Selene’s quick feet hurried her along the safe path through the woods. The path of the small winter hardened flowers called ‘Snow’s Mercy’. The light blue flowers with their white inner petals were the only thing that seemed to hold the creatures at bay. Her free hand shot up to her neck, making sure her wreath was still hanging around it as she made her way down the slope and towards the village. It was Tribute day and she was running late.
It had been difficult enough managing the flock after her father’s passing and gather enough for her toll every year. Her offering of wool and frost berries would have to do.
Every year the villagers had to pay the toll and receive their share of the tribute. It was a way for the village to keep tabs on everyone, who was managing and who needed help.
The Elders had decided it would be the fairest way to assure fair trades and avoid driving up prices.
Smith offered their craft, the Doctor his knowledge, the Hunter his game and a farmer like her the fleece from her flock.
She tried to avoid glancing backwards, she could just feel their eyes on her even here in the broad daylight. She tried desperately to not think about it and let fear ruin her mood even further.
Seeing the trees become sparser and the first thatched roofs coming into view she released a sigh of relief, hopefully she would still be on time. As the sack bounced against her back she hurried down and towards the village centre.
If her sister had only done the job she had asked her to do, she would have been on bloody time. But no, when she finished her own chores in time intending to head out to the village early she had found her brother working his way through the job Ella had been supposed to do. Oh, Selene would have a word or two with that stupid girl when she god back, did she want them to separate, because that was what the Elders had promised to do if she failed at providing for them. Not making the toll on time on Tribute day would arouse their suspicions and that was the last thing she wanted.

As soon as she stepped upon the first stones of the gravel path that marked the village’s boundary she heard a soft whistle that made her look to the left.
“Well, well if it isn’t Selene Ramsley, I was beginning to think you wouldn’t make it.” Sam teased her as he came out of his house with his ‘offerings’. As a skilled hunter his were ‘of the forest’; rabbits he managed to snare, squirrels he managed to lure and trap and fowl that he was able to shoot with his bow. He occasionally had helped her out by giving them some game if she fixed his shirts, for which Selene was grateful, it was just that she couldn’t really stay and be chatty and neither could he for that matter.
“Well I won’t be on time if you’ll be keeping me Samuel Hunt.” She said as she briskly moved on.
“Ho..Hold up Selene!” The young man said as he hurried after her.
“We’ll be late, more than likely we already are!” She threw back as she hurried herself to the Village centre where tables and wares were set up and one of the Elders performed his tasks as the Tollmaster.
Joining the circle Selene quickly noticed her best friend looking at her relieved.
Marina mouthed something along the lines of ‘where have you been?’ since they were too far apart to be heard and during the Calling one had to be silent.
Selene mouthed with an annoyed look ‘Ella’ and saw Marina look back with worry and compassion.
Listening on it seemed her name hadn’t been called out yet, thankfully.
When her turn came up Selene hurried forward with her goods placing them at the feet of the Tollmaster before handing in her Tribute paper. It was a way of keeping track who was asked to bring in what and the Toll tended to change depending on the year. This year it had been a rather hefty toll, no doubt to test her once more, but her tribute would also be more bountiful. She had asked for 3 new pairs of boots from the shoemaker. It was extravagant, but thanks to the higher toll she had gotten the okay from the Elders. After the Tollmaster inspected her wares and assured that all was in order she received her Tribute and a stamped Tribute paper, as proof.
Keeping an eye on the sun she would have a few moments to spare, maybe she could talk to Marina a little before she had to make the journey back.
Moving off to the side she noticed Marina hurried towards her, clearly she had been of the same mind.
As they hugged Marina expressed her concern.
“Oh I have been so worried, normally you are always on time, so I almost thinking something must have happened along the way. Thankfully though you made it in time, father wouldn’t have been pleased otherwise.” She said with a sigh before she listened to a frustrated Selene.
“It was all Ella’s fault, I asked her to do one thing, ONE thing! And does she do it? No, she is nowhere to be found! Instead I find Edric desperately trying to finish her task in time for me, only being halfway done.” She sighed in a defeated manner before she noticed something.
“You’re rather pretty, did your father ask you to get dressed up for the occasion?” Selene asked.
“Oh no, it’s just that I was told to show myself off, this is one of my new dresses for the Tribute dance for the festivities. Father said we would be receiving guests from one of the other free villages. Apparently they have too many boys and not enough girls, so they were invited here.”
Selene raised her eyebrows at that. That was unusual. Still nothing to concern her.
Marina looked at her inquisitively.
“So what about you? Will you come to the dances this year?” Marina asked receiving a dismissing laugh. “What for? To be matched up with someone I hardly know? Sorry I am not that desperate.”
“You can say no of course, it is not like the Elders would force you to marry.”
“I have no dress and even if I had I pale in comparison to you, you’re pretty and I’m not.”
Marina shook her head in protest.
“You’re selling yourself short…again! But I won’t push you I know how thickheaded you can be.” She said as she walked with Selene back to the edge of the village.
“Stay safe Selene, you’d best hurry back, the sun will set soon.” Marina told her hugging her friend again before she watched Selene walk up the path again.
Marina couldn’t help but worry for her friend, living out there in the woods, having this constant shadow of the monsters lurking about. She shivered shaking the nasty feeling off as she headed on home.
Selene kept her pace up, she knew that she would be able to make it in time, but with approaching winter these creatures always got a little more aggressive and it was better to not tempt fate.

