A/N: Thank you for all the reviews!

-..-

Nothing has improved.

I hate to say it, but it's true. I'm sitting here, piled on top of a mountain of blankets and pillows with a fire sizzling in the middle of the room - it's cold in the mountains. I've been treated to more comforts and courtesies than any day in my life, all I have to do is ask and they'll bring me food, water, a pillow. I'm thankful for that, I really am, but it doesn't help.

I was really hoping things would go well with the Herndall. From the fuss Kuma had made I'd thought they were some major leaders - and probably really intelligent, too. I was right about one part, they were major leaders, with guards practically stacked at their doorstep. But they knew nothing of how to help me. In fact, they didn't even ask about my predicament. They just seemed interested in the guys with black cloaks that I told you about earlier - and it wasn't because they'd attacked Earth, either.

Kuma had practically shoved me into that tent - or, rather, to the wall of bulls guarding it. More than one of them growled at me.

"Don't worry - you'll be fine!"

I'd whirled on Kuma. "Yeah, the angry horned guys flashing their canines at me aren't too convincing!"

I swear I heard one of them snort behind me.

Kuma did a double take, thankfully taking a step back as she looked from me to the tent. I quickly widened the distance between me and the bulls - I wasn't getting any closer to them than I had to.

But all I received from Kuma was a cruddy reassuring smile and a "The Herndall will help-" before being nudged inside.

I'll give them credit - The women that made up the Herndall seemed to be pretty wise and knowing, totally worthy of their 'rank.' But any knowledge they had didn't help me.

The meeting was agonizingly short - in fact, I'm not even sure why Kuma made me go in there. She could've answered their questions with the little she knew. After that, I remember being taken to the tiny hut I currently reside in. Kuma practically disappeared - which I don't really care about, honestly. She wasn't very helpful, and didn't seem too bright either. Maybe she had some other patients to take care of. I don't know.

I furrowed into my blankets. There were plenty of those here, luckily. The day had been warm, with a little breeze here and there, but as soon as the sun set the place turned into a winter wonderland - minus all the snow and wonder, with an extra dose of 'wind.'

These horned guys don't seem to have any problem with it, though. I'm currently staring at two of them from my place in the hut. Their torsos have withstood angry gusts of wind for the past few hours without so much as twitching.

Though, maybe it has something to do with those rock hard abs. I sure don't have any, and theirs are exceptional - my brother Jack is the most athletic and fit person I know, and even he can't compare. Honestly, kudos to them for withstanding mother nature.

Meanwhile, I sit in a pile of blankets shivering my ass off, wishing I'd tried harder to stay fit and exercise. Sorry for the language, but the cold makes you bitter.

I tried talking to them a few times. A couple yes or no questions - to which I received a series of grunts. At first I questioned whether these guys didn't speak the same language, or if they were just fucking with me, but then I came to the conclusion that grunting was just their way of saying 'yeah.' Again, sorry for the language, but it's called the bitter cold for a reason.

After fiddling with my pillows in an attempt to make my dirt-bed more comfortable, I decided to try initiating conversation again.

"So, what are you guys planning to do with me?" I called out.

All right, maybe my wording wasn't the best, but honestly, my knowledge on what's going on is too limited for them to expect any more from me.

I still expected a response, though. At least a grunt.

They didn't so much as twitch. I might as well have stayed silent, and for a brief moment I wondered if I'd actually said the words. Another gust of wind blew in, and the tiny flames that had managed to survive guttered out almost instantaneously. I glared at the simmering ashes.

"What happened to Kuma?" I asked.

Maybe hearing a familiar name would open their mouths. One of them shifted slightly, but my plan failed. Neither one of them said a word.

All right. I can deal with this.

"The fires gone out," I said. If their job was to cater to my needs, then that should've gotten their attention. I burrowed into the blanket for extra convincing, just in case one of them was looking.

They turned to each other, a second later I heard hooves stomping off in the other direction.

Well, it's easier to deal with someone when they're alone.

I sat up. "What's your name?" I asked.

Maybe courtesy was a better tool to use.

He didn't even move. I sighed, and leaned back against my pillows. A few moments later the other guard returned, carrying a pile of wood and a black stone. I watched him walk in and kneel beside the fire pit before rolling onto my side, listening to the sound of flint hitting stone and sparks turning to flames as I studied the tent walls.

He left not long after that, and within a few minutes I could feel the heat of the fire trickling in through the blankets.

