She awoke slowly, consciousness steadily returning to her. She felt a light shining on her face, growing brighter and warmer with each passing minute. Finally she gathered enough strength to open her eyes. She was in a cave of some sort, with woods outside. That much was obvious to her. What was not obvious was how she had come to be in this place. All she could remember was falling, and pain, and before that darkness. She could not remember where she had come from, nor who she was.

Beginning to panic, she tried to sit upright, and was met with a flare up of pain across her entire body. Gasping at the sudden affliction, she lay back down. It was then she also realized that she was covered in a cloak. She was fairly certain this was not her own cloak, meaning someone had found her. That likely explained how she had come to be in this cave. Urging her arms to move, despite the pain, she felt the areas where there was the most pain. There she discovered her wounds had been dressed and treated.

Her panic lessened at that. If whoever found her had taken the time to treat her, then they were probably benevolent. Probably. She lay there for a while, avoiding movement which may exacerbate her injuries. As she lay there she began to realize something was missing. Her back felt… wrong. She couldn't quite remember what had been there, but it was gone now, and judging from the pain it's loss had been violent. Not only that, but a deeper sense of emptiness filled her. It was as if some intrinsic aspect of her very being had been lost.

Sadness filled her, not simply because of what she had lost, but because of her inability to remember what those things had been. Her longing was interrupted by the sudden sound of approaching footsteps. She turned her head, ignoring the pain which flared up, and was greeted with quite the sight. A titanic man was approaching, carrying a dead deer sling over his shoulder. He wore no shirt, and a rather short pair of fur pants. He was deeply tanned, his face hardened and weathered, and well muscled. His leather boots tread far more silently than a man of his size had any right to be.

She watched him arrive at the cave, and set the deer down by the entrance. "You're awake. Good. That means you can eat, gain strength." The man said, surprising her. The movements of her head were short and made little noise. His senses must be keen in order to pick up on them. Powering through her pain, she hauled herself up so that her head was leaning on the walls of the cave. With her new vantage point, she got her first real look at her environment.

In the center of the cave was a smoldering fire, surrounded by stones. In fact, it seemed less like a cave now, and more of a pronounced overhang of sorts. Across from her was a large leather bag, laden with supplies. Next to this bag was the man, and by him was the deer, it's throat slit cleanly. He frowned, the lines in his face forming the shape of concern, and he walked over. He had to crouch somewhat to avoid hitting his head. He kneeled down beside her, his eyes startling her with their cool intensity.

"You should lay down, woman. You need rest for your wounds." He said. Given how much pain it had caused her just to sit up, she couldn't help but agree with him. She steadily lowered herself down, the man watching her all the while with a concerned gaze. As she set her head down, the man nodded curtly, then turned back to his deer. He drew a knife, and for a moment she feared this was the end, but then he plunged it into the deer's hide and began to butcher it.

"Who are you?" She asked hoarsely, her throat dry, and it occurred to her she was very thirsty. He turned back to her, but continued to clean his kill expertly. "I am Conan, of Cimmeria. Though I should rightly ask you the same." He replied. His voice remained as level as his expression, though she detected a hint of curiosity. She sighed and shut her eyes, her head beginning to ache. "I do not know. I cannot remember who I am, nor where I am from." She replied. She attempted to keep her composure. It wouldn't do to have a breakdown in front of someone you just met. But within she felt turmoil, confusion, and again a profound sadness.

The man seemed to perceive this, as he left her in silence for a while, preparing the deer. After a time he took a skin from his hip, and held it out to her. She hesitated to grab it. "It is water. Something you seem to be in sore need of." He stated, fairly blunt in his observation. She gratefully accepted it, a whispered "Thank You" escaping her lips. She drunk deep, the soothing liquid feeling heavenly on her dry mouth and throat. She was so focused on the water that she hadn't even realized she was drinking the entire thing until she had done so.

She was rather embarrassed at having taken advantage of her host's hospitality, leaving nothing for him. "I am sorry." She said sheepishly as she held it back out to Conan. He simply took it, looked at it for a moment, and shrugged. "There is a stream nearby. Besides, I imagine you would need water after falling from the sky." He said nonchalantly. Now that gave her pause. She had remembered falling, but falling from the sky? That shouldn't be possible should it? Unless she was flying, of course. But she couldn't fly! Could she?

Searching what little memories she had, she was surprised to find that she did, indeed, remember flying at some point! She began thinking more and more on this, wracking her brain for anymore information, but the depths of her mind remained blank. The Cimmerian watched intently as she thought, his face pensive and gaze observant. Finally she turned back to him. "I fell from the sky?" She asked curiously. He nodded, his face returning passive. "Yes, in a ball of fire. Like a star struck from the firmament." He replied, his otherwise level voice belying a tone of wonder. "How did that come to pass, by chance?" He asked, his voice genuinely curious.

He leaned forward slightly, expectantly. She sighed, and lay back down onto the floor. "I… think I was flying…." She said, uncertain. Now that gained a raised eyebrow from Conan, but little more. "Would you be a sorceress? Or magician?" He asked, a hint of wariness in his voice. "No… no I don't think so…" she replied honestly. She couldn't recall doing Magic, but then again that didn't rule it out. He returned to his pensive state after that, and turned away. He continued preparing the deer for a while after that, and began cooking it on the fire. She watched from her rudimentary bed as the meat cooked, the smell wafting over the cave, savory and warm. What followed was a deep rumble, like a grumbling hippopotamus. She was absolutely mortified to find it came from her stomach.

She looked over at her host, and found an amused smile on his face, and a quiet chuckle emanating from his throat. She found herself flushing a little in the face. He noticed that as well. "Oh don't be embarrassed. Hunger is good. It reminds you of your need to eat." He explained casually. She couldn't help but roll her eyes a little at that. "I may not remember much, but I remember what hunger is. And I remember my manners, thank you." She said in the most proper tone she could manage, though she cracked a smile herself after that.

Conan's smile, though small, seemed quite genuine to her. He reached to the spit, and grabbed her a piece of perfectly cooked venison. She took it gratefully, then motioned for him to grab his own piece. "It wouldn't do for me to eat before my gracious host." She said, a little teasingly, though she was genuinely thankful to the Cimmerian for all he had done for her thus far. He grinned, and taking his own stick of meat raised it into the air. "A toast to good company, and surprise guests." He said. She gave a small chuckle and a little smile at that. She raised her stick in kind, and then they tucked in. She may not have anything in this world, but at least she had a bed, good food, and good company. At least for tonight, and that was enough.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Yep. When you've fallen out of the sky, are beaten to hell, and have severe amnesia, just chilling by the fire with a barbarian and fresh venison is the best thing in the world.

Happy New Year everyone!