Yawen (Part 1 - Entering Alryne):

"Yawen!" A young boy shouted from a distance, busy picking a flower from a dark nook of a tree.

"Yes, Xavier?" Yawen shouted back as she started heading in his direction. She had picked up a few words already, mostly basic ones like yes, no, more, thank you, I am, you are. It allowed her to talk very brokenly, but she was not worried.

She loved languages and always learned them quickly. Hence why she already knew over six before her forties, while also having worked and gained her Phd.

This might sound insane, but most of the people she worked with had similar talents. All of them being the top in at least one area.

"Look what I found," Xavier said excitedly as he showed Yawen the flower he had picked. Taking it from Xavier, Yawen looked at it in curiosity.

The flower looked like a rose, petals tightly packed. Yet the color was strange, it was slightly glowing blue while having purple petals. Taking it to the shade of one of the trees she could see the glow clearer.

"Wow!" Gala exclaimed, having completely missed the glowing effect while the flower was in the sun.

"It's beautiful," Yawen said, wishing she knew the words to allow the children to understand her. Looking at it she also wished for something to write on, wishing to note down the lovely moment.

They continued to explore, making sure to bring all the interesting and tasty things to Yawen for her to see. Soon she was fully covered in flowers and fruits.

{"We should head back now,"} Gala said, her brother pulling her sleeve as he wanted to go and find more things.

{"But the sun isn't down yet…"} He complained, causing Yawen to giggle.

She might not understand what they said, but she knew that tone. The tone of a child pleading for more of something, even though the child knew it was wrong. It reminded her of her daughter Tracy who would always want more and more if they would allow it.

The thought saddened her for a moment as she wondered if Edvard was alive. Whether he had dematerialized like many others, or whether he was somewhere safe or somewhere dangerous.

The kids stopped their fighting when they felt the sadness suddenly coming from Yawen. They quickly tried to cheer her up, Xavier putting his complaints behind him and helping Gala lead their new friend to their home. Hoping that a change of scenery would make her feel better.

Gala smiled brightly as she managed to reel her brother in for the first time, though she was worried why Yawen suddenly became sad. The joy of victory however won over her worry and caused her to strut proudly into the village.

Brimming with pride she led the worried Xavier and lost Yawen to her home. A cozy small wooden house on the outskirts of a farming village. Only twenty houses making up the entire village.

{"Oh! Who do we have here?"} An elderly man asked with a kind smile as he struck his farming fork into the tilled earth.

{"Papa, this is Yawen. Isn't she pretty?"} Gala answered as she hoped a flame would ignite between her papa and Yawen. Xavier and her having lost their mother some years ago due to a severe case of the common cold.

The elderly man had a few gray streaks in his hair, but his physique was good. Hard work had kept his body in shape, but also taken a toll on his bones. He was starting to feel it more with every passing day. Especially on rainy cold nights.

{"She certainly is, almost like your mother."} The elderly man said, ruffling Gala's hair and looking up at Yawen. {"Where are you from?"}

Putting her worries behind her, knowing it would do no good, Yawen looked at the man. Realizing it was a question but not how to answer, nor what was asked.

Luckily the kids took over and explained how they had found her on their way back from the Palika trees. A small natural orchard growing near the village.

{"Oh, you can't speak?"} The man asked, the kids quickly shaking their heads and explaining that she spoke a weird language.

{"I see. I am Piér,"} The man said, indicating to their village after introducing himself, {"And this is our home, Alryne. You are most welcome here."}

The man was slightly apprehensive hearing that the woman his kids had brought home could not speak their language. However, he was not one to show someone out for such a reason. Like most in the village, they cared not for what nationality someone was.

They cared only if the person was a good person, and Yawen had yet to show any indication of her not being someone decent.

{"Thank you,"} Yawen said after realizing that the man was welcoming her. Not knowing the customs of the land she slightly bowed her head, following the kids who dragged her to their home.

The house was amateurishly constructed. Made of wood and gaps large enough for a finger or even a hand often visible. Windows were simply places where no wall was, the door flimsy at best. In fact it would not take more than one or two pulls to ruin it.

Yawen did her best to not show her frown to the kids or Piér. She did not wish to seem ungrateful, but the house did not seem welcoming to her.

The inside was not better than the outside, in fact, it was far worse. The furniture was basic wooden structures crudely made, the floor a dirt floor. In one of the corners fruits were stored in baskets, with some having fallen out and lying on the ground.

In the center of the room there was a hearth, the entire house just one room. No toilet, no bedrooms. No privacy.

'This is better than sleeping outside,' Yawen comforted herself even though she did not agree with the sentiment. Finding that they did not even have beds did not help her convince herself.

What they used as bedding was just a bit of hay thrown over the ground. Allowing one to not be mud-covered when waking, but certainly not doing anything for comfort or even hygiene. Especially since she doubted that they would use new ones often.

It did not seem like the village had such a luxury based on the state of the houses.

...

Desperately clutching at his neck. Gasping for air. It took Edvard some time to realize that he could breathe normally. That there was no blood. It took even more to realize that he was in fact fine.

However, as he realized this he came to realize again that he was naked in a forest. Having no idea if this was the same area or not.

Yet he could not contemplate what was going on as a headache assaulted him as he tried to stand up. Falling back down he screamed in agony, his screams drowning out the howl of a wolf.

That was until the wolf walked through the dense vegetation and entered the small clearing Edvard was lying in.

Staring at its snarling mouth, Edvard forgot about the headache for a moment. However as he tried to climb onto his feet, the headache brought him back down.

Soon, he died again.