Chapter 4

I was staring at the cave wall, so absorbed in my self-pity that I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard a faint groan. I looked down and saw that the man's face was contorted with pain. His eyes fluttered open and I watched in fascination as emotions flashed through them. Pain, confusion, suspicion, but no sign of fear. His hand suddenly went to his belt where his dagger was before I took it. His eyes landed on me and widened slightly. I just dumbly stared at him while still somehow pressing the cloth to his injured arm.

''Hûn kê ne?'' He growled. ''Xencera min li ku ye?''

…Shit.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I withdrew my hands and frowned. Well, this was great. Just my luck that the first bloke I meet doesn't even speak English. It wasn't enough that I had been hit by a car and transported into wilderness without any idea what was going on or where exactly I was. I had to sleep in a cave and make fire and pee behind a bush. And now that I've finally met someone and that someone has awoken (thank god), I find out that I can't understand him. I should have seen this coming. Not having to deal with a language barrier would be making it too easy for me, right? It's not like I was looking forward to some human contact because it would help me feel sane, like I was not going crazy. In a corner of my mind, I was kind of hoping that meeting a person would solve everything. That they would smile at me, tell me that everything was okay, snap their fingers and send me back to my flat to Muffin. Instead, I found a medieval looking, injured guy with a horse. And now this.

I tried to pull myself together and not have a mental break down right there, in front of him. This was not helping and I had to focus. It was not the end of the world. I could have been dead or something. Oh, wait... I forcefully stopped myself from continuing that line of thought. This was no time for useless questions. The man was still injured and obviously unhappy. During my silent ranting, I could see his dark eyes darting from my face to my clothes and our surroundings, the frown on his face deepening. He looked positively unfriendly, and I was suddenly glad that he was apparently not at his full strength. He tried to get up but only got into a sitting position before collapsing back onto my coat. I guess he was weak from blood loss. Okay, moment of truth.

''You shouldn't get up,'' I told him sternly. He may be a complete stranger and a weirdo but I still felt kind of responsible for him. He looked at me incomprehensibly and I felt the rest of my hope leave me.

''Do you understand English?'' I stupidly tried again. No response.

''Parlez-vous français?'' This was followed by another blank look.

''¿Hablas español?'' Nothing. I didn't know any more languages. I knew how to sign a few insults, so I tried that but he was still frowning at me. He seemed to do that a lot.

''Hûn kê ne?'' He said again and narrowed his eyes. ''Çima hûn alîkarîya min bi?''

I didn't like his suspicious tone.

''Sorry mate, but I have no clue what you're saying.'' It looked like my mildly apologetic tone calmed him a little. He repeated the first sentence, but this time he pointed at me and raised eyebrows, so I was pretty sure he was asking me who I was. I didn't miss his wince when he gestured with his injured arm.

''My name is Maya.'' I said, putting a hand to my chest. ''Maya.'' I repeated slowly, just in case. I considered lying, but quickly dismissed the idea. I had no reason not to tell him my name.

''What's your name?'' I asked in return. When he confusedly shrugged his shoulders, I pointed at my chest, said my name and then pointed at him, making a quizzical face. He considered me for a moment, and I felt like I was being judged. I frowned. Not telling me his name now would be really rude, especially since I helped him. Kind of. I did the best I could, okay? After few more tense seconds came his reluctant voice.

''Ez Rizgan im.''

My attempt at pronouncing his name caused one corner of his mouth to lift a little. I felt like he was laughing at me, but the almost-smile made him look less hostile so I didn't really care.

''Well, Rizgan, you shouldn't move that arm too much. I'm not an expert, but it looks like something tried to eat you.'' I tried to sound cheerful. He just raised one eyebrow and I shook my head. I didn't want to embarrass myself by trying to act out a scene of him getting attacked by a wild beast. Instead, I went to my backpack and retrieved two energy bars, leaving the last one there, and a bottle of apple Lucozade. I wasn't overly worried about water, because we had two full sacks. Well, at least Rizgan did. However, I was famished and I was willing to bet my last energy bar that he wasn't stuffed either. I wasn't exactly eager to share my food, but my conscience wouldn't let me eat without giving something to him. Besides, he was injured. He probably needed it more than me. But I wasn't that generous.

Medieval dude was eyeing me with a guarded curiosity from his lying position as I approached him again with my hands full. I sat down next to him and offered him one bar. He looked at it with an extreme distrust written all over his face, as if it was going to bite him the second he touched it. I sighed, but I was secretly amused. He acted like he'd never seen one before. Although, looking at his clothes, I had to admit that he did kind of look like a guy who only ate berries and wild mushrooms and meat from animals that he caught himself. I really wanted to start thinking about it and analysing it but then I remembered my rule of asking no necessary questions unless I wanted to go crazy, so stopped. I just wordlessly opened the bar and put it next to him. I wasn't going to force him to eat it. He could starve to death for all I cared.

