I woke up to a different sensation than what I remembered last. I was warm, and covered by something soft. The surface below me was not the hard ground I recalled falling to, but a cushioned bedding that was gentle on my bruised body. It drastically differed from the last moment I remembered after grabbing my power-dampener rings.

My eyes began to open slowly and a warm glow of kitchen lights flooded into the living area. I started to take in my surroundings. I was carefully placed on the living area couch and covered with a plush blanket. Also, all of my injuries from my battle had been treated and carefully bandaged to prevent any further harm.

The room was relatively simple. A Monitor close to the couch was powered down at the time. Against one of the walls was a bookshelf filled with varying styles of books in size and color. There was a little in décor, but I didn't see anything that showed any connection to anyone I knew.

A sound came from the kitchen, and I noticed a woman was in there working on something. She had brown hair, but the front area framing her face was a blond color. Average human-size height, and a fit build that suggested she took care of herself. It looked similar to what that agent was doing for the Doctors. The smell that came from the kitchen caused my empty stomach to growl. It was loud enough that it alerted the woman.

She turned and looked at me and jumped with surprise, almost dropping the pan in her hand. "You're awake! Thank goodness! I was starting to think I would need to take you to get professional medical help. Though I don't know if that would be a hospital, witch doctor, or a vet."

That last portion she muttered to herself, trying to prevent me from hearing. She put the pan back on the stove and started serving the food on two separate plates. After grabbing some forks, she brought the plates over to where I was and sat down next to me, being sure to avoid sitting on my feet.

"I'm not sure what food you like but," she passed over a plate, "I figured you would want something a little gentler on the stomach."

I hesitated and reached and grabbed the plate. I hadn't remembered the last time I had this kind of kindness and care since Maria. It looked like a simple meal. Light on seasonings as well, but it did smell good, and my stomach wasn't going to let me go without any food for much longer. I grabbed the fork and began to eat. It did satisfy the hunger quickly and I easily began to regain my strength.

"Good," the woman stated. "I'll make you more flavorful meals when you start feeling better. When I found you, you were quite hurt. It's going to take some time for you to heal. I think. I haven't seen anyone like you around here. Other than the ones on the news."

I blinked.

She covered her mouth for a second. "I'm sorry, I'm talking a lot. You're probably still tired. Once you're finished with your meal, I'll clean the dishes and you can rest some more. You can stay here as long as you need."

We ate in silence for a bit longer. Once she finished her plate, she took both empty dishes back into the kitchen and cleaned them. After that, she came back and readjusted the blanket on me before turning to go to another room. Before she closed her door, I had to express my gratitude.

"Thank you." My voice was a horse.

She stopped in her tracks and looked at me in astonishment. After a moment, a kind smile spread across her lips. "You're welcome. My name is Esme."

"Shadow."

Her head tilted a bit. "It's nice to meet you, Shadow. It's late, get some more rest and we can talk in the morning.