The sewer lid moved slightly, then a little more, as fingers wormed they're way around the edge of the lid, and moved it to the side.
A filthy and dirty humanoid crawled out from the darkness below, his hair long, bushy, and unkept.
His clothes were black from the filth where he calls home, and his face was wild, from what you could see underneath the scruffy and scraggly beard.
Immediately he flung his hand up to shield his eyes from the bright sun.
Reaching inside his worn rugged leather bomber jacket, the man pulled out a pair of dark sunglasses, and placed them over his eyes.
He sniffed the air a few times, then jogged off towards some buildings that had seen better times.
Entering one of the buildings, he scavenged for anything useful.
As he reached down to pull a torn blanket from the corner, a deadly viper struck out at him!
The humanoid's reflexes were quick, matter of fact, it was quicker than the snake.
With his right hand, came the flicker of metal, as he sliced the snake's head from its body.
"Shit."
He smiled and grabbed the body ,placing it in his Backpack, "Lunch".
The crazed looking man scurried off, grabbing metallic objects, wires, and rope if he can find any.
He doesn't know why he does this, but something on the inside tells him to.
That these materials will come in handy for something.
A few more scavenging junk, then he moves on to the next building ruins.
It is here, that he builds a small fire and prepares to cook the snake.

When Selene finally walked up to the wooden fence of her home, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as she passed the wreaths of Snow's Mercy that they had woven around the posts.
Glancing back for a moment she noticed that the light was slowly fading, in an hour or so the dark would claim its domain and they all had to be inside if they didn't want to end up as food for the creatures.
Taking her new supplies up to the shed, she cast some feed down for her chickens and secured the barndoor with its usual protection.
Tired from her rather stressful day she moved inside finding Edric busy making soup for dinner and looking up relieved at his older sister's return. "So I take it all went well?" He still asked.
"Yes, though it was a sheer miracle we pulled it off this time around. What the hell was Ella thinking? What the hell was so important that she would risk our own future for this? Did she say anything to you?" Selene asked assuming Edric knew more, but the boy looked up confused.
"No, she didn't, it is just when I found her stuff unfinished I figured she was off practicing her dancing. You know how she has been looking forward to the dances, unlike you she longs to go."
Selene rolled her eyes at her foolish little sister.
"I blame those romance novels that Ella kept insisting on reading. Of handsome knight and honourable princes. Hogwash the lot of it!" Selen bristled going off in annoyance. "I mean we could be pulled apart at the first slip up but does she care? No, miss head in the clouds rather dreams of silly futures that will never come true. She'll be lucky if she marries one of the butcher's boys. Princes..bah!" She noticed her brother's eagerly trying to cut her off and say something.
"So when did she came back in?" Selene asked as she moved to the coatrack and was about to loosen her cloak.
Edric's chilling answer froze her entire being.
"That's just it. I haven't seen Ella all day. She wasn't in her room or in her usual spots closeby." he told her worriedly.
"Why didn't you say so!" Selene cried out in worry.
"I try to bring it up but..."
"We don't have time for this now!" Selene cut her brother off again. "I'm going out!" She told him. "Lock the door just in case you hear me!" She demanded before throwing the door open and running down the path again.
Ella! Of all the angry remarks she ever made to her sister, she never wanted any of it to come true.
Fear gripped Selene's heart as she tried to think where Ella would likely go, but as worry for Ella took more and more control of Selene she disregarded her own safety and started calling out her name.
"ELLA! Where are you! ELLA!" Sprinting her way through the woods, getting whacked in the face by bushes and almost stumbling a couple of times, she started looking at Ella's favourite spots, there was one place...near the river. Gods she hoped Ella hadn't gone there.
The risk of Farlanders should even keep someone as dim as her away, but as the usual spots were devoid of her sister, she made her way towards the river.
"Ella! ELLA!"
As the sun set more and more and the light slowly started to fade she reached the river.
"El..." She was about to shout when she spotted something ahead of her.

