Sierra awoke in a fog, a literal fog. She was confused…and cold. She wondered where she was. She sat up shivering and was surprised to feel her bare legs. Suddenly with that, all the memories of the day before came rushing back to her. She tossed some more branches on the dying fire and revived it, then yanked on her (almost) dry pants. They were cold and rough and unpleasant in the chilly morning air. Her shoes however had dried thoroughly. She was grateful at this small comfort. She stood, notched her belt and tucked in her shirt. Her resolve renewed. It was amazing what just Not being naked anymore can do for one's mental state. She walked to the edge of the lake and called out as loud as she could:

"AAAAANGELIIIIIIINAAAAA!" She called so loud it echoed several times off the surrounding cliffs.

She waited, listening, for anything. The fog made it seem quieter than it should be. She took a deep breath and prepared to bellow out again when she heard a small distant female voice called back

"Hello?" it echoed.

"HELLO?" She called back her heart leaping, praying she hadn't imagined it…she waited again.

"yes? I'm here!" She heard it again.

"Where are you?" Sierra called, hope welling in her chest. "I can't see you!"

"here!" the voice called back, "I- I'm afraid I cant move.."

"Are you hurt?"

"Yes!"

"I'm coming! Don't worry…" Sierra called. "Keep talking!"

The voice began to count "1….2…3…..4…..5…"

Sierra followed the sound. As it got clearer, it became apparent the voice was not her cousin, she realized sadly, but there Was someone, and that someone needed help. Besides, if there were other people out here one of them may have found Angelina too.

"15..16.." the voice was closer now. She forged on. "27….28…29…"

"Hey!" Sierra called waving her arms in the air at what seemed to be a hazy human figure in the fog a short distance away. The figure waved back. She jogged to where they were and saw a teal-haired young woman with her ankle caught between two huge rocks. The girl cried out in relief when she saw Sierra.

"Oh, thank you so much! Thank you!" she pointed at her foot. I'm stuck... I-I think it may be broken!" She whimpered. Sierra knelt next to the girl and gave her a reassuring shoulder squeeze.

"Don't worry I'll get you out…I'll be right back!" And she sprinted off for the trees.

"NO! Please... Don't go!" The girl cried after her. " Please, don't leave me alone" She waited some minutes fearing the other woman wouldn't return. She yanked fruitlessly on her ankle succeeding only in tearing any scabs that had been forming and sending a wave of pain and nausea over herself… It was definitely broken. She leaned against a rock and shivered, mewling.

Some minutes later Sierra returned, breathless but triumphant with a long sturdy stick. She climbed to the one of the rocks above the trapped girl and wedged the stick down between them. "Are you ready" She asked panting slightly with the effort.

"Yes!" The woman replied shakily, "I am ready"

"Good", Sierra said grunting with effort, on three ok? One…two…"

She forced the stick down with all her weight and it lifted the stone just long enough for the woman to unpin herself and scoot away.

"I'm free!" she called out, and Sierra let the rock go with a mighty crunch. The stick went flying into the fog.

Sierra leaned on her knees and caught her breath, then descended the boulders to inspect the now freed injured woman.

"Thank you! The stranger said with tears glistening in her eyes.

"Sierra checked her over looking for other injuries, and was started by the shade of girl's eyes. They were a bright blood-red!

"um…I don't want to alarm you.. but ah, weird question: What color are your eyes normally?" Sierra asked unsure how to broach this topic. But concerned for the girls health.

"Red?" the girl said, looking confused.

"Huh," Sierra sat back on her heels, surprised but relieved. "No shit? That's really cool. I met an albino dude once; his eyes were pink.." Yukina cocked her head to the side, puzzled. "Don't get me wrong! They're really pretty!" Sierra said trying to recover from what she was afraid had been taken as an insult. She looked at the girls ankle, and saw that it was indeed broken. "Heeeeey," she gave the girl a grim smile "At least it's a clean break. Congratulations!...wait here." She went off to retrieve the stick and helped the girl get upright. She leaned over so that the girl could put an arm over her shoulder. She stood. And handed the girl the stick, "Use this on the other side.. to help with stability. I'll keep you up." She promised. I have a fire going not too far from here. We'll get you warmed up, and take care of that foot.

As they walked through the fog, retracing Sierra's steps the teal-haired girl spoke. "Thank you again for saving me.. I wasn't sure how long I'd be stuck like that."

"How long were you there?"

"only the night I think? I'm not sure.. I remember falling…and I woke up like that. I though my friends might be nearby, but I was too afraid to call out in the night. She shuddered. "There was some beastly wailing after dark. I didn't want whatever it was to find me"

Sierra grimaced and cleared her throat "uh….Humm, that sounds a lot like how I got here." She said in a low voice. She wondered silently to herself if they were in some kind of purgatory. Dead but as yet unaware. She pushed the thought out of her mind. Unlikely…by every account she's ever heard of: death should be a lot less…. She looked around suspiciously at the grey forestscape… "woodsy".

"I never asked you your name!" The girl suddenly exclaimed, breaking Sierra silent self-consultation.

"Oh, I'm Sierra." She said "Its ok, I didn't ask yours either..."

"It's Yukina" The girl smiled up at her.