Little Red Robin Hood

XXX - The New Lands

My lips were dry and cracked. My stomach felt empty. My head ached. Most of my body felt numb. My body felt both warm and cold. My fingers, laying atop soft blankets, twitched.

I slowly opened my sticky eyes, vision blurry. I blinked a few times. A person came into focus above me. They had long golden hair with lighter highlights, bundled up on top of their head in a tight bun which was decorated with braids.

The stranger smiled, "Welcome back, Mr. Swann. I'm Goldie, Dexter's son, I'm a doctor. Gave us quite a scare there for a moment."

I looked around the sterile, white room, "Mm... what happened...?"

"Those human guards shot you," Goldie explained. "They hit you in the back and side. Luckily, nothing important was hit, and your wounds were an easy fix. You'll probably be a bit sore and numb from the morphine. But, if you take it easy, you can probably leave here whenever you're ready."

I slowly struggled to sit up, head spinning. "What is this place?"

"The New Lands," Goldie explained. "After the Winter Alliance fell, the surviving citizens relocated down here. In simple terms, it is a place where rare species of the realms can just... relax for a bit. It's also a base of operations for...," he hesitated, trailing off. "Well, for something I know you'll become very familiar with."

I squinted, but said nothing. I looked around as Goldie checked my vitals.

"Where's Cloud?" I whispered.

"In his office, with my father and Uncle Sphinx," he replied. "If you're feeling strong enough, I'd walk you there. Or I could just send someone to get him."

I shook my head, slowly sitting up. He assisted me, adjusting the pillows.

"I'm feeling... okay," I breathed. "A bit confused and numb, but okay." I groaned in annoyance, "It's not Monday, is it?"

"Depends on the time zone."

"In Alaska, is it Monday?"

"Nope, Sunday afternoon."

"Good." I leaned back, relaxing a touch.

Goldie gave me a look, "If you're thinking about going into work, I recommend against it. If you're going to ignore me, just take it easy."

"Yes, sir," I sarcastically said. "Where are my clothes?"

"Here, Cloud brought you a change," he lightly touched the pile of fabric on the nearby chair. "I'll be right outside if you need any help." He left me alone in the small, white medical room.

I sat on the edge of the bed, pulling the clothes and shoes onto the mattress. I put on the socks, then struggled for a few moments with the other layers. My side and back, wrapped firmly with bandages and gauze, faintly ached. I slowly stood up, rolling my shoulders back.

I stepped out of the room, spotting Goldie at a nurse's station. The room was large and circular, with the nurse's station in the middle. There were a few other medics about, mostly at computers or checking in on other patients.

"Ah, Mr. Swann," Goldie approached me. "The Winter Alliance offices are quite a ways away, and I have some business in the lab, so I've requested that Misaki--" he motioned to a blue-haired Asian boy sitting on a nearby counter, "--take you there."

"Uh, thanks," I smiled. "H-how far away is it?"

"Not far, the offices are just one building over," he shrugged.

"Building?" I echoed, confused.

"Oh, you'll see," he assured me. "Misaki? Straight to Cloud's office."