Chapter 2: A New Home

Feeling warm and sensing someone was near her, Kayla woke up and opened her eyes to see a cloaked person beside her. Startled, she jumped up, or at least tried to, but she was all tangled up in the blankets, so she squirmed to get free. "Calm down, child," a soothing voice said as a white gloved hand reached for her. The young girl whimpered in fear and winced sharply before feeling gentle fingers stroke her head. "Shh, easy now, little one," she heard him say. "You're safe here and quite lucky you didn't drown."

Kayla shook a little, afraid and she flinched when she saw him stand up and loom over her. "Shh, calm down," he said before helping her sit up and get unwound from the blankets that had kept her warm and saved her life. She looked up at him as he gently helped her, even giving her another blanket to wrap around herself.

After a moment, she spoke. "Are you…Are you going to hurt me?" She asked.

He looked at her. "Why would I help you and then hurt you?" He asked gently.

She looked down, but felt a gentle, gloved hand gently tilt her face upward to look at him. "I won't hurt you, little one," he said. "Do you remember what happened to you?"

She nodded. "My…My foster parents and foster brothers…threw me into a hole in the mountain," she said. "I…I ran and…I fell into the water. I tried to swim, but it was so cold."

She then looked up at him. "A boat came up and I grabbed it and someone pulled me up out of the water." She paused. "Was…Was that you? The one who pulled me out of the water? Was that your boat?"

River Person raised a hand to gently stop her flow of questions. "That was my boat, yes," he said. "And yes, I pulled you out of the river as you clung to my boat trying to get your breath back."

The young girl gave him a grateful look. "Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome," he said, seeing she was calmed down. "What is your name, little one?"

"Kayla," she replied.

"How old are you?" He asked.

"Twelve," she said. "Just turned twelve a couple months ago."

He nodded. "Well, Kayla, this is the Underground," he said. "It's full of monsters like myself."

She cocked her head. "Monsters?" She asked. "But…you don't look like a monster."

He chuckled a little, appreciating the fact that she didn't see him as a monster. "But I am," he said gently. "We monsters here were trapped many years ago and our King, Asgore, needs one more human to break the barrier that keeps us here."

Kayla was listening and something clicked. "Why do I get the feeling you mean he needs to…kill another human?" She asked.

River Person had to give the girl credit. She was smart. "That is exactly what it means," he said. "If you are to stay down here, we must hide the fact that you're a human from the rest of the Underground. Many of them will hunt you and bring you to Asgore."

She swallowed hard. "But…where will I go?" She asked. "I don't have a home."

He gently took her hand. "That's where I come in," he said. "You can stay with me, Kayla. I have a cloak and some clothes that will fit you and hide you so that no one will know you're a human beneath the cloak."

She looked at him. "Why…Why are you doing this?" She asked. "You saved me and I'm grateful, but…why help me when…it could mean your freedom too?"

"Because I dislike war and hurting others," he replied. "Not to mention the other monsters might not think twice before trying to hurt you. Perhaps not all of them, but some would attack first and ask questions later."

Kayla gave it some thought. A monster who had helped her and was kind to her was offering her a home and protection. "What if…What if I choose to stay here…like forever?" She asked.

"You'd be welcome to stay with me as long as you'd like," River Person said. "I'll even teach you some defensive magic so that you can protect yourself, if you'd like."

It was a bit overwhelming at first thinking about it and she looked at him. "I think…I don't know about the magic part yet, but…if you're willing to host me, I'd be grateful."

He nodded and stood up, giving her the new clothes and stepping out for a bit while she changed and she smiled, seeing how she looked just like him and turned to him. "Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome," he said, a smile in his voice as he handed her a pair of white gloves. "You must wear these at all times. If word gets out, Asgore will hunt you."

That was a scary thought and she took a deep breath. "I'll always be alert," she promised. "And I'll keep hidden."

River Person nodded before seeming thoughtful. "Your voice might give you away," he said after a moment. "Do you know sign language?"

She shook her head. "But I've always wanted to learn," she admitted.

Not long after, he began teaching her and she caught on very quick, mimicking hand signs and he was impressed before watching as she signed something to him, something that made him stop in surprise.

Thank you, Papa, she signed out as she also spoke the words before looking a bit nervous. "Um, can I call you that? Is that okay?"

He smiled. "You see me as a father figure?" He asked and she nodded. "Then, welcome to your new home, my daughter."

Relieved that he accepted her as a daughter as she had accepted him as a father because she felt safe with him, she stood up and hugged him, feeling loved for the first time in a long time. He returned the hug. "Oh, my little one," he said. "Don't worry, I'll always keep you safe."

Kayla didn't doubt that and she clung to him, trying to sort out how she felt and finally deciding she felt happy, something she hadn't felt in many years, but right then, she felt very, very happy.

So looks like Kayla is settling in and River Person has accepted her as his daughter, but how long will her secret remain? Stay tuned to find out. :)

And please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418