I am woken by my cold feet. Why am I so cold? My eyes flutter open and all my senses get assaulted by a foreign place.

I am in a strange house. I am in a strange bed and strange blanket. My teeth clank and I fold my body as if that will warm me.

I remember the river. The tides were too strong and then...the waterfall. I remember sinking into the black abyss after I got to the bottom of the waterfall. It is a miracle I can move my body at all. I am lucky I am only sore. I tried to swim but the water was too powerful. I sank and I thought I felt something touch my hand, but I had resigned myself to my death.

Someone saved me?

Panic sets in. If it's one of Shepherd's subjects, I know they will hand me in. The royal guards will probably be here to collect me soon. When I peel the blanket, I notice then that I am also naked. Whoever it was saw my body and they haven't covered me.

I need to get out of here and I need to run. I pull my aching body out of the bed. I feel all the ways my body is battered as I move, it didn't feel this bad when I wasn't moving. But I stuff down the pain and discomfort.

I need to run.

I know Shamus and the king won't stop hunting me and they will want my head. I am so stupid. I played right into Shamus's hand. He wanted me to run.

It would be easier killing me if I died while I was running than for me to be found murdered in my chambers.

The scandal.

I'm so stupid. I wasn't thinking. I didn't even think he was helping himself and his lover. They would both come out the heroes on the other end. With Shepherd already calling me a whore, it's no surprise the narrative they would go with.

I retreat my feet like the floor is biting me when I feel the cold. If this fall is this cold, how will be this winter then? And will I survive in the street?

I look around for anything to wear. The room is less opulent than I'm used to, its actually simple. But I don't fail to notice the portions of everything are slightly bigger.

The room is larger than any common peoples, the door is larger, the bed is almost as big as mine at the palace. I look around and there is one window. Where I am is surrounded by trees.

I limp to the small rack with some fabrics. I find a sheet and I wrap it around myself. My hair is already covered. I limp to the door.

I am being stubborn, but I need to see where I am and if I can run if I need to. I wince every time my feet touch the ground, the effects of running without shoes. Stones did their thing on my feet; I am afraid to even look.

I use the table to hold on when I feel tired. This is stubbornness, even if I had the energy, I won't be able to run anywhere. After resting I walk again. The door swings open and I stagger back, and I fall on my bottom with a scream when my eyes meet tusks and a sheer beast.

"Ah! Ow!" it feels like something is broken. The creature stands there with a pot in hand. I pant as tears run down my face. Is this creature here to end me?

"Please have mercy on me. I...I have nothing."

I see the creature's face morph into anger as it huffs, and it comes close. I feel each step as the floor shakes slightly. I pull my body and I crawl away from it.

"Stop."

Its authoritative voice shuts everything in me. It can speak? It can hear me?

As my insides calm, our eyes lock into one another and I gaze at him. The creature has piercing deep grey eyes. I see more the more I gaze into him. He isn't a danger to me. He saved me. But he isn't human, what is he? And where am I?

"I...I..." I don't know what to say.

He breaks eye contact and places the pot on the table before he bends down and picks me up like I weigh nothing. I wince as some part of my body complain but I will not voice it out. His arms are powerful, and I look at him closer.

My sheet slips when he places me on the bed, and I rush to cover myself with it. It's like he doesn't even see it as he proceeds to cover my body with the blanket. I watch, stunned and honestly afraid.

I have no idea what is happening right now.

I watch him move around. He gets out and I don't move an inch, not understanding what just happened and what is happening. He is the one that saved me? But why? And what kind of creature is he? He has tusks like an elephant? Is he a cross breed? Maybe he's a mythical creature? But those are supposed to be only mythical.

Then I remember, I have seen a picture of a creature like him somewhere, but I don't remember where. Maybe when I was young, I don't quite remember.

But he can talk, maybe I can ask him what he is. He comes back with a basket with leaves, and I don't move. I watch him, really watch him and he sits.

