It was dark and cold. Then bright and warm. I could hear people screaming. They were watching, they were always watching. I could feel it, could see them, their eyes, lurking in the shadows. There was never a moment of peace, never.

Then the whispers began. Soft at first, barely audible. But they got louder and louder and louder. Screams of agony, of pain, hopelessness. This is their fault. They did this. Fire, the smell of ash, everything, dead. Not a single soul survived. I hate them, hate, hate, Hate, HATE, HATE THEM!

I jolted upright, panting. It was just a dream, calm down, they’re not here, I told myself. It was seemingly day, since light was coming in from the entrance, or was it just a lantern. I groaned, why did my head hurt so much?

Only then did I notice I was not alone. I jumped from where I was sitting and realised moving didn’t hurt as much as it did yesterday. Then I remembered. A group of people had found me, adventures perhaps. Did they treat my wounds? Why is my mind so foggy?

“Ah, it seems he’s woken up.” Startled I looked behind me. There was a huge man sitting there, grinning at me. “Don’t startle the kid Semion” Another voice said, female this time. Suddenly a girl jumped in front of me. “Hi, I’m Ukia, what’s your name?”

I stared at her for a good thirty seconds, before she turned her head to the side. “Are you sure he’s awake,” she asked the big man, uuhhh Semion I guess. “I think maybe his head’s still a little fuzzy from the sleeping potion Dayxo gave him.” Ah, that explains a lot…wait they drugged me!?

I glared at the people in front of me, or well tried to, it probably looked more like a grimace to be fair, they didn’t seem bothered though. Oh right, Dayxo, he was the man who helped me, right…I think…uhh…stupid brain. I sighed. Where was he anyways?

“If you’re looking for Dayxo he went hunting a few hours ago, he’ll be back soon, probably. You can never be sure with him though.” Did he just read my mind or did I say that out loud!? “You’re talking out loud laddie.” Oh wonderful just great. I rolled my eyes.

“Looks like he’s still got some fight in him,” Semion laughed. “Come on, calm down a little, you’re overwhelming the guy.” Finally someone with common sense, thank you. “O right sorry about that” Semion said while rubbing the back of his head.

Then we heard a commotion outside and two men came inside the cave. I immediately recognized the first one, Dayxo. The other one I was unfamiliar with. I turned my questioning gaze to the girl still very close to my face. “Ah that’s Raok, he can be a bit of an asshole sometimes but don’t take it to heart.

I nodded and turned around again only to find Dayxo smiling brightly at me. “Are you feeling better?” he asked. I nodded, “thanks.” That sounded horribly, my voice was unbelievably hoarse. Dayxo looked at me sympathetically and pulled a water pouch out of his coat.

I quickly snatched it from his hands and gulped it down. “You seem to have a lot more spirit today,” he pointed out, “did everyone introduce themselves already?” I shook my head and pointed at the woman with the common sense.

“That’s Katelyn,” he told me, “so you know the rest of them?” “By name,” I answered. “Well that’s something at least, ah you up for some food, caught a really nice deer out in the forest.” Then I noticed what they had dumped in front of the entrance, yea that was a dead animal alright.

They all seem very nice, and I was hungry, they wouldn’t try to poison me right? No that wouldn’t make sense, why waste things like bandages then. You’re falling for their tricks again, my mind told me. Can I just follow my heart for once!? Silence. Thank you mind. Yea I’m a weirdo, that’s what you get from living alone for years.

Then I noticed everything around me had gone silent. I blinked and felt a blush slowly creeping onto my face. “I said all of that out loud again, didn’t I?” They nodded. God I whished I could just crawl in a hole and die.

“So…you want food?” Ukia asked breaking the silence. I just nodded, to embarrassed to talk. They seemed like good company, maybe I could stay with them for a while. Just a little while though.