Something New with a Mind of Unknowing.

[pretty-little-red]

Closed to Logan.

I'm falling..

Or am I just dreaming?

Wait who am I?

Am I even alive?

At first there was only the blackness that surrounded me, the warmth of solitude engulfed my small frail frame. Rocking me ever so soothingly like a mother with a babe.

Wh- what is this place?

As if my head under water every thought that came across my muddled mind echoed off of the emptiness that surrounded my body. Than as fast as the darkness came it left and I was simply free falling into a tunnel of light. Imagine it like jumping off a cliff into open water, the rush of not knowing what is under the surface until it's too late to want to turn back. I couldn't feel my limbs flailing which puzzled me as that was the natural reaction to falling or well whatever I was doing. All too sudden the light was blinding and the falling sensation had stopped, my eye lashes fluttered slightly but the light source was too bright. A groan could be heard as I rubbed a sharp aching in the back of my head. Something nudged my side as I tried to swat it away only to be kicked a little too forcefully in my side. Gasping at the new found pain in my side that meet the ache in my head I rolled over on to my belly pushing myself up on all fours. Something grunted knocking me over on my side, finally forcing my eyes open I was met with the sight of something ghastly. The creature or thing looked like something I have seen in picture books, it looked like a large troll or something. It stood rather tall, large brute limbs with lots of hair covering all different places. It's face was somewhat humanistic with a nose that was large and slightly long taking up half it's face, the eyes were small a beady looking. The mouth just as large as the nose with teeth that were stained yellow and black.

"Stop!"

My voice came out more like a croak as I was in dire need of some water to quench my scratchy throat. Giving it my all I pushed up to stand. My knees wobbled with the new weight pushing down on them but I stood there or slouched non the less. The cloak that was covering my body fell into a cascading pool of deep purple, covering my tiny body. The beast moved towards me holding it's large grubby hand out, "I- I don't have any thing!" I told the thing but it didn't like the answer and advanced making me take a few retreating steps back stumbling. "I said I don't have anything I don't even know who I am!" The statement made my mind whirl with confusion, I- I don't know who I am or where I am at. I don't know anything..

The realization sent me into a full blown panic as my chest started to feel constricted and my breathing was becoming more labored. Little black dots danced in my vision as I blinked my bright blue orbs trying to chase the dots away. Ainslea Grace is what your name shall be. A woman's voice drifted into my head as I gripped my cloak on to feel a something stitched into it, looking down golden thread was woven into the name that I had just heard. Not paying attention the beast had grabbed me tossing me over it's shoulder with ease.

"Pu-Put me down!!!"

My long, curly, fiery red hair flipped over my face like a curtain obscuring my view of anything. Beating on the things back and thrashing did no good. The troll like thing only stopped when gruff, manly voice rang out "put the girl down!"

[Logan]

The psion took a deep breath as he lifted and cocked the bowstring to his jaw. The creature turned to look his direction, but the heavy foliage provided enough cover. A moment later, the arrow was loosed and the small, lizard-like beast lay motionless in the damp mud. Logan reached down, grabbed the carcass, and tossed it into the pack on his back. The pack stretched at the seams under the duress of a number of other miniscule corpses piled within.

The bow returned to his back as he traversed a little cave on the edge of a river. Overgrown foliage forced his blades from their sheaths to clear the way ahead, and he scarcely noticed the broken portions where clearly something had made its way through. It was then his heart dropped as he heard the faint voice of a girl through the emptiness ahead, and she seemed strained. He listened for a very short moment, before making his way much deeper into the unknown emptiness before him.

A moment passed of silence from the darkness, but then the voice returned, even more strained than before. The psion's muscles tensed, his blades returned to their sheaths, and the bow found its way to a readied position as he simultaneously knocked an arrow. Light steps ensured his movements would go unnoticed, and as he neared the location of the sounds the cave opened into a couple of rooms.

The first room held a moderate fire, and all around it were plucked vegetation of various shapes and sizes. He took a deep breath, and the aroma of thyme and rosemary filled his olfactories. Then the girl spoke again, followed by the sound of a scuffle. The arrow rose to the entrance to the back room, and Logan took a controlled breath. He peered into the opening to the second room, and hesitated.

Atop a leather-clad, gray-skinned beast sat the girl beating wildly on the thing's back. For all her effort, she seemed to not be making any progress. Unfortunately for the captured, she also blocked any shot Logan might have for the creature's head. On the other hand, it wouldn't be able to offer much resistance if he could take out its legs. With the girl steadfastly attached to its upper section, the psion slid his bow to his back and readied his swords. Controlled breathing preceded the attack, none of which the predator saw coming.

