A/N: A rough version of how Umi and Ascot meet during Umi's Pilgrimage.
Ascot knew an end was coming before most people did.
The animals, the beasts he called 'friend' had been acting odd for weeks before the end came.
So he hid in the forests by the sea, far from where the reverberations of the crumbling of human society could be felt.
He was alone for years, few survivors wondering into his forest, his home, and even fewer making it to the sea on the other side.
He avoided any person who came, letting his friends deal with them if they needed to, that is, until she came to his forest.
She was caught in an old hunter's trap and trying not to yell for help, but he saw her, and knew that she wasn't going to get out of it on her own.
When he approached, she drew her sword, "Stay away."
He held up his hands, pulling his hood off his head to reveal his face, "I'm just here to help."
Her grip tightened on the hilt of her sword, blue eyes shining and face streaked with sweat and tears, "Stay back. I don't need help."
He looked at her leg. The trap had grabbed on to her leg, the teeth tearing into her calf, and her blood was coloring the grass beneath her.
"Okay the very purpose of traps like that is that only an outside party and get it loose. You don't have to trust me but if I don't get that trap off your leg, you will most likely die here. Let. Me. Help. You." He slowly walked towards her as he spoke and as he finished, he leaned down close to her, letting the tip of her blade touch her throat.
She studied him, then slowly lowered her sword, "Do it quickly."
He nodded, and turned to the lever device that was out of her reach, he disengaged it, and pulled the trap away from her leg.
She screamed, but pulled her leg away and held it as close to her as she could manage.
"I have a small camp set up just on the other side of the brush, there," he nodded behind him, to the direction he had come from, "I have a few herbs and know a few remedies that will help with the pain and keep that from getting infected. You don't have to, but I can–,"
"Please." She said, offering an arm for him to pull her to her feet.
He wrapped it over his shoulders and gently pulled her to her feet, she winced as she stood.
"Easy," he said gently, "Easy easy easy."
They started walking, and he asked, "What are you doing in the forest all alone?"
"I have to get to the sea." She panted, hobbling next to him.
He smirked, "A lot of people have needed to get to the sea. What makes you so special?"
She opened her mouth to answer him, but thought better of it, staying silent.
He shrugged and continued to lead her to his camp.
Maybe she'd tell him once she was healed.
