Scarlett faded in and out of consciousness several times, unaware of the amount of time that was passing. When she finally started to truly come around, the first thing she noticed was the smell of baking wafting around her. Taking in a deep breath to catch more of the delightful aroma, she also noticed that she hurt a significant amount less than she remembered. She didn't want to open her eyes just yet, so instead she started to take stock of her injuries. She moved each part of her body slowly and on its own, and came to the conclusion that the only things that are injured are her abdomen, and the muscles surrounding her spine. She was extremely lucky, as a fall like that could have killed her. Scarlett then decided it was time to open her eyes.

She was in a small, soft bed and tucked in under some comfy blankets. Looking around there was a small dresser and wardrobe, a box of shoes of all sizes, a small desk, and what looked like a toy chest. It appeared to be a child's bedroom, which made her even more curious. She turned to look at the door and started to sit up when she heard it open.

"Frisk! You're alright! Oh thank goodness! Where are we?" Scarlett asked her young niece.

"Aunty, we're in the underground. We fell down a hole in the mountain." Frisk whispered, concerned.

"Sweetie, I haven't hurt my head, I remember that bit." Scar says with a smile. "I just meant this room is definitely not where I remember passing out. There had been a being? Toriel I think? Where has she brought us?" Scar asks again, this time being a little clearer.

Frisk switches over to sign language, not wanting to speak more than she has to.

"Miss Toriel has brought us to her home. She's been healing you which is why you don't seem to be in as much pain. Aunty, why were you trying to hide how badly you were hurt from me?" The kid's smart. Scar flinches in guilt, she hadn't wanted her beloved niece to worry about her, but here they are.

"I wanted to get us out of here. I needed to make sure you are safe, and that meant pushing aside my pain to make sure we got somewhere where we could be sure we were secure, I would do it. I didn't want you to worry about me, as I needed you to be aware of our surroundings, so I could focus on moving forward. I'm not going to sugar coat this now that I'm better, kiddo. That fall could have easily killed me, or you, or both of us. I think the only reason I'm not dead is because of that thick patch of flowers, and because I tucked my head up close to you." Scarlett tells them, with a very sombre look, conveying the severity of the issue.

"But here we are. I'm ok, you're ok, we're both ok, and we are both safe now. That's what really matters here. So come here, kid. Give me a hug. I promise you won't break me." She tugs her niece to her, and needing no more incentive than that, Frisk flings her arms around her aunt and holds her close. They hold each other tightly, tears slipping down their faces as they both let their worries float away. Once they get themselves back in control, Scarlett wipes away her niece's tears, and then her own, and gives her a watery smile.

"Do you know where this Toriel lady is? I need to thank her for taking care of us." Scar flings the blankets off her, and slowly stands up, allowing time for her head and body to adjust to the new position. She then takes Frisk's hand, and lets them lead the way to the caretaker.

She observes the cute little house where they had apparently been staying, noticing the little clusters of flowers and a strange plant that looks like a cross between a cattail and a hotdog on a stick? Strange little plant. She also notices the distinct lack of photos, and the abundance of books occupying the spaces available. Frisk leads her aunt past a set of stairs leading to what she assumes is the basement, and instead heads towards the living room. Sat in an oversized arm chair by a crackling warm fireplace is the anthropomorphic goat-lady. She's wearing purple and gold robes with a strange symbol on it that looked like a circle with wings floating above 3 staggered triangles.

"Hello, dears! I am so glad you are awake. You have been asleep for nearly 3 days! We had been worried about you." The lady says, standing up with a grace that surpasses even your royalty's elegance. She looks at Scarlett with unhidden concern and relief, leaving her feeling warm, welcome, and safe.

"Frisk, my child, would you please go grab your aunt's bag so I might check her wounds privately?" Toriel turns to ask Frisk gently, a motherly tone that made it nearly impossible to disobey. Frisk nods, and leaves the room, glancing at their aunt once more on their way out.

"Your niece has told me that your name is Scarlett, correct?" Scarlett nods, not quite over her shock at seeing a being this not human, and this elegant. She couldn't quite wrap her head around it. She had never been a judgmental person, fully accepting equality, even if she had to fight herself on occasion where her upbringing had conditioned her to think a certain way, but this was just too strange for her to accept immediately. She had chalked the strange occurrences up to her pain-addled brain's imagination, and seeing things that weren't there. That doesn't appear to be the case though. She takes a deep breath, and swallows shallowly.

"Sorry, yes. I prefer if friends call me Scar, though. If you wouldn't mind, that is." She says, kind of blankly, her state of shock shining through in her voice. Scar clears her throat, and mentally shakes her head to clear it before focusing back on the lady in front of her.

