Erik put his cloak around the bony frame of the girl. There was no doubt that she was homeless, and yet she had such a beautiful necklace on. Hmm. He simply shrugged it off. How long had she been out here? There wasn't time to waste. She needed to get help fast. He quickly picked her up in his strong arms and carried her down into his lair. As they began their descent, he noted some of her features. Very bony, small frame. Bright red hair, which was unusual, but unique nonetheless. Long eyelashes and rosy cheeks, but that could be the result of being in the cold for so long. As they were drawing nearer to their destination, she began to squirm in his arms. Once they arrived, he put her on the bed and was off in a hurry to find a needle, thread, washrag, water, and a warm dress. When he returned he began cleaning her face off immediately. Wow, he thought. She'll be hurting for a while with these bruises. There were a few cuts he was concerned about. He quickly stitched them up and put the cold rag on her face, hoping it might help the swelling, even just a little bit. Should I check the rest of her body, he wondered. The last time I saw a woman's body so close… Thoughts of Christine quickly entered his mind, but left as soon as they had come. No sense in dwelling on the past. Shortly after beginning his search, he was glad he had chosen to look further into it. Several broken ribs. She would be in his care and mercy for at least a few days. This isn't too bad, he thought. I'll have something to do. After falling asleep watching her, he woke up the next morning. But she was still out cold. He was worried. This isn't normal, is it? It was then that he pondered his motives. Why did I pick her up? I see people that are in her position everyday, but I never do anything for them. it was at that moment when she started to stir.