Katie coughed. It was dark and cold. But more importantly it was wet. As she coughed, she inhaled water and choked. Opening her eyes, she realised she was underwater. Kicking her legs, she swum what she presumed was upwards. Her lungs screamed for air as she pushed herself through the water further, using all her strength in her arms and legs. With burning limbs, she broke the surface, taking greedy breaths of air as she trod water. Her eyes watered as she looked about, a bright sun in a cloudless sky. To her relief, she wasnt that far off a shore, a swampy looking place, with a forest that came practically up to the ocean. Taking more deep breaths, she began to swim till the water shallowed and she was able to stand without drowning. Taking staggering steps, she shivered, just realising she was naked, her hair sticking to her wet skin. Wrapping her arms around her she trudged through the now muddy water and up onto the bright shore line. It was hard to tell where the ocean ended and the forest again. Taking a few steps forward, sinking into the mud, she looked at the forest again. With a shiver, she felt something brush her shoulder and immediately turned round, looking for something. A flash of white made her turn once more, leading her eyes down. There, delicately balancing on the top of the mud, was a bright white feather. A realisation dawned on her and she looked over her shoulder. Bright white wings grew out of her back. Smiling slightly, she flexed them and folded them around herself like a cloak. She walked into the forest, taking in the mossy smell and the sound of insects and birds in the trees. She was glad the forest was alive with noise, as a quiet forest would of made her even more weary. She kept to a path made by what looked like fishermen. The sun shone through canopy, casting green tinged lights on the path and bushes around her. Her bare feet felt sore from stumbling on sticks and the occassional stone, but she had to keep going, till she reached the other end. At least she was no longer cold, her skin had dried as she walked and it seemed to be a plesent summers day, the air muggy in the forest. Katie did not keep count of how long she was walking, and when she finally stumbled out of the forest, onto what looked like a field, the sun was near the horizon, large and golden orange. Just down a slope, was a small town, nestled in a valley. Katie fell to her knees, glad to just be near civilisation. She heard a gasp and looked up. A middle aged woman was standing close, a large basket in her arms, full of mushrooms and berries. Katie managed a smile before she fell into darkness.

"Azan em'ich noya temi gal?" Katie woke quietly, hearing the voices. The language was strange, not one she had heard before. She wondered where she was, forgetting for a moment the portal, the shore and the forest. With a jerk, it all came flooding back, and she jerked open her eyes. They watered again as the light from a nearby lamp shone on her face and the same middle age woman appeared above her.

"Yuma uric ji'mal temi?" Katie sat up and rubbed her eyes before looking at the woman. She shook her head.

"I-I don't understand, I'm sorry," she shuffled her wings into a more comftable position as she leaned against the head board of the bed she was laying in. She took in her surroundings as the woman frowned at her. She was in a small room with wooden walls, a small fire place and a dresser with 3 drawers. A thick rug covered most of the wooden floor and several blankets covered Katie's lower torso. She realised she was now wearing a long white nighty.

"Ach, you be speakin' Unime. Luckily for ya, I knows how tae speaks it well," Katie looked startled as the woman spoke to her in what sounded like a scottish accent.

"Unime?" The woman nodded and turned to place the lamp on the bedside table. Katie drew a sharp intake of breath as a long slightly skinny tail came out from the womans peasant dress. The woman herself was large, with an ample bosom and the look of a friendly farmers wife about her. She wore a simple peasant dress of dark green, a white apron tied at the waist and a large poofy green hat on her iron grey hair. Kind brown eyes studied Katie.

"Ya been loosin' ya memory have ya little'un? Ach, it happens. Don't suppose ya been knowin how ya got in them woods back there, stark naked like?" Katie shook her head, still struck dumb by the woman with a tail.

"Can ye talk much? I see you be bein' an angel. Pure 'un as well. The Council will be poppin' round ya know. They see you folk as good fortune," she sighed and shuffled round the room to the drawers, taking out a long white dress of floaty fabric that seemed to shimmer in the light. She also took a long white ribbon of the same fabric and placed them atop the drawers.

"I has these for ya, usually whats your folk be wearin'. I 'ope ya don't mind me putting some pants on ya and tha nighty. You was aweful cold and you been unconcious like for the past three sunsets," Katie gaped at her.

"I been asleep for three days?" the woman nodded and sighed again.

"Aye, was worried for ya at first. Ya was shiverin' mightily, had bad flu. Surprised ya ent complainin' of hunger," right on cue, Katie's stomach rumbled and she smiled sheepishly as the woman laughed, "Ya stomach doin' for ya I see,"

"Yes, sorry about that. Thank you for taking me in and clothing me. I am highly grateful," the woman waved her hand, "I am Katie. If there is any way to repay you please tell me," The woman laughed again and patted Katie's shoulder.

"Jus' you be getting well for me eh? Now get them clothes on and be comin' down stairs. I'll warm ya up some stews," she went to the door and stopped briefly, "I'm Brigid by the way. Nice to meet ya Angel Katie,"