He thought maybe, he was losing his mind, as it does come and go.
But for a moment, he swore it was a woman's voice yelling something he couldn't make out.
He looked towards the setting sun, it would be down soon, and they would come.
As he turned away to head home, something pulled at him, something in his gut said "Go back".
Shaking his head from side to side, "No, I ain't gonna."
He started to take another step, and once again, his gut told him to go back.
"Damnit!"
The crazed man hefted his makeshift rebar spear in his hand, and hurried towards the sounds.
As he got closer, he could hear the name, "Ella" from the frightened screaming woman.
He sniffed the air, and smelled water, must be close to the river.
Stopping momentarily, he lit the old Coleman lantern.
The light would surely give him away, but what choice did he have, after all it was getting dark.
Plus, he would rather see where and what he was walking into.
The Voice sounded closer, so he took cover among some bushes, slowly he crept along, shielding the lanterns light with a branch of thick leaves, as best as he could.

Selene felt her heart drop.
It was a Farlander, holding a powerful and dangerous looking shotgun.
What was a Farlander doing here on the other side of the river? She thought to herself.
"Who goes there?!" The man called out as he raised his gun.
He hadn't spotted her yet, but as he now moved away from the spot he was standing she could see what he had been focussed on. There at his feet lay a womanly form wearing a familiar dress.
Selene's eyes widened.
Ella!
He had harmed her sister, gods, what if? No, she had no time to worry, she had to figure out a way to get this man away from her sister and get the hell back to safety even if that meant offering hospitality to an enemy.
Hoping her senses hadn't left her, she stepped out in the open.
She had to be brave, for her sister.
"Just me." She replied. "I come for my sister. It is almost night. You need to be inside." She started, before he cut her off.
"Well well, if it isn't another little morsel, it is my lucky day it seems. You two will catch a nice price in the City."
"We don't have time for that, the City's too far and daylight's almost gone. We're going to get eaten if we don't leave quickly!" She pointed out hoping the man would see reason.
"Our farm is closer than your City, we'll all die if we go your way! You will die. There will be no selling anyone into slavery then!" Selene spoke.
He seemed to think about her offer, slowly lowering the gun.
"Fine girl, we'll take your little option, a Farm you say... but there will be a price to pay after all your little freedom will be costly." He spoke having hunger and greed in his eyes.

"YAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIHHHHHHH!!!!!" screamed the crazed ragged man, as he threw his makeshift spear at the man with the gun.
It grazed the man, knocking the shotgun from his hands, as the wild man tackled him to the ground.
"DIE!"
Malcom slammed his fist down on top of the man's face, over and over, as if possessed by a large ape.
"YOU WONT HURT THEM ANYMORE!!!!" he yelled, as spit formed around his mouth, and in his beard.
He never stoppped for a moment, his fists become bloody, soaked from the mess of what was once a man's face.
Exhaustion took him over and he tumbled off the man, and just sat there , looking at what he did.
"I'm sorry. " he repeated over and over.
" I tried to save you...both, but i failed."
He began to sob and continue saying he was sorry,as if you were not even there.
Then suddenly he stood up abruptly, sniffed once, and began looking for his spear.
"Where are you?"
"It's getting dark, we need to get home soon."
"SPEAR!" he cried out