"Please forgive me, I appear to have lost my manners. I um. I have never encountered a situation such as this before. My mind seems to have drifted off in the wind. I had meant to thank you for helping my niece and I, even though you did not know us. Your hospitality has probably saved my life. For that you have my most sincere thanks, I shall forever be in your debt." She says, her shock manifesting in a less rude way than just staring in a change to her speech patterns. "Forgive me for asking, but you are not human. I am lost. I was unaware that there were sentient, intelligent creatures on earth aside from humans." Scarlett says, not entirely sure how to phrase it in a way that seems less condescending or rude.

"Worry not, my dear. I must admit that I am unsurprised that humans had forgotten about us. We monsters have been trapped down here for over 2 millennia now. What I must say before your niece returns however is of the utmost importance." Toriel goes quiet for a moment before the room seems to darken slightly, become a little colder.

"Should you harm any creature in the underground, I will not hesitate to kill you." Scar feels a shiver go down her spine at that statement. Even the thought of hurting a sentient being made her shudder. She may have slightly psychopathic tendencies, but she would never harm anyone.

"That isn't a problem, Miss Toriel. I have absolutely no intentions of causing harm in any way." Scar says, still feeling slightly chilled, but it soon disappears when Toriel smiles softly down at her. The room seems to brighten back up and warm up with the change of her expression, and you wonder what just happened. You smile tentatively back at the goat-lady, just as Frisk returns carrying your bag.

Frisk drops your bag by your feet before looking up at you with a small frown and begins signing at you.

"What the heck do you have in there? It weighs more than me!" She signs quickly and you chuckle, ruffling their hair, much to their dismay.

"I had to be prepared, so I packed for the worst." Scar pauses to rummage through your bag, holding up a set of their clothes, and they perk right back up. "I brought a couple sets of your clothes, a few of my own, some sweaters for the two of us, a heavy-duty first aid kit, some snacks, some water bottles, a water filter, a charger for my phone, and some other miscellaneous supplies we may have needed. I'm honestly kind of shocked at how well stocked I was, considering I did this in ten minutes after you texted me." Scar says, and pulls out a set of her own clothes, as well as her shower bag? When had she put that there? She turns to Toriel.

"Miss Toriel. Do you have a shower and toilet I might use to freshen up?" Scarlett asks the motherly goat lady, who then leads the way to a nice bathroom. She locks the door behind her, and strips out of her now slightly filthy clothes, and after doing her business takes a nice hot shower. She was slightly surprised she had thought that far ahead. Inside her shower bag (which was always packed for vacations and trips) was everything that she would need for day-to-day hygienic life. Shampoo & conditioner, deodorant, razors, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, brush, eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, and even a small bottle of her favourite perfume. Scar decided against using the non-essential parts of her kit, and settled on just the soap, shampoo, razors, toothbrush and toothpaste.

After having gotten cleaned up Scar pulled on her chosen leggings and comfy t-shirt that had two skeletons hugging on the front that said "I was bonely without you". She also threw on her baggy sweater, wanting to be wrapped in comfort.

Once she was finished, and had dried and tamed her wild curls as best she could, she went back out to the living room. She passed Frisk her shampoo & conditioner, soap, and toothpaste, having their toothbrush in the bag as well, passed their toothbrush to them. Frisk took a quick shower and brushed their teeth, as was their routine when they were with Scarlett, and came out with a towel around their head.

Scar took the towel from around her niece's hair once they had gotten settled in front of her, and gently dried their hair. She playfully ruffled the towel over their face a couple times, eliciting a giggle from their niece. After she put the towel to the side, she grabbed her brush, and began to tell Frisk a story while pulling the brush through their tangled hair.

It didn't take long for Frisk to start getting tired. The soft tugging at their hair by their aunty Scar, coupled with her soothing voice tempting the child towards sleep. Frisk knew that was her aunt's plan, as that had been their ritual before falling underground, but she complied with the gentle demands. Frisk allowed themselves to drift into the peaceful land of dreams. Or at least peaceful while they could hear aunty Scar's heart beating strong inside her chest, and the soothing sounds of her voice surrounding her.

Once she felt the child's consciousness slip, she stopped brushing their hair, and scooped them up in her arms. She brought them to the room where she had been staying, finding the bed remade with a fresh set of sheets and blankets, for which she was grateful. She would have to remember to thank Toriel again for everything when she woke up the next day, but for now, she held the small child tight to her with one arm, and pulled the blankets back with the other. She set them gently on the far side of the bed, and slipped in beside her, knowing that if she didn't the nightmares of her father would soon follow. She pulled her niece close to her, and quickly followed them into the land of sleep.

