"Katharyn? Katharyn Riker?" I freeze where I am crouched. I was gathering roots for my dinner. I slowly turn to look at the person who called my name. This is new. There hasn't been anyone here except me in years. I don't know how many years. I lost count after my first few winters alone. My family and everyone else died from some illness when I was eight years old.
The stranger who called me was tall, fair skinned, with brown hair and eyes. His voice seemed familiar to me but I don't recall meeting someone like him before. He started coming towards me slowly. As he took a step closer, I took a step away, slowly making my way behind the tree I was by. My plan was to get behind it and climb up and away from this stranger. Hopefully he won't follow me.
"Are you Katharyn Riker? You used to go by Katylinn. It's ok. I won't hurt you. I am here to help you." I listen to his words. I haven't talked to anyone in a while. Can I even remember how speech works? I decide to give it a try.
"Wh…who a…are you?" I stutter out.
"My name is Wesley Crusher." He tells me. "I was sent here to rescue you." I tilt my head slightly to the side. Rescue me? How can anyone know about me? "Don't worry. You sent me to rescue you. That is how I knew where to go. I am from your future. It will all be explained in time." He finally reaches me and touches my arm. I stiffen up, surprised that I had allowed him to get close to me. What will he do now that he has a hand on me? Can I trust him? Is he telling me the truth? Trust me. I have no reason to hurt you. You are important to me. I relax slightly in his grasp. I heard what he said. I didn't know there were others that could talk mind to mind. The last time I had heard anyone's thoughts or feelings was before everyone else died. Something about Wesley made me believe I could trust him but I wasn't going to let my guard down completely yet.
Ok. Help me finish collecting these roots for dinner. We will then go back to the village and you can tell me about yourself and why you were sent.
I can't tell you everything, Katharyn, but I will tell you what I can. We spend a little while collecting the roots for dinner. I watch him out of the corner of my eye. He is quiet, well at least I assume he is. He doesn't say anything else to me. We are both on our knees at the base of the tree digging up the roots. These are my favorite ones. They have a nutty, slightly sweet taste to them. They make a great soup. I have about ten of them which will be enough for me but we need more if he is going to be eating with me.
Lost in my own thoughts and the movements required for digging, I failed to notice that Wesley had taken off his jacket. All he had underneath was a short sleeved shirt that showed his muscles as he dug up the roots. He stops digging and looks up at me. He smiles. Like what you see, Kat? Crap. He noticed me looking. I feel my face heat up. Um…I…uh…sorry. I think to him. I look back to my roots and go back to digging them up. I hear a soft chuckle from his direction as he turns back to his work as well.
After a little while longer I look over and notice we have plenty of roots for dinner and might have some left over. "I think that will be enough." I say to him as I stand up. Brushing off my knees and hands I stand up and stretch, "Let's go back so I can prepare these." I pick up the basket with the roots in them and start walking.
"How far is it?" Wesley asks me.
"Not far. I don't know the actual distance. I just know it doesn't take me long to walk it." I tell him. We walk in silence until we make it to the hut I stay in. It's not much, but it's all I've got. It is one of the remaining huts from when everyone was still alive. I have been able to keep it standing and in good condition. I have had to learn to fend for myself. It wasn't that hard to do since I was able to find books on anything and everything from making cooking ware to clothes to repairs. I even found the school books the children had used. With what I had learned up until I was eight, I was able to teach myself so much more. I pull aside the door covering, "Please, come in." He walks in and I follow. I am finding that talking out loud is getting easier, my voice isn't so rough sounding now. I walk over to the fireplace and put the roots down in front of the hearth. I walk out around back to gather firewood. Hmm I wonder. I think to myself. Wesley, could you come outback and help me carry this wood in? I don't know if it will work since I am not in the same room as him but I don't feel like making several trips to take the wood I will need inside.
"Sure." Comes his reply. A few seconds later he walks around the corner. "How many logs do you need?"
