Nero woke up to a full moon and the sound of jaggis howling in the distance. Sitting up he gazed about his surroundings. How long had he been here? Hours? Days? All he knew was his mouth tasted like he had been chewing on whetstones and a sharp pain resonated through his body. He scratched his head and pulled back in surprise when he felt something warm and sticky. Hours. He searched his fuzzy thoughts to try and figure out the current situation. Hadn't he been eating breakfast at a cantina just this morning? Hadn't he been on an airship? He played over in his mind the sudden cries that had arose from the deck, the great beast flying in out of nowhere, his best friend reaching for him before everything went up in red...
Around him he could see dark shapes dully reflecting moonlight; pieces of the ship, but obviously not all of them, where could the rest be? They had been flying over the ocean, how did he end up on land? The more he thought the more he felt the pain that had been steadily increasing in his head. His vision was blurring and his mouth screamed for water. He found a shred of cloth next to him and wearily tied it around his head, flopped back onto the ground, and let exhaustion take over.
When he woke the next morning the sun was well into the sky shining mild spring heat. He tore the blood encrusted cloth off his head and gingerly poked around to see what sort of damage he had taken. His fingers ran over a long gash from the right side of his forehead to right above his ear. He was lucky. Any lower and he would be missing an eye. Other than that a series of bruises and scratches ran over the visible parts of his body. He sighed, his armor, his switch-ax, everything had been stored on the airship. His only protection now was his leather pants, cotton shirt, and the knife he kept in his belt.
His top priority was water. There had to be some somewhere, around him was grass and bushes dispersed in the rocks and debris from the ship, He looked to the distance and found he could see trees. Wearily he picked himself up and began heading toward the inviting shade. A ways inward he found what he was looking for. A stream so small it was barely noticeable ran its course through the cool forest. He dunked his hands in and drank slowly. The water smelled like pelagicite, but it felt sweet running down his throat. He washed the blood off his head and was about to start searching for food when he heard the trees behind him rustling. His thoughts started rushing. If it was a jaggi he could kill it easy, maybe even get some meat off it. If it was an aptonoth he would have food for a good few days, but he wasn't sure just a knife could cut through its tough skin and kill it. If it was a jaggia... or worse... well, he would have to make a run for it. But shock and relief flowed through him as not a monster emerged, but a young woman. She wore what looked like guild uniform, but it was tattered and stained with dirt and blood. Her eyebrows cocked in surprise when she saw him, then she gave him a lopsided grin, "Good god hunter, you look like death!"
He gave her a weary smile, "I could say the same to you."
"I'm Del." she offered as she began rummaging through the bushes. "Some day yesterday, huh hunter?"
"Yeah." He replied bitterly, "I'm Nero."
Nero looked on questioningly watching Del from behind as she mashed something together.
She held out her hand to him "Put this on your forehead, you'll feel a million times better."
He looked at the unsavory mix of mashed mushroom and leaves.
"You're serious?" Nero asked staring at the vile looking mush.
"Dead serious, hunters from the country do this all the time. Just be happy I didn't chew it, though that works better." Del insisted.
He warily took the mixture and pressed it against his head, immediately he felt the pain start subsiding.
"Thanks." He sighed "But if I get sick..."
She gave a quick laugh, "Don't worry. Working for the guild I picked up lots of cool tricks from rural hunters. I had just gotten promoted when, well... you know."
Nero saw the sadness that fell upon her face. Hadn't she been alone on the ship? Somehow he couldn't ask just then. He hadn't been alone, but he couldn't think about that right now, he had to focus on living and grief would just distract him.
"So! I'll take care of health and cooking, and you can bring home the bacon... Literally! I'd give anything for some aptonoth steak but I have no knife. So I figure my knowledge, plus your brawn, would make a great team!" Del started again cheerily, "Whaddya say hunter?" She offered her hand.
"Nero." He corrected.
"OK. Nero."
As he shook her hand a million doubts and questions flew through his head, but for the time he put them off, being with a partner was infinitely better than having to go it alone.