The swords found their marks almost simultaneously, the back of the beast's knees sliced open before it could respond. Logan swung his swords to his front, anticipating any counter from the creature, and thankfully his quick-thinking yielded a swift block and parry of the thing's large, muscular arms. The beast's eyes looked down at him with malicious intent, but at least its focus was off the girl.

"Put the girl down," he began, "and you can have all of this nice, tasty meat instead."

The psion pulled one of the dead animals from his pack and tossed it at the troll's hairy feet. Logan motioned to the dead animal, then up to the girl's dangling legs. The thing seemed to understand as it tossed the girl aside.

"Good good. I have a few more here for you," he tossed the backpack to his right, far enough away that if the troll went for the food instead of him, he'd be able to make a clean getaway and with any luck he'd be able to grab the girl with him.

The troll's head turned from the backpack to him and then to the girl, and then back to the backpack. The troll grunted and scurried to the backpack, and Logan took the opportunity and bolted for the girl. By the time he reached her, she was half-unconscious from knocking her head into the rocky wall, which was probably to his advantage as she couldn't provide much struggle against him. His arms wrapped around her waist, and he tossed her quickly over his shoulder. Moments later, they were outside the cave, across the river, and up the bank to relative safety.

Logan slid the girl from his shoulders as gently as he could, resting her against the tree. As he scanned her for any noticeable injuries, she drifted into a slumbering unconsciousness. He took a deep breath and assessed the situation. On the one hand, he couldn't possibly leave her there, but on the other hand he knew nothing of who she was or why she was there. The slightly chilled air sent a shiver down his spine, and instinctively he pulled the girl's cloak and hood around her for her own comfort. It was then he caught sight of the embroidery. At least he had a name.

Ultimately, he brought her back with him to the small village on the edge of the jungle. She remained in his care for a couple of days as he watched over her. He didn't know how long it would take, but he knew she couldn't fend for herself. Besides, with a name like Ainslea Grace, how could he possibly leave her to die?

[pretty-little-red]

Put the girl down and you can have all this nice, tasty meat instead.

That is the last thing I remember before being tossed like a rag doll and my head connecting with the rocky wall. A sickening sound rang out in my skull as my vision blurred. I tried to push myself up but for some reason my body didn't respond and so I laid there on the cold wet damp ground. The man that had rescued neared me but as much as I fought trying to stay awake, I couldn't. The floating sensation returned as I am pretty sure it was because of him lifting me up.

I woke up again against the trunk of a tree, for some unknown reason I couldn't pry my eyes open. No matter as much as I commanded my body to the lids stayed where they were. I felt so sluggish and tired so instead of freaking out and let the exhaustion take me father into the darkness. I don't know how long I was asleep or unconscious, whatever you would call it. Finally I could peel my eye lids open and took in that she was in a small room. The bed was comfy yet firm under my frame as I sat up wincing at the throbbing in the back of my head. Scanning the room I noticed it was simply room with a few essential things but other than that was pretty bare. Though the room wasn't what was weighing heavily on my mind it was the simply question.

How the hell did I get here and who brought me here...

My crystal blue orbs continued to look around the landing on the male from the cave. My eyes were probably as large as sauce pans when I saw him studying me. His intense gaze made me squirm in the bed under the pressure of him watching me. Catching my slightly plump lower lip in my teeth I sat there nervously. When I noticed he wasn't going to say anything I opened my mouth to say something but my tongue wouldn't form words. My creamy pale skin that was splattered with freckles heated with an offsetting pink that only high lighted the brown spots. Chewing on the inside of my cheek I for some God for saken reason couldn't find my voice! Growing frustrated I huffed slowly making eye contact with the stranger. His eyes boring into mine made my body tense with anticipation. Breaking his gaze I fiddled with my fingers a bit before I wasn't sure I could take the silence. It was starting to weigh heavily on my chest making it hard for me to think or breathe.

"Do you know who I am?!"

My voice was hoarse not to mention how awkward the timing of that question was. Do I dare look at him after making such am arse out of myself? Taking a chance I glanced up at him, the look of puzzlement etched on his face as I pursed my lips out slightly. "I guess I will take that as a no.." Playing with the blanket underneath me trying to figure out what to say to the mysterious man. Though he looked rugged and the mysterious aura about him made him desirable I still didn't know why he brought me here.

"Um- thanks for saving me from that thing but I don't have anything to repay you..."

A small chuckle rang out causing me to look up at the man pushing my curly red man away from my face. Why is he laughing what is so funny about this?