"Enough to last the night. It will be dark soon." I reply. We gather the logs into our arms and walk back inside. Setting the logs down I kneel down so I can start the fire. Wesley walks back outside and grabs so more logs. By time he returns, I have the logs set up and am getting ready to start the fire. He grabs something from his belt and gets the fire started for me.
"I could have done that myself."
"I'm sure you can but this was quicker." I look at him wondering if I should stand my ground and show that I am capable of taking care of myself or if I should just be grateful that I didn't have to spend the time and effort starting the fire with the rocks I have. I decide on the latter.
"You're right. It is quicker than my way. Thanks." I grab the pot over the fire and take it to fill with water. Walking back in I place it back on the hook and put it over the flames so the water can heat up. Grabbing the basket with the roots, I then walk back outside to the water so I can clean the dirt off of them. I'm sitting there cleaning the dirt off of the roots when Wesley walks outside. I had been hoping to do this part alone. He has been by my side since he got here and it was starting to make me feel uncomfortable. I am not used to being around people. I don't know him or anything. Is he really here to rescue me? I don't like feeling like I'm not in control of what I do and having him here makes me feel out of control. I don't know what to expect.
"Can I help?" he asks.
"No, I can usually do this part myself. I have been doing things by myself for a long time." I tell him.
"I understand but you don't have to anymore. Trust me. Let me help you." He grabs my hands that are in the water. As quickly as he put his hands on mine in the water, he pulls them out. "Woah, that water is freezing! How can you stand that?" I shrug and continue washing the roots.
"I guess I am used to it. I don't feel the cold anymore." He grabs my hands out of the water causing me to drop the root into the bucket.
"Give me your hands."
"NO!" I yell jerking my hands out of his. "The water doesn't bother me." He grabs my hands again with a tighter grip. I try to tug them out of his grasp. "Stop Wesley! I need to finish this so I can cook the roots or I won't be eating tonight."
Kat look at me. I stop and look at him. I need you trust me. You shouldn't be able to stand this frigid water. It's too cold. Do you even feel that it is getting colder as its getting dark? I notice that he has already put his jacket back on. I don't usually notice the temperature change until I am inside for the night. Let me help you finish this. We will go in and get these cooking. After dinner I have some things I brought with me that I want to show you. I also have some clothes for you. When we leave you don't need to be in these rags. Please let me help. He begs.
Fine. You want to help. Then finish cleaning those off. I am going inside to chop up the herbs I have to go with them. When you're done they need to be chopped up into smaller pieces. I take my hands out of his, stand up and walk inside my hut. Hope your hands don't freeze. I toss at him as I disappear inside. Who does he think he is, swooping in here like I am a damsel in distress. Do I look like I need saving? Do I look like one of those princesses in one of those old Earth fairy tales? No, I am not. I was doing just fine on my own. I don't need anyone, thank you very much. I start chopping up a few of the herbs I have that I want to put with the roots. I believe it is called Sage. I haven't looked in the herb book in a bit. I am enjoying the chopping so much that I don't realize Wesley has returned.
"What did those herbs ever do to you?" I stop and glare at him. I know I was chopping a little too hard but I was angry at him.
"Nothing," I reply. "But you have." I return to my chopping.
"What did I do to you?" he asks. I don't answer him at first. Instead I continue chopping the herbs.
"What did you do? You show up telling me you are here to rescue me. I don't need rescuing. I am doing just fine on my own." I yell at him. Suddenly I feel a sharp pain in my thumb. Looking down I see red. "See what you have made me do? I haven't cut myself in a long time. It's all your fault. You distracted me, made me mad."
"Here let me see it." He says to me.
"No, I will be fine. It's just a cut."
"Are you sure? You don't look fine. You're starting to look a little pale."
"I am fi.." I start to say as the room tilts dangerously. I feel myself start to fall and hear one last thought before I am enveloped in darkness.
Damnit Kat!