Selene was shocked and stunned by what occurred next, a wild man appeared out of nowhere and...well Selene could hardly keep up. He killed him, the man had killed Ella's attacker and then started mumbling and sobbing.
"He must completely have lost his mind." She uttered, before picking up the gun and spear and holding the weapon out to him.
"Here's your spear sir and you're right we need to get home." When he took it from her hands she hurried down to her unconscious sister, the still form made her fear the worst, but by the heavens when she notices a soft breathing she could barely believe her stars.
Her clothing seemed intact too, which made Selene breathe a sigh of relief, fearing the worst initially.
But they were in a bit of a pickle, the light was fading and with her sister out of it, Selene was certain that they wouldn't even make it halfway the woods if she had to carry her back.
Knowing that sometimes one had to take the good with the bad, she turned to the stranger again. Hoping he would be willing to help her out.
Taking charge of the situation and hoping it wouldn't get them all killed she moved up to him again and said.
"Sir, listen to me, we have little time, but we need to get to safety. The closest place nearby is our farm, but I can't make it if I have to carry my sister. We'll both get eaten. I need you to help me. Help me by carrying her. As thanks I will offer you food and shelter and anything you wish..." She pressed as she placed a hand on his shoulder as she spoke making him look at her.
"My name is Selene, that's my sister Ella and I am begging you. Please help. I cannot do this alone." She admitted whilst she kept an eye on the sky.
"Please sir, you're our only chance."

"My spear, mine, not yours, mine."
He takes his spear from her and holds it close to himself.
"Bad things come soon."
"Me go, you stay."
The crazed man turns to look at sun, but sees it no more.
He starts panicking, pacing back and forth, "Too late, dark now."
Malcom scratches his head, as he listens to the woman ask for his help.
"Help you, yes, maybe, yes."
He walks over to the girl on the ground and scoops her into his arms, as if he was cradling a baby.
"We go now, dark."
"Come" he says as he starts walking in the wrong direction, then stops.
The bewildered man walks over to you, "You go, you show the way."

Selene wanted to curse and pray at the same time, but knowing how little time they actually had, she simply nodded and started running, trying to find a safe path for the stranger amongst the patches of Snow's Mercy that were scattered through the forest.
When they were about halfway Selene felt her adrenaline spike as she instantly recognised the silence that had fallen over the woods. The creatures were out, they would come. Clutching the shotgun closer in worry she silently pointed ahead towards the hill. They needed to go over the hill and to the otherside, as the sounds of breaking brances and rustling of leaves started to break the silence around them her breath became uneven as true fear and panic set in.
"Hurry..." She said to the stranger.
It felt like they were far too slow with climbing the hill and Selene was certain she had seen dark eyes and shadows dash ahead in the corner of her eyes.
When they reached the top of the hill the farmhouse stood there as a beacon of hope, the Snow's mercy softly glinting in the pale moonlight.
"Go!" Selene said pushing the man ahead and looking behind her for a moment. Dark shadows were darting between the trees below them with such speed that she dared not to count. Sprinting the final distance she slammed herself against the farm door yelling at Edric to let them in.
The rumbling of locks followed and to Selene it took far too long. Bravely she turned around standing on the porch pointing the shotgun in the direction she had come from, where they would have to come from too. She heard unearthly growls and sounds as the sounds surrounding them grew louder.
Edric opened the door at that moment and Selene pushed the stranger in before stepping in herself and helping Edric with the latches, locks and beams to secure the place. Angry growls and rustling sounded outside scratching at the wood of places that weren't protected by the Snow's Mercy wreaths before the sounds died down and they moved on, clearly not wanting to waste precious hunting time.
"What happened?" Was Edric's immediate question seeing his little sister unconscious and his older sister out of breath and bring a Farlander amongst them.
"You don't want to know..." was all Selene said trying to get calm her trembling limbs as she pointed to the bench where he could lay her sister down for now.
"This is...frankly I don't even know his name." She stated before looking at the man and grabbing the man by the hand only to guide him to the main table. She took out a chair and gestured for him to sit down before she placed a plate in front of him and poured him a cup of milk. Grabbing one of the wooden bowls her father had once carved for them, she filled it with broth and placed it with a spoon down in front of him. "Eat." She kindly told him. "We're safe now."

