A blackish brown eye slowly opens. The surroundings are strange but peaceful and it feels safe. A voice is heard humming a soothing tune somewhere nearby. The second eye opens and after several seconds, things come into focus.
Candles and oil lamps illuminate the room. The sparse rustic furniture looks like it's handmade, and the small room appears to be a bedroom. A window to the right indicates that the sun is making its descent in the sky.
Dinah attempts to get up. The shock of pain that pierces her side causes a muffled scream through clenched teeth.
An elderly woman wearing a long dark gray skirt and a long sleeve lavender blouse appears in the doorway. White hair is tied up into a bun at the back of her head. "Lie down child," she says in a commanding yet soft voice. "You are too weak and you have a terrible infection."
Dinah looks at her and is reminded of the grandmother that she has missed for the past ten years. "Please..." She starts to say, but her voice is dry and raspy. "Where..."
"Hush and take some sips of water before you start talking. I will answer your questions." The woman hands her a gourd like cup, then takes a seat in the rocking chair next to the bed.
Dinah takes a sip of the fresh cold liquid, and for a moment she cannot remember water ever tasting so wonderful or sweet. After a few more sips, she lays the cup next to her, and sighs.
"My husband and grandson found you in the woods. They believe you somehow came out of the ground because of the amount of the dirt that covered you, and also they discovered a small hole a few feet away from you."
Dinah closes her eyes as the memories of the cave come back to her and a single tear escapes the corner of one eye. "I was thrown down into a cavern. I don't know where or how long ago. What is the date today?"
"It's October 15th."
Teary eyes look at the elderly woman's kind face. "It's been over two months since I was last above ground."
The woman gasps. "Oh child who would do such a thing?"
"I'm not sure. I was knocked out so I couldn't fight back."
The elderly woman stands up, takes the cup from Dinah, and says, "Rest now child. More questions can be answered later when I return with some broth."
"I have...a friend I need to reach."
The woman stops and turns back to Dinah. "You already did reach her."
Dinah looks at her with a frown.
The woman points to the pendant around Dinah's neck. "Your soul has been contacting her ever since you arrived here. When I saw the moonstone glow, I didn't dare take it off of you. I knew it was given to you and it holds the love you and your friend share. I believe the two of you will see each other soon." She then walks out of the room.
Dinah picks up the crystal to look at it more closely. She remembers the day that y/n/n gave it to her. Dwelling upon the memory causes a few more tears to spill down her cheeks, and she clutches the moonstone tightly in her palm. "I love you Y/n," she softly calls out before sleep claims her again. A couple of hours later Dinah awakens to the smell of something tantalizing. She turns her head to find the elderly woman rocking slowly in her chair as she works on sewing a shirt. There is a bowl on the nightstand, again in the shape of an open gourd or something similar, with a steaming liquid rising from it.
"Drink some of the broth child. I put in tiny bits of tender meat and vegetables. You need to regain your strength."
Dinah reaches for the bowl and looking at the brown liquid, she takes small slow sips. "Mmm. How wonderful. I taste beef, leeks, tomatoes, garlic and carrots. And they're all in such tiny bits. How did you cut them so small?"
The woman chuckles, and says, "It's a secret my child."
She takes another sip savoring the delicious flavor. "May I call you grandmother?"
The woman smiles with a twinkle in her black eyes. "Of course."
"My name is Dinah."
"Well it's nice to meet you Dinah. And I'm so glad you've woken up. You were starting to give us a real scare."
"Ma, I'm back." A gruff voice yells out from another part of the house.
"In here Pa. Come meet our guest." She responds.
The elderly man walks into the bedroom, kisses her on the cheek, and gives Dinah a toothy grin. "Nice to see you're awake." He wears old jeans, a red flannel shirt and a brown duster.
"Dinah this is my husband Michael, but he prefers to be called by his native name, Running Bear."
"Thank you for saving me grandfather." Dinah kindly says to him.
He gives her another grin then bows in a chivalrous manner.
"And what is your name?" Dinah asks the woman.
"Sarah, but my native name is Rising Sun."
"Thank you so much for your kindness and hospitality."
The woman pats her husband on the shoulder, and says, "Pa, you go tend to your supper while I check Dinah's wounds."
"Yes, Ma." He bows a second time and walks out.
Approaching the bed, she starts to say, "You know your body has been trying to fight off a terrible infection from the gash we found in your side." She folds the sheet back and gently removes the bandage. "We've been draining the wound for days now but it still looks bad." She picks up a bundle at the end of the nightstand and unwraps the cloth. The steam that rises from what's inside is a clear indication of the intensity of heat. "I'm going to put this poultice on your wound. It will burn, but I need you to hold still. You will keep it on for the night and in the morning we'll do it all over again."
Dinah nods.
The bundle of wet hot leaves is firmly placed over the wound, and Dinah grunts in pain at the burning sensation. Rising Sun then puts a clean cloth bandage over the poultice. "Try to sleep now. I'll check on you later."
**************
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A/N johnny depp is grandfather and christina ricci is grandmother
