AN: I do not own Once Upon A Time, nor do I own any of the canon characters I write for fun, please don't sue me.
Nyahm sighs, looking out across the water. She was still stuck on this darn boat, and had no idea why. Both Cora and her father had already left, and it wasn't like she was a little kid anymore. Heck she was twenty, she had earned the right to spend some time on her own. She stepped from her cabin just in time to hear the creak of the deck above, perhaps her father had returned. But the steps were too light, and not wanting to run in to the Cora woman who sent the wolf into a defensive panic, she retreated back into the darkness. Peering through the crack in the door, she spots an unfamiliar face, one that did not belong on the ship. The maiden in front of her was not suited to a life on the seas, she was so delicate, not meant for the tough life of sailors and storms. That only meant one thing, she wanted something and was headed towards Killian's cabin. Nyahm smiled, what better way to prove her worth than stop an intruder intent on stealing her father's goods. She was not disillusioned about her father's career, most of their things were pilfered from various ports, but that swindling took work and she did not want to see it go to waste. A clunk told her that the girl had let the prisoner free, that wouldn't do, but a second pair of footsteps causes her to pause. He was here, no need for her to meddle. A brief nod to his approaching form and she slunk off, ship bound again. Nyahm settles on her bunk and lights a lamp, picking up a notebook in which she was writing, filling with bits of knowledge she had picked up over her travels with her father. She reads through the lore of their world and its secrets trying to ignore the noise from the other room, finally it stops or moves. She takes her book in hand and walks to the stair, taking enough steps to peer over the ledge. A single glance takes in so much, the man standing over her father, wrath in his eyes. The girl clutching that silly scrap of fabric father stole, and worst of all her dad's helplessness as he saw Nyahm's face peering over the edge of the deck. She ducks her head down and stifles a gasp, she was helpless here, she could not help him, his eyes had said as much. All she could do was stifle her sobs as she heard the noises from the deck above. Soon they stopped and again looking over the deck she saw that the intruders had gone. Wordlessly she gathered some medical supplies from the cabins and set to cleaning and tending her father's wounds.
"Nyahm, never do that again. That man. He is dangerous, he will not hesitate to take you from me. Promise me, if you ever see him you will run."
"But father…" She hesitates, he was family. The only she had left, she could barely remember her mother, just a smell, a voice, a laugh. He told her stories but after the curse had given up hope of finding Nyahm's mother. It was an unspoken certainty that she had died somehow, under the Curse that had changed their lives.
"Listen here, as your captain and father I gave you an order, are you disobeying?" His tone was deadly, something she had never heard in the addressing of her before. She nods and shivers. "Of course sir, I should never have questioned you." She finished tending his wounds and rose to leave, his hand whipping out to snag hers. "Get off this ship, he might come back. I don't want you here, get into the woods, you are smart enough to live there. I don't care where just stay safe." Nyahm nods, never seeing such fear in his eyes, could this be the man he hunted? The man who had stolen his first love, the one who had made him calloused to her mother, not out of hate but of fear of loving again? She shakes her head and heeding her father's advice went to pack her meager items. In went her journal and some ink, a twinned pair of daggers and some dried rations. She filled her flask with water, also grabbing a few tools from the ship's kitchen and scullery. Lastly she strapped on her rapier, she would not leave the sword her father had given her behind. With one last look she turned and headed into the new world that lay open before her.
Nyahm tried to stay away from the town but she got the feeling the deeper she went into the forest, the more wrong her trajectory was becoming. She halted at the bright orange curved line that ran through the forest, it seemed like a wall was built upon it. The wolf seemed to think so anyway, but no such wall existed. She sighed and back tracked, and finding a hollow tree hides her pack and sword. If she was going back to town, perhaps it was best to blend. She didn't want any unnecessary attention and a new face would be enough of that. She looks up at the sky, at least the stars and moon were the same here. She strolls into town, the skies familiarity a comfort. Her walk had a confidence she didn't feel, a strange sound comes from behind her and she dodges out of the way of a flashing carriage. Noisy thing and such a puzzle. No horses. She follows it curiously, sticking to the edges of the strange black path. Several other strange carriages passed her. She continued on, coming to a huge castle like building, and decided to enter. It was best to know her surroundings after all. Upon entering, a voice caught her attention and she froze, it wasn't possible. Her mother was dead, but eyes turned and standing before her was the face of one she had thought she would never see again.
The face that stared back at her was blank, worried about something but not recognizing. Nyahm wanted to say so much, but she could barely stop the tears from welling in her eyes. But the woman before her, Red her mother, paid no heed to the young woman standing before her in the shadows of the doorway. Red's eyes were turned to the three patients who had come in with the ambulance. Nyahm recognized her father and tired to move toward him, he was still awake. But a blonde woman got there first, getting between her and her father. This woman was scolding him, and Killian was simply taking it, turning it back in a flirty banter which changed upon the entrance of a worried man. The man's face contorted in anger upon seeing Killian and Nyahm shrunk back again, making herself as small as possible.
"Mr. Gold, please refrain from attacking my patients." A voice calls out and the crowd separates allowing a man in white to pass through. "We understand your anger but I did take a doctor's oath" The man she took to be Gold grumbled but backed away, choosing not to face the crowd. The blonde woman gives instructions to one of the others, "Keep Hook's location secret, we need no more trouble tonight" Nyahm shivers, this man Gold wanted her father dead, and wouldn't hesitate to kill her to get his revenge. She needed to get somewhere safe soon, but she needed to know her father was all right. After everything had died down, she stepped past the group and followed the blonde woman hoping to find her father.
The woman enters a room, and Nyahm holds back but smiles upon hearing a voice. "Hello beautiful, what a pleasant surprise. I take it you aren't going to let that Crocodile in here"
"Cut the crap Hook, where is Cora?" The woman's voice echoes out of the room, and Nyahm flinches, glad it was not her in the room with the woman. She had never much like interrogations. She sighs this would be a while. She heads back to the main room, and on her way out bumps into someone. Looking up she sees the angered and sad eyes of the Crocodile looking down at her. "I apologize sir, I didn't notice you" her voice is tinged with fear. He looks at her, seeming to take in her soul but shakes his head. "Run along dearie, no need for you to get yourself into trouble tonight. A hospital is no place for you to be." She nods and quickly moves around him into the lobby which had taken to chaos. Apparently the doctor had disappeared, and Red had gone looking for him. Nyahm shakes her head, so much for getting to know her mother. At least the hospital seemed to have a decent place to sleep. She curled up on one of the chairs and tried to catch some sleep before she had to move.