As I sat there and chewed my first, and probably also the last, meal of the day, I could see that he cautiously took it, sniffed it and then carefully took a small bite. I watched as his eyes widened at the taste. Maybe he didn't like chocolate? I sincerely hoped that he wasn't allergic to nuts or lactose. A bizarre image of Rizgan choking on a peanut with a swollen face and rash all over his body flashed through my mind. Before I had a chance to become worried with more disturbing images that my mind could so kindly provide, I noticed that he was already half way through the bar and showed no signs of slowing down or stopping. One more big bite and it was gone. Yeah, I thought, chocolate does that to people. I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.

When I was finished and my stomach temporarily satisfied, I opened the bottle and took a sip. I didn't want him to think that I poisoned it or something. Also, from what I could tell and smell, he didn't have exactly ideal sense of hygiene. I didn't want to guess when was the last time he brushed his teeth. I drank half of its content and offered him the rest. He raised his left hand to take the drink but as soon as he moved it, a quiet hiss of pain escaped his lips. I guessed he forgot about his injury.

''Don't move that arm, you twit.'' I said and frowned. He frowned right back at me and barked something in his language, wildly gesturing with his wounded arm. I think he didn't like my tone. Well, too bad, because I didn't like his either.

''Don't give me that look. I dragged you here on your horse and helped you. I gave you food and drink. And you can bet your arse that I didn't do it all just so I can now watch you wave your arm around like an idiot and hurt yourself even more.'' I wished I was standing so that I could take up a proper scolding pose and look down at him. Instead, I was awkwardly sitting next to him while attempting to appear threatening. And he couldn't even understand me. At least he looked a bit surprised by my rant. Definitely not intimidated, but girl can't have everything.

When he did nothing but stare at me for the next minute, I sighed. I also became quite self-conscious and wiggled uncomfortably. He had a dark, piercing gaze and I had to remind myself that it was impossible for someone to see one's soul.

''Can I look at it?'' I asked in order to distract him, pointing at his arm. He nodded in consent so I crept closer to him and carefully lifted the piece of ripped tunic from the injury. I didn't even know what I wanted to look at, but the moment my eyes landed on it, I thought that something was wrong. It wasn't bleeding anymore, but the skin around the scratches was red and swollen. It didn't look good. I gently placed the back of my hand on his arm and frowned when I felt how warm it was. I hoped it didn't mean what I thought it meant. I had no idea how to treat an infection. Didn't people die from it? I looked at Rizgan worriedly and tried to think clearly, purposefully ignoring the panic rising in me. Hospitals were everywhere in the world, right? Even if he lived in a really remote area, he had to be in contact with some form of civilisation. But we were in a cave now! A voice interrupted my inner monologue.

''Maya, ku pincarê min in?'' He pronounced my name funnily, but I had no desire to laugh, because I noticed his faintly flushed cheeks and glistening forehead.

''I don't understand you,'' I said with almost a desperation in my voice.

He opened his left palm and drew an imaginary circle on it with his finger. Then he closed it and threw his hands out, shrugging his shoulders-the gesture people make when saying 'I don't know'.

''Pincarê?'' He said again.

I had no idea what he was on about for a second, but then I remembered that he had something in hand when I found him. I reached into my coat's pocket and pulled it out.

''You mean this?''

''Belê, ev tistê ku min divê.'' I could tell from his satisfied tone that this was what he wanted.

''Pinca-ree?''

He almost smiled at this, but it was strained. He looked like he was in pain. I mentally smacked myself. Of course he's in pain, idiot. Something almost tore his arm off.

Rizgan handed me the small bag and murmured something, pointing first at the bag and then at his injured arm. Oh. Was I supposed to put it on his arm? I opened the sack and a strange smell hit me. I could recognise a hint of thyme, maybe cinnamon, and-was that garlic? It wasn't exactly unpleasant, but it was too much for my poor nose to take, as if someone mixed every scented herb that ever existed and shoved it in there. The finished product was a bit overwhelming for the senses. I would definitely prefer if he pulled out some good, old antibiotics, but that was probably too much to ask. If he wanted me to put this stuff on his own injured arm, then who was I to question it?

