Chapter 2: Awake and Asleep Again

After encountering a mysterious young man who descended from the clouds via a large stream of light and fire, Tyris brought him back to her little campsite, carrying him on her shoulder as he unconsciously slumped, his head and faced eased up on her back. Upon returning to camp, she opened the flaps of her tent, knelt down in the middle as she entered, and laid the young man on his back in front of her.

She grabbed her fur cape and sandbag pillow, then eased the back of his head on the pillow and covered the rest of his body neck down with her cape. She then took a wooden basin and got out of her tent.

Tyris walked toward the riverbank to fill the basin. As soon as she did that, she went back inside her tent, took a clean washcloth from another side of the interior, and soaked it thoroughly. As she was preparing her quick, simple cure, she could hear the lad groan in a bit of pain. She went back to his side and eased her hands behind his head as she took off his headband and put it beside him and next to her.

She took the washcloth from the basin and wrung it out to dry for a bit, moist enough to cool the young man's body adequately. She neatly folded it in half and put it on his forehead.

"There, there. You'll be alright," she whispered before letting out a yawn. She eased up her head on her crossed forearms as she took a sitting fetal position to take a nap.

A couple of hours had passed. The night sky was still filled with light from the crescent moon above, crickets were chirping, and owls cooed throughout.

The young man groaned as he stirred to wake himself. Slowly, he opened his eyes. Yet, his vision was half blurry. He slightly tilted his head to his left to find a scantily clad young lady taking a nap as she sat down in a semi-fetal position, her head still rested on her arms.

He whispered, "Miss. Miss." Then, he stuck out his left arm and lightly tugged on her right boot.

Tyris slowly woke up. She tilted her head up to yawn as she opened her eyes, still half-asleep. Upon looking down, she tiredly caught glimpse of the young man who had woken up. In a quick instant, her eyes opened.

"You're awake!" She exclaimed. She pressed her hands on the ground beside him and knelt, leaning slightly to study him.

The lad attempted to sit up. But, his entire back ached like crazy from head to heel, and he grunted in pain.

"Hey. Go easy," Tyris whispered as she put one hand slightly behind him as the other touched his right shoulder, her arms partially settled across his chest on top of him.

"Where am I?" The young man asked softly.

"You're in a land called Yuria," Tyris replied as she smiled. Her beautiful face, light brown hair, and blue eyes radiated within his sight.

"Who are you?" The man asked in a soft voice, still on a whispering level the same as the hostess that's nursing him back to health.

"I'm Tyris Flare, Princess of the Firewood Kingdom," she said, still exercising a bit of caution as she spoke in fragments, making sure that the lad she just saved wouldn't kill her later. "And you?"

"My name is Kyo," the lad whispered. "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Flare." He then grunted as he felt a slightly painful surge on his back.

"Take it easy!" She softly exclaimed as she leaned a bit further, still studying his face. She took his left hand and clasped both of her hands on it.

"Likewise. Although, I don't see someone like you in this part of the world very often."

Kyo smiled and chuckled. He felt something somewhat funny at the back of his head. "You're one funny lady. I'll give you that," he remarked.

"Thanks. Well, you're in good hands."

"I can tell."

"I'll let you rest up a bit more. Maybe, in a few more hours, you'll feel better."

"That'd be nice."

"Good. I'll get out of your view and go to the other side of the tent. Just rest up, and we'll figure out what to do next on sunrise."

Kyo didn't say anything after that. He just tried to will himself to sleep. Tyris got up and went to the other side of the tent facing the flapped doors.

"You sure you won't be cold just wearing what you're wearing now?"

"I'll be fine. Just close your eyes and dream of wherever you call home," She solemnly yet happily replied as she rested her head on her forearms when she sat once again.

"In that case, Good Night."

"You, too."

A few moments later, Kyo and Tyris drifted back to sleep. To each other, they are currently strangers. But, something just might change later on.