The man looked at the woman and then the bowl, he sniffed the contents.
Grabbing the bowl in both hands, he tippped it up to his mouth and slurped it down.
He looked up at them both, as broth ran down his beard,"More"
The man was filthy, and the smell was revolting none the less.
The whole room smelled of sewage and worse, as flies buzzed around the man's body.
A loud grotesque burp escaped his mouth, as his stomach growled.
The crazed man laughed a little, then released some gas, laughing a bit more.
"My ass said hello."
"Dolly? Is she okay, is Dolly okay?"

Edric looked at his sister with a look of 'what the hell did you bring home?' before taking the bowl from the man and filling it up again and handing him a bun of bread.
"So who's he? Your new husband?" He teased receiving a soft smack against his head for the suggestion.
"Don't be clever, dickhead." She cursed before she glared at the stranger, forcefully taking his hand and pushing the spoon into it.
"Here we eat with some civility and don't you dare 'make your ass say hello!' You stink the place enough up as is. You will eat and afterwards I will clean you up, cause by the heavens you look like you crawled out of a sewer! Even the pigs of Johnson are cleaner and smell better than you!" She ordered as she pointed at him, making sure he understood exactly what she meant.
"And don't you dare play dumb with me!" She warned ahead before she stomped off to ready some warm water and look after her sister first.
"Don't worry, she isn't always this crabby." Edric whispered to the man softly. "I'm Edric." He pointed at himself, offering the man a couple of strips of meat before he pointed at him.
"What's your name?"
Selene meanwhile had taken a bowl of water and cleaned up her sisters injuries, they were superficial thankfully, but the nasty bump on the head suggested the man had knocked her out cold. Thankfully she had found her when she did.
She didn't dare to think of what would have happened if she hadn't she released a shuddering breath when her sister's eyes opened slowly, groaning and looking up at her.
"Selene? What...ouch."
"Ssst, don't worry, you're safe at home. Just rest, you bumped your head rather nastily." She answered softly as she dabbed her forehead with a wet cloth. Just lie down for now, if you feel up to it you can have some broth later." She suggested seeing her sister's nose cringe at the new terrible smell in the room.
"Gods...what is that?"
"That, is coming from our guest, not to worry...he won't be smelling that way for long." She promised before she cast a sharp glance towards the two at the dining table.
She would need soap, a brush or two and a pair of scissors. Oh she would get the smell out of their house before it would penetrate and work its way into the rest of the furniture.

Looking at the spoon, he took it from the bowl, and pocketed it.
Slurping the broth,stuffing a bit of bread in his mouth.
Smiling, "Sewer home."
He smells himself, but doesn't understand why they make a big deal.
The crazed man pats his chest, "Protection."
He studies Edric for a moment, trying to comprehend what he was asking.
The man removed dogtags from around his neck, and placed them in Edrics hand.
Captain Malcom Reed, USMC is the only visible words left on the tarnished rubbed tags.
"Me."
The man grabbed his head in pain, as he lurched forward knocking his dish into the floor.
"Aaaaaaaaagggggghhhhhhhhhh"
He falls to the floor, rolling up in a fetal position, as he bangs his head hard against the wooden planks.
White foamy spit spews from his mouth, as his body convulses on the floor.

