She had known what swimming was, but had Valissa been given the opportunity to learn? No. Having been raised in a cell of a Prison, all she had known were those four walls. Occasionally being taught to read, write. It's not as though those monstrous Ghouls were seeing her grown into some unknowing idiot form of a thing. They did manage to give her somewhat of a decent education, or so she figured. At least Valissa had the mind enough to communicate. She'd be able to test the rest as life went on… if life went on.

From falling perhaps hundreds of feet down into the rapids of a rushing river, the sudden impact of water was enough to knock her out. There had been a brief flash of a moment – the sensation of water filling her mouth. Darkness filling the rims of her eyes. Being unable to breathe. Having no one beside her. Where did he… No one.

After her life had just begun.

What could have been hours later, the young girl felt life move back into her body. Her eyes remaining closed while hands felt the soiled earth under clenching nails. The lower half of her body still under the waves of the water. Slowly Valissa began to open her eyes. Fluttering to the light of the clouded sky. This day was quite young, but the storm of the afternoon would still quickly approach. Through this, her body had been caught into a rather large formation of rocks. High enough out of the waves to stop her from furthering down the river.

"Here." Kaneki's hands were there. Helping her from the river. Her form being heavier due to the drenched clothing – and the coming storm would certainly not help the situation. "Can you stand?" Peering up towards the young man, Valissa took his hand. Moving to her feet. While doing so, she took note of his form. Kaneki too had been a tad beaten up by the rushing waters. A river like that could not all be smooth sailing. Rocks had to be lining the underneath, and that is what bruised them both. Again, Valissa's body would be healed up in no time at all, but she worried about the other.

As if reading her mind, he replied. "Don't worry. I've had worse." Perhaps there had been an expression written across her eyes that had been far too easy to read. Though, that last bit she knew had been true.

She never asked him about his past, nor had he asked about hers, but Valissa did find a wonder in what made him the way he was. Kaneki couldn't have had it easy, and from what she knew, one-eyed Ghouls were… not of the most normal race.

"If you're able to stand, we should get moving." He explained that the bridge was not too far off from their current location, and if that Ghoul had been serious about getting Valissa back, then she'd be coming. They had little time to waste being here – barely drying out. The rain would be setting in soon. The winds have begun to pick up and the clouds were beginning to swirl overhead.

Valissa's ability to regenerate had come in handy, but with that being said, she wasn't able to keep the cold from taking over her form. A slight shiver took over. They would certainly have to get back home as quickly as possible. For that to happen, she had to stop relying on his hand to constantly be aiding her every move. Not that she did not appreciate Kaneki's efforts, but for her to get along in this world, Valissa really needed to begin stepping it up. Cold or not.

Through shivering teeth, she gave him the go-ahead. "Lead the way."

The way he leads her wasn't the same direction they had come from though. Yes, they had fallen off a high bridge. That train had been heading west = and if that were the case, they should have taken a moment to find their way back across the river to head east. Back towards the city. Instead, they continued moving in the same direction – west. Through many minutes Valissa wanted to question why this was, but she figured that he wasn't leading her to any impending door. Or perhaps he was determined to help her carry out the original plans of the day which had been to check out that prison.

Valissa began thinking about that – if it were true and what they may find. The attack that had been done saved her life, but she wondered if anyone else had been saved like she had or if lives were still there. Locked in their cells. Forgotten about like they were nothing. Or… worse, if they were still stuck in that same hell of a life. Going through the same feeding routine. The arena. Everything staying the same. Though, that certainly couldn't have been the case. She wanted to believe that the others who saved her would have also found a way to help everyone. No one else had been brought back with her though – she had woken up alone. So… where are they?

"We're here."

Thoughts broken by the realization that they had reached some type of cabin in the woods. It appeared run-down. Rotted wood lining the walls. Overgrown shrubs all over the land. Broken glass on the front windows, and what looked to be like millions upon millions of spiderwebs. If she didn't know better she'd say with confidence that this place had been long forgotten, and perhaps that was just the perfect disguise for them – and for whoever had been inside. Through the moth-eaten curtains, she could see a light on inside. And a bit of smoke coming from the chimney.

Like a mindless zombie, she followed behind Kaneki who took his steps forward. No hesitation. He had to know about this place. Knew who loved here because of the confidence he wore when moving – and knocking on the door. Or… he found this place and claimed it as his long ago. Now someone else happened to come across it… and he'd have to take it back. No matter what.

She shook this thought of violence from her head.

You have no right to think ill of him. He's only ever looked out for you.

With that in mind, she stood beside him while the locks on the other side of the door began clicking. Who opened the door was someone she hadn't met before but yet, he looked so very familiar. Thin frame. What appeared to be a permanent scowl on his face. Violet hair and matching eyes.

"You going to keep standing there or actually move your ass inside?"

Valissa hadn't noticed, but her companion had already stepped far into the cabin while she had been spacing out. Feeling rather foolish, she hurried inside just as the other male slammed the door behind her. Within what seemed to be a second, that same guy moved towards Kaneki. They shared some words – most unkind. All whispered. She couldn't be sure if these two were friends or enemies, but while they kept on with their chat, she didn't care much. Instead, she began to peek around the space.

The inside was just as beaten by the weather as the outside was. There was a roaring fire in a bit across the room, and the light she had seen was from a single, dull lamp set up by the single window. The rest of the cabin was dark, dusty, and smelled of mildew. Somewhat like her prison cell. A scent she truly found to be disgusting – now that she had finally been given the opportunity to smell the fresh earthy air of life outside that place.

With clothes still wet, feet began to move over on towards the flame. Taking a seat on the wooden floor, Valissa reached her hands out just to feel the warmth against her palms. At this, she smiled. This was an element she had seen before lighting candles around the prison, but never has she been able to see a flame so bright.

"What the hell do I look like to you?!"

Being irritated by something Kaneki said, the men shared another few words before she felt the familiar presence of the white-haired male standing close by. "We'll have to stay here for a while." Until they were dried off. "Walking in this storm won't be an option." At that, thunder sounded through the sky like a mighty roar of the Gods. Kaneki stepped closer, taking his jacket off and setting it to hang on a hook by the fire. "I've asked Ayato to bring us fresh clothes, but that won't do us much good now, so we'll wait until the storm passes. We should be good to go by then."

The name spoken had Valissa peering over towards the kitchen area of the cabin where the other man was standing, arms crossed over his chest and a demon-like scowl in his eyes. This wasn't directed at Kaneki, but more so at her. Valissa couldn't blame him though. She was a Devil after all, and they were creatures that consumed Ghouls.

… consumed… ghouls… food.

It's been a long time… hours since she had last eaten, and now the thought of a meal started to grow. Kaneki didn't sense it. From the corner of her eye, she was him casually peering deep into the fire. The veins on the side of his neck were… flesh… it looked delicious. She remembered all the times she refused to eat all those years ago. It still sickened her to think of such things, but this was her life. Her way of survival and Valissa needed to eat something. Now.

"Ka-Kaneki…"

The young man peered over to her, not needing to ask.