I grabbed a notebook from my backpack, thinking that the hard paper was a much better work-space then the ground. I poured some of the herb mixture on it and then mixed it with water as best as I could. I ended up with a thick paste that I applied generously to Rizgan's injury. His face contorted in pain, but he made no sound. Small bits kept falling off, so I wrapped the arm with one of my home-made bandages. Satisfied, I sat back to admire my handiwork, but my thoughts quickly strayed elsewhere. Like my current location.

''So,'' I started casually.''Is this England?'' I pointed at the ground where I was sitting.

Rizgan looked at me tiredly.

''We are still in Europe, right?'' I tried not to sound panicked.

I was rewarded with a blank look.

''Or is this America?'' Nothing.

''Africa?'' Nope.

''Asia?'' I was getting frustrated.

''Australia? India? New Zealand?'' My voice was rising with every word, but he still had that annoying, dumb look on his face.

''Canada? Iceland? Greenland?'' I knew I was getting ridiculous, but I was really angry now. He was acting as if he had never heard of any of these places.

''Antarctica? South America? Madagascar? Bloody Papua New Guinea?!''

He looked slightly concerned, like I was the crazy one. Well, I certainly felt like it.

''Please tell me I'm not in Narnia.'' A glance at his worried face made me giggled hysterically.

He definitely looked disturbed now. I thought that if he could move, he would cautiously inch away from me. I didn't really blame him.

I made a noise, something between a sigh and a growl, and sprawled next to him across the cave floor. I could feel his eyes on me as I stared at the cave ceiling and contemplated my life. I felt miserable, now that the anger and frustration left me. He couldn't possibly be that stupid and not know the names of continents. There was a chance that he was just taking the piss, but his face was honestly clueless when I was shouting at him. I sighed deeply. My life was such a mess. Wait... I turned my head to look at Rizgan.

''This isn't heaven, is it? Or hell?'' I added, just in case. He looked a bit more at ease now that I've calmed down.

''So it's not likely that you will start sprouting wings or horns the moment I turn around?'' I joked and smirked at him. He just coolly raised one eyebrow. Oh, well. It was clear that my humour was not appreciated here. What was I expecting, really?

I went back to staring at the ceiling, counting the creaks in it and the cave walls. I knew that I should have been doing something more productive, but I didn't feel like it. I was on the brink of throwing myself a pity party again. The positive part of my brain was apparently on a vacation. I kept trying to avoid thinking about the future and focus only on the present, but that was bloody hard when you had no idea what to do next. Should I leave Rizgan here and go somewhere, try to find other people? My conscience wouldn't let me do that. He looked like he would survive, but he was still injured and could barely move. No, I couldn't just leave him here, at least not right now. Besides, I had no idea where I was and something was telling me that I had better chance of surviving if I stuck with him. He had to know his way around if he was here only with a horse.

That reminded me that I should probably go check on the it. Maybe give it some water too, I thought a bit guiltily. I felt better when I had something to do. I jumped on my feet and gave Rizgan a smile, which made him frown at me. Seriously, did this guy have any other facial expressions? I shook my head at him, poured some fresh water into the pot and went outside.

The horse was standing a few metres away from the cave entrance. When I was right in front of it, I held the pot out and waited. The animal approached me cautiously and sniffed at the water. I snorted when it gave me a suspicious look. How is it possible that a horse can look suspicious?

''You strongly remind me of your owner.'' I murmured under my breath as the beast drank.

My eyes darted to the saddle. Shouldn't I remove it or something? Isn't it uncomfortable? But I had no idea how. I've ridden horse only twice in my life, and it was all ready to go both times-I didn't have to take care of it or learn how to saddle it. Oh, well. It will live.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when the horse abruptly raised its head and almost hit me in the face. Its ears flicked back and forth and he neighed.

I looked around nervously, but didn't see anything.

''Be quiet, will you?'' I snapped at the animal. ''I don't fancy being attacked by a random wild beast you will attract with your stupid horse noises.''

I didn't want to be mean, especially since it wasn't the beast's fault that I was in a bad mood, but having a break down wasn't an option right now, and I had to vent it somehow. Before I had a chance to embarrass myself by apologising to a horse, I heard something. I froze when I realised it was people speaking. It was very faint, but I could still hear it. I spun frantically around, eyes wide, but there wasn't a a living soul as far as I could see. I didn't know why I was scared, it could be just an innocent person taking a walk. However, the rational part of my brain wasn't enough to stop my palms from sweating and heart from beating way faster then it should. There was a sound of quick footsteps on my left and I only had time to register a man running towards me with a sword in hand. Then there was nothing but a blinding pain in my head and darkness.

A/N: Thank you for following this story and reviewing :) I really appreciate it.