Edric's eyes widen at the sight of the tags, he's only heard of these metal name plates. When this man however started screaming and convulsing on the floor, Edric yelled at his sister in worry.
"Selene!"
She quickly hurried away from her sister's side trying to hold the man down.
"What did you do?" She yelled at him.
"I? I didn't do anything, he just started..."
"Help me hold him down." She yelled, having trouble keeping the man still.
Her brother quickly knelt down to put a pair of extra hands on him, it was only then that his sister now saw the needle sticking out of the man's neck.
"Oh no..." She groaned knowing this meant that she would have to sit up all night and watch over the guy.
"He's been stung." She pulled the long thin bone needle out and said. "Help me get him up and in the bath, if he's going to be a bother I might aswell scrub him clean whilst keeping an eye on the fever." She said as she and Edric hoisted him up with difficult and took him through to the barn, before dropping him in a sitting position in the tub. Put the kettle on and get some bucket of water from the well." She asked Edric, whilst she kept an eye on the stinger's entrance point.
Grabbing a pair of large scissors she started cutting through his clothing. There was no way in hell she would allow him to be dressed like a scarecrow and smelling like a sewer rat, if the Elders of the Village were to discover him in that state all hell would break loose. No, better that she'd take matters into her own hands.
As she cut his pants away she found her spoon in his pocket looking rather miffed at the ailing man.
"You're lucky you're ill." She warned, dipping a cloth in cold water to put against his forehead.
When Edric returned she told him to keep an eye on him, so she would get some of her father's old clothing, a couple of towels and some more cleaning tools. Gods knew she would need them.
She returned later with a pair of pants, a simple cotton shirt with buttoned sleeves and a pair of leather shoes. As well as her lavender oil, soap and scrubbing cloths and brushes as well as a razor. Oh when she would be done with him he would at least look presentable, provided he wouldn't say anything.
And so she went to work, with her boiling water, she poured it over in buckets with cold, adding and mixing until she had a tolerable temperature pouring it in from there. It took some time, but soon enough the bath was filled and thanks to her lavender oil, the stench had lessened considerably. Now the soap came into play.
To say she was a tad rough would be putting it gently, she went to town on him. Scrubbing him from head to toe and washing all the dirt and muck out of his greasy hair. Soon enough the water turned a murky soapy colour that made Selene wonder if the man had ever been in a bath.
Now a good deal cleaner she took the razor and scissors and tried to bring some order in that ragged mop of hair, took the beard off and for sake of being thorough also trimmed his eyebrows.
Pulling out the cork at the bottom she drained the tub and allowed the water to slush away through the pipes her grandfather had put in place.
Wiping the sweat off her brow she grabbed the towels and started drying him, humming to herself as she did so, before she softly started singing a song her mother had taught, rubbing his back in a comforting way.

"My love I can't do this,
we knew it from the start,
I just can't be with you.
You're not from around here,
you're not one of my kind,
this love's against the law."

"To my heart you're all that is true,
and I won't give up on you,
loving you is all I can do,
you're all that's worth living for."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtF0ArnCyeg

He tossed and turned the whole night, nightmares plagued him.
The death of his daughter still haunted him, he dreams of his wife, but feels no grief.
"You did this to me"
She laughs wickedly at him, as bugs crawl from her eye sockets, and she points a bony finger at him.
"No, i will not take the blame anymore, you killed our baby."
He shook from his dreams, and sat up, feeling different...clean smell?
Stumbling to his feet, he found a mirror and stared at the face that was looking at him.

Everything came back to him like a giant wave crashing into him.
He nearly lost his balance, but manage to steady himself with his hand pressed against the wall.
"It's been a long time, Captain." he said to his reflection.
He limped into the room, "My neck feels like it's been on fire."
" I take it, one of those things, stung me?"
Sliding a chair out, he took a seat, " I'm starving, is it too late for breakfast?"
He stood up, when she came into the room, "Ma'am, i guess i owe you a lot, thank you."

