When Ryn awoke, she was alone. Her leg had significantly stopped swelling- only a gentle ache remained. He had found her. How he managed, she had no idea. Of course, she had wanted him to, that was why she had left the note. But not like this. Not starving, injured and dirty.
Where was he now?
Grocery shopping. Well, sort of. He was back at the convenience store. Bandages, disinfectant, and cupcakes were all on his list. He laid the money down on the countertop. Not too bad, just about a day's work at the hardware store he did odd jobs at.
With two hours of sleep for energy, he trudged through the muddy forest. With utmost care and caution he gingerly made his way through the valley and back up to her fortress. He was greatly relieved that she was still there, and he suspected she wouldn't be able to walk for several more days.
She heard the footsteps again, they sounded like his. She kept her eyes closed and pretended to sleep.
Suddenly, she felt cold pain shoot up her leg. She shrieked and jerked it away.
He looked up in surprise, "Woah woah, it's just the disinfectant. It'll help you, I promise," he reassured.
Ryn nodded and sat up in her bed.
He finished tending to her leg.
"So, if you don't mind me asking, I'm just a little curious. But, what the hell are you doing out here?" He asked, looking her dead in the eyes. Ryn didn't meet his gaze.
"Well I could ask you the same thi-"
"Ryn, no. What the hell are you doing out here." He interrupted. Ryn sighed, swallowed, and then began, "I guess for any of this to make sense, I should take you back to the very start." And she did, all the way back to the beginning.