The next day, Scarlett was woken by her niece carefully trying to get out of her grips. She smiled to herself, and pretended to still be asleep, clutching the child tighter, letting out a little pretend snore. She sneakily started to move her hands to the kid's sides, and while Frisk was distracted, she attacked them with tickles!

Frisk struggled against her aunt's hold, laughing and squealing delightedly. She when Scar felt her adorable niece had enough lifted their shirt over their belly, and blew on the soft skin there, getting the soft tinkle of their laughter at her antics. She then released the child from her clutches, and they darted a little ways away, still laughing, trying to catch their breath and clutching their sides.

"Aunty! That's no fair! I thought you were sleeping!" Frisk signs with a pout that's ruined by the giant grin on their face. Scar just laughs, teasing Frisk with a playful stare. She moves to grab them again, and they shriek, and dart out of the room to escape.

She gets up slower, and stretches with a slight groan, feeling her joints snap, crackle, pop. With that she sighs, feeling so much better today that it was nearly unbelievable. She then goes to the living room where Frisk and Toriel were sitting at the large dining table covered in food.

"Oh my goodness! This looks and smells amazing! Thank you so much Toriel, this means the world to me." Scar says, and she feels her eyes go slightly misty at all the kind and thoughtful things this lady who is practically a stranger has done for the two of them over the short while she's known them. A single tear actually rolls down her cheek when she sees how genuinely happy her niece looks at that moment, chowing down on the extravagant breakfast.

"I don't know what I'll ever be able to do to repay you for your kindness, Toriel. You helped us when we needed it most, even though we were strangers, and of a different species no less! You are the most amazing person I think I have ever met." Scar says, feeling her eyes tearing up, and unable to properly express the depth and intensity of her gratitude. Toriel blushes at the compliment, unable to respond to the true, deep gratitude seeping from the woman before her.

"Oh, my child. There is no need to thank me, it has been my pleasure looking after your niece, and helping such a wonderful woman recover. I must admit that now that you are awake, I am thrilled to get to know the person who basically raised such a kind, polite, and charming child." Toriel responds, and then it is Scarlett's turn to blush heavily, both at the praise to herself, and at the praise directed at Frisk.

Frisk turns to her aunt mid bite and starts signing. "Scar has been more like a parent to me than my actual parents were. But now there's you Toriel, and because Scar already holds the title for Best Aunty Ever, would it be ok if I call you mom?" The small child looks up at Toriel hopefully, and Toriel blushes again, as does Scar at the praise, though she must admit she was glad she was still only "Aunty". She wasn't sure she was quite ready to hold the title of "mom", even if it wasn't actually accurate.

"If that would please you, then sure! You may call me mother!" Toriel beams at the child, and Frisk beams back. The house feels so bright and alive, Scar was at peace as she too tucked into the delicious breakfast, and began the adventure of getting to know the amazing lady who took them both in.

It had been a few days now since Scar woke up, and she had gotten to know the motherly goat-lady quite well. In fact, her original… Or well, not original as her actual original assessment had been made before falling unconscious with pain. But her almost original assessment of the woman's regal aura was indeed correct. She admitted while telling Scar the history of the underground that she had at one point been the queen, but when her children died, and her husband the king turned vengeful, she had renounced the title. Scar then told her all about their life, though it seemed awfully boring compared to hers. She told Toriel about her childhood on the surface, and about what she was like growing up. She told about how she has always loved space, and would have loved to study it if her inability to grasp math hadn't stopped her. So instead she turned to art, taking the beauty of space and turning it into something she can share with others. She told the stories she had behind each of her many tattoos, and in turn, explained not only her life, but the state of humanity and the earth on the surface.

It was nearly a week after originally waking up in Toriel's home that Frisk became antsy, and desperately wanted to know what lies beyond the door in the basement. It took a few tries, but eventually Frisk convinced Toriel to let them through, on the condition that they call regularly, and that Scar goes with them. Toriel gave an old phone to Frisk, and programmed her number into Scars, telling them both to call often, and to not hesitate to come back if anything happened.

After many heartfelt hugs later, and many promises that this wasn't "goodbye" just a "see you later, mum" Toriel finally let them go. Frisk was now sporting a backpack of their own, and Scar had given them their stuff she had packed, leaving enough room in both bags to take all the food Toriel had given them. Pulling her jacket tighter around her, and making sure Frisk's was done up properly, they set out down the long corridor to the rest of the underground.