Selene had pulled an all nighter.
After having cleaned him up dried him off and dressing him, she had put him to bed with the help of Edric.
"Please be a little more reasonable when you wake up..." She pleaded, before adding. "Sleep well..."
"Malcom." Edric finished for her, causing her to look at him bewildered, before he showed her the tag.
She frowned at him.
"Don't just take things without asking!" She hissed.
He looked rather miffed at that.
"I didn't. He gave them to me when I asked for his name." He said pushing the tags in her hands and yawned. "Anyway I'm off to bed, I gave Ella a couple of extra pillows and blankets, so you can worry all about him."
"The guy..."
"Captain Malcom." Her brother corrected her.
"CAPtain Malcom's fever hasn't broken yet, I need not remind you of what happened to you when you were hit by one of those things."
Edric shuddered before turning around deciding to leave his sister, but not before getting a final jab in.
"Fine, I don't even wanna be there when you start making googly eyes at him."
"I don't ogle if that's what you mean. I am a decent girl, not some lecherous hussy."
"Keep telling yourself that, I know what I saw back in the shed." Edric added before he ducked inside his room for safety.
"You miserable....!" Selene had hissed, before the man's groaning had drawn her attention and worry.
Reminding herself to pay her little brother back for those comments later she entered her bedroom, having temporarily put him there for the moment.
Placing the dogstags on the stand next to her bed she sat down and checked his forehead.
He was burning up again, mumbling strange things. With a sigh she took a new wet cold cloth from the bowl and placed it on his forehead and started her long watch.
At the earliest hours of the morning Malcolm's fever broke and this allowed Selene to finally get to her other chores.
Opening up the house again as the first rays of daylight greeted her promising safety. She walked to the chickens for their eggs and feed and to milk the cow.
When she finished those chores she brought up new water from the well and brought both buckets in for their breakfast when an unusual sight greeted her at the table.
It nearly frightened her to death.
The man was up...and was talking...properly.
She looked up at the heavens for a silent 'thank you' before entering and putting the buckets onto the kitchen table, a section reserved for the preparation of their food.
Listening to his questions she whispered.
"Please sit down, Captain, you've had quite the fever last night. I'll hand you a spot of breakfast, I'm assuming my other two siblings will still be sleeping. And after last night it is no wonder, though I must confess I didn't expect you up and moving so soon." She answered before putting a mug of milk down for him. "I'll make tea in a minute...here." She handed him a plate and cutlery and set up breakfast, before taking a skillet from the side of the fireplace and prepped it with a slice of butter before shoving it in. She placed some of her bread from yesterday on the table and some jams and cheese as well as a couple of strips of meat. Checking back on her skillet again she started frying some eggs and finally sat down herself, exhausted, but having no choice but to toughen it out.
"So...I am not sure how much you remember, you seem quite different from last night." She started tentively. "But in case you don't remember, my name is Selene, Selene Ramsley."

"I'm not gonna lie, seeing myself, the way i used to be..it brought back a lot of memories, and reminded me of who i am."
Malcom looked into her eyes, "Does that make sense?"
"There is still some fog up here." he said tapping his noggin with his finger.
"Thank you again Selene, and your husband, i think i met him last night."
Malcom sipped the broth with the spoon provided," I haven't had a nice meal in a long time."
"I was living in a sewer, eating rats and snakes, and wild berries."
He just remembered the clothes he was wearing, "Thank you for these to"
Malcom rubbed his sore neck, "You and your husband live here by yourself?"
He pushed the bowl away from him, and leaned back in the chair.
"It's a nice little place, y'all have here."

"Husband?" The complete and utter disbelief and puzzlement showed on his face at his words.
"Captain, I don't know who you mean. I live here with my younger brother and sister." She told him calmly with a wary look.
"Can you describe this supposed husband for me?" She asked wondering if the man perhaps thought the assailant they had come accross had been her 'husband'. She shuddered at that thought.
"I can assure you I am not married, though the Elders of the village will undoubtedly at some point start to push me towards a 'beneficial union'."
She handed him some more eggs and broth before replied after a deep intake of breath.
"You're welcome, though I should be thanking you. Your help last night saved us, me and my sister, from a much worse fate I am sure. Whether to be sold off as slaves in the City of the Farlanders or being eaten by the creatures, I am sure were fates fixed for us had you not intervened. As for the clothes, they were our father's. Edric is still too small for them and well you were stinking up the place with the rags you were wearing. Even if I had managed to get the stench and filth out, they were beyond repair, so you needed a new set of clothing." She stated though it was clear that it did not leave her unaffected.
Still she smiled at him melancholicly. "Besides I would be a horrible person if I forced you to walk around naked."
She heard the kettle whistle and poured them both a cup of herbal tea.
She bit her lip pondering the thoughts that had entered her head now that he seemed more sensible.
"Captain, might I ask you something?" She asked after a long silence.
"Would...would you be opposed to staying here? Should you have no proper home to go back to. We...we could use the extra hands here at the farm." She offered as she fidgeted with her fingers nervously. She wondered if she was mad, maybe she was being unnecessarily worried about the Elders and their future plans for her and her siblings.

