulled against him,, the boot popped off. Now he could take back his cloak and get the other under the covers. He pulled the cloak away in one quick movement before awkwardly trying to arrange the human in the bed, getting him under all the blankets there. It proved challenging. "Why is this so hard?" He grumbled.

Why wouldn't they leave him be? Couldn't they see he was trying to sleep? Tiredly he rolled over on his side only to have the blanket tossed over him. The warmth around him was nice, pleasant even. If it wasn't for the pain in his face and the discomfort of still being fully dressed it would have been even better. His complaints fell silent though as he drifted off to sleep. It must have been the pounding headache that woke him. Groggily he opened his eye, ignoring the soreness. Where was he? Gently he propped himself up before pushing himself into the sitting position. He felt like he had been hit by a car! With a steady hand he felt of his face. There was a cut on the bridge of his nose, a busted lip, and probably a black eye. Nothin was broken though. The fuzzy memory of how he got here wasn't helping to clarify anything. This cottage was rather quiet as well. Question was should he get out of bed? He didn't ask again as he stood rolling his shoulders as he did. Least he still had his one eye! That was a plus. It seems when you lose one the other keeps trying to follow.