I really wish I had my backpack.

I'd taken the thing with me - I remember having it when I… fell. After all, I packed it - albeit hurriedly - for survival. There wasn't anything really helpful in there, but at least there was a bag of chips.

They'd fed me, but jerky and dried berries aren't very filling. Not to mention I have no idea what they made that jerky from. It wasn't disgusting or anything, it just… tasted odd, and it has me worried I ate something that won't be too good for my digestive system. Kuma mentioned humans here before, but that doesn't mean they can eat the same things I do.

I have no idea where it is now, though. For all I know they might've abandoned it in the woods, with all my money gone to waste. Who knows, maybe a bird will use it as a nest. I guess that's better than nothing.

By the time the fire finally roared I was nearly passed out, so I did myself a favor and closed my eyes.

-..-

Waking up wasn't exactly the best experience.

No sunshine and smiles, like those coffee commercials say. Damn advertising. First of all, I still felt like a rock was lodged into my spinal cord, but it seemed like sleep had dulled the pain. When I tried to sit up I was met with sore legs, sore arms, sore everything. I groaned, shoved the blankets off my legs. I was sticky with sweat, and all I wanted to do was crawl out of my skin and jump into a bath of steaming hot water. A bubble bath would be preferable.

The next thing I noticed was a man - a bull, I mean, sorry - crouched by the fire pit. I took a look around the room.

So that's why I woke up in a sauna. The tent flap, which had been carefully opened just enough to keep the tent from overheating the night before, was shut tight.

I stared at the guy in the middle of the room.

The most I could see of him was a smooth, bald head, shaved everywhere except for at the base, where his incredibly long white hair was pulled into a braid. Unlike the two guards this guy wore a shirt - a leather one with no sleeves and more than a few holes, but a shirt. And pants. I don't know if no-pants is a thing here, but…

The guy let out a gruff snort, reaching up to rub at something on his face. He was still turned away from me, and I'm not sure if he even knew I was awake yet. I was about to say something to get his attention, but then a sweet smell wafted over me.

I hadn't eaten since the other day, and even that was just scraps, so when the scent hit me my stomach churned. I sniffed at the air.

The guy grunted and turned around, blinking at me with two large yellow eyes.

I guess my nose is louder than I thought.

Then his expression turned to normal and he turned back to the fire, grabbing something I couldn't see. A moment later he turned around with a plate in hand, piled with something akin to sausage, and a few other things I couldn't quite… identify.

He held it out to me. "Here, eat this."

I was somewhat taken aback. The only words I'd heard were from Kuma, and he few grunts from the guards. Kuma's English was rough and barely understandable, whereas this guy seemed to have spoken for a lot longer. Though, I guess the white hair explains that.

I grabbed the plate, and made use of the utensils that came with it. Another thing that was odd, both the plate and fork were made of metal. Alright, I guess that should be the norm, but in a place like this I expected dirt bowels. No offense to their skills, but this looked a lot more human - made.

I ate slowly, despite my growling grumbling stomach. The guy was still watching me.

I gorged my way through half the plate when I paused between a bite and looked up at him.

"Who are you?" I asked.

He blinked, almost surprised. "My name is Ezbohg," he said, before turning to the side and messing with the fire.

I set my fork on the plate, letting out a little clang.

I didn't want to run around the point. "Why am I here, and what are you doing with me?"

I wanted to yell at myself. Once again, my words failed me. I knew why I was here, what I really wanted to know was why I was still here -

"You were found in the woods just outside this village," he informed me, as he poked at the dying embers with a stick. A tiny flame shot up for an instant, then died. "We are waiting for some of your people to come and retrieve you. Until then, it has been decided that you will stay here, in my hut."

I looked around. The hut was completely barren besides the blankets and pillows I inhabited, plus the firepit.

He caught my gaze. "This is not my hut," he explained. "This is my spare one, for guests and patients."

"Patients?" I repeated.

He nodded. "Yes. The Herndall did not explain?" I shook my head, and he grunted. "I am the village medic. Anyone who is injured comes to me - or, anyone such as yourself."

I swallowed another bite. "So, how long until these 'people,' come to get me?" I asked.

He stood, groaning and moaning with knees cracking. When he fully stood, he slouched, knees slightly bent.

"It will take a week for word to get to your people, and week for your people to come." he rubbed at his chin, which sported an impressive beard. "Until then, you are welcome here, in both the village and my home."

Two weeks, huh? Guess I better find Kuma.