He thought for a moment, must have been a dream, no husband.
"I must have dreamed you had a husband, sorry."
"Well, I dont really know what to say."
Malcom touched her hand softly with his callused fingers, "You've done so much for me, it would be an honor to stay on with y'all. "
"I am sure there are plenty of chores to do, and i would like to get back into shape again."
Malcom's thoughts were of his apartment stache, and the debt he owes, and the revenge he wanted.
"Mind you, it won't be forever, just to pay you back and for me to get back in shape, then I'll have to move on, i have some unfinished business that needs taken care of."
He finished his food, and took the dishes to the sink and washed them off.
"Perhaps after my business is taken care of, i can come back and stay?",
he asked as he dried the bowl off.

"Well you'd always be welcome." She said as he took the dishes out of her hands. "Though the decision is really up to yourself. Anyway, I have to go and take the flock out to the pasture." She said as she stood up and heard the rumbling coming from the upperfloor, clearly her siblings were up.
"Ella! Stop taking dad's vest, it's mine, you have mom's!" Came the complaint from Edric as Ella sprinted downstairs, clearly having healed well enough from her troubles yesterday to be up to her regular misschief again, with Edric limping behind her. Ella bolted down the stairs clearly wearing a woolen vest that was two sizes to big for her slender frame.
Selene sighed before taking a spoon and slamming it down upon the dinnertable drawing the attention of the others to her.
"Edric stop shouting and Ella give Edric back his vest or so help me I will make you do all the washing for a month and chain you to the bloody tub!"
Ella looked horrified.
"You can't that's slave labour!"
"Do you really want to test my patience Ella? DO you?" Selene warned as she put her hands on her hips, before turning to Edric and saying.
"Sorry Edric, but I am claiming Dad's vest for now for Captain Malcom. He's coming with me to tend the flock and he'll need something warmer than only a shirt."
Edric's eyes widened, he hadn't noticed Malcom yet, since the man was standing out of view for the two.
"You mean he's up?"
Selene nodded before she winced as the two hurried towards the diningtable to ask her, but now saw the man in question standing a few feet from them.
"He doesn't stink anymore...and didn't he have longer hair a beard?" Ella asked, having barely seen the man and trying to recall what she remembered from last night.
"Yes, but he cleaned up nicely." Selene said. "So why don't you give him dad's vest, as Edric said you don't need it since you have mom's." Selene pointed out and watched her sister frown, before taking it off and moving over to him.
"Hi, my name is Ella, nice to meet you Captain and thank you for helping us." Ella said with a bright blush on her cheeks.
Edric rolled his eyes at it and said.
"You're just as bad as she is." Edric said to Ella pointing at Selene, earning him a glare from his older sister that he ignored before asking. "She didn't push you into anything right? You're free to say no, you don't have to be shackled down to harpy like her." This earned him a swing, that he quickly dodged.
"See, she's as violent as they come!"
"I will show you violent you miscreant!" Selene said grabbing a pillow of the couch and flinging it at her brother, this time hitting him square in the face.
"I need to take the flock out, you two can go and have breakfast, but by the time I come back this place better be spotless!" She threatened.
Ella groaned. "Not more chores..."
Selene glared at her. "Don't complain to me, your actions from yesterday nearly cost us our yearly tribute! So you have a whole lot to pay for Ella. You are hereby under house arrest for a month!"
"That's not fair!"
"After what you did it is more than fair!" Selene threw back. "Ask your brother how badly behind you were!" Selene stated as she pulled on her own vest aggressively and grabbed one of the larger staffs. "I'll be out, I will see you later." She promised as she grabbed Malcom by the arm and dragged him along into the shed, ignoring the whispers from her sister asking her brother about last night.
"Oh, she practically waltzed all over him...that was before she cleaned him up, you should have seen her, the moment that beard had come off her face grew bright red..."

A tear fell down his cheek, the memory of his beloved little girl, Dolly hit him hard when he looked at Ella's smile.
"Thank you Ella, you're very sweet."
Malcom put the vest on, and posed for them, "Fits perfectly"
He followed Selene out the door, "Your brother and sister are sweet kids."
"I don't mean to pry, but what happened to your parents?"
Should he even be asking her that, he hardly even knows her, but yet he feels a strong connection between them.
Then again, he hasn't been around a female in a very long time, could just be silly hormones.
Coughing and clearing his throat, slightly turning a little red in the face for thinking such a thing, he quickly followed with "I'm sorry that's really none of my business, and i wouldn't wanna bring up bad memories."
Quickly changing the subject, he asked " How much land do you own?"