He takes the leaves and some tree bark. He takes a small clay mortar, and he grinds them. Is he making me medicine? Why is this creature being so kind?

I look around now. Is this his place? It looks well kept.

Which is a surprise. The creature looks like he could rip a bear in half with his bare hands, but his house looks well kept.

"Um..." I start. I want to start and say something. Maybe I should greet. "I'm sorry. Um, you know for earlier. I...uh, I didn't mean..."

He doesn't even stop what he's doing or acknowledge my speech. He takes a bowl and dumps the leaves and then adds water. Then he sifts the mixture in a cup, and he rises, filling the room. When it's just me the room seems big, but with him here, he seems crowded, he easily fills the space.

He places the cup on the bedside table. Then he returns to the table. He grinds the rest, and he rises when he's finished making more of the drink.

I don't move as I watch, fascinated by this creature.

He works in calm precision and contrary to previous observation, he is very much light on his feet. He cleans up where he was working and seals the pot where he made the mixture. His eyes turn to me, and he zeroes in on me.

I flinch at his intense gaze, but I am captured in those grey orbs once more.

"Drink." He says and his gaze falls on the cup.

I jump on it, and I take it. I don't know why but I don't want to disappoint this creature. Afterwards, he leaves the room. I notice before he closes the door, he is topless.

I shiver as I feel the cold, but he is naked on the waist up like he doesn't even feel anything. But then maybe he doesn't. Look at the sheer size of him.

I bring the cup to my lips, and I grimace at the taste. The door opens again, and he has another pot with him. He places the pot on the table. He stares at me and the cup.

He wants me to drink. I want to cry but I force it little by little. When I am finished, he takes the cup from me, but I hold on.

"What's your name? I am Aria." I say for the first time. I see a small flinch and I see his gaze lower. I look down and I let go of the cup, the sheet slid down again.

Wait, he noticed?

I shake that thought from my mind because it is something I need to be ashamed of. He moves and turns his back to me for the first time. It pings a little, I feel rejected.

"Igor." His deep voice fills the room and I feel his rumble in my very bones.

"I-Igor?"

He grunts before he piles food in a plate and turns to me. He pulls a chair, and he comes closer. I hold the sheet to my chest, making sure it doesn't fall this time. He brings a giant spoon to my mouth, and I realize he is feeding me.

I try to open my mouth, but the spoon is too big for me. I close my mouth. He retreats the spoon seeing our predicament. I ask for the plate and he hesitates before he places it in front of me.

He doesn't go anywhere as I pick it up and I start eating. The food is edible, but it isn't the best food I've tasted.

Did he cook it himself?

Does he live alone?

I didn't cook in the palace, but I was good around the kitchen when I was still living in my father's house. Maybe I can teach him how before I go. I eat slowly and he doesn't move. He watches me like he thinks I will fail at feeding my own self.

The silence between us is pregnant. So much between us. So must I want to ask. And he looks mildly curious with me. Am I the first human he's seen, knows? Where exactly am I?

"Thank you, Igor." I say, hoping it translates my gratitude.

He doesn't respond. So, he isn't talking anymore, or maybe he knows a few words. I lick my lips trying to calm my nerves. I don't know why but this creature and his scrutiny is making me nervous.

"Do you live alone?" I try again.

Silence again.

"Were you the one who pulled me out of the water?"

I may be mistaken but I see something akin to discomfort flash so briefly in his eyes I am convinced it's my almost drowned eyes that are seeing things.

He says nothing and minutes in silence stretch between us. When I am full, I push the barely eaten plate to him. He looks at the plate and then to me as if to tell me to eat some more.

But I hold his gaze, he can't make me eat. "I won't eat anymore, I'm full." I hope my voice comes out as strong as I intend. I am using my Queen Aria voice.

He smirks lightly but masks it quickly and I frown. Is he amused?

He takes the plate, and he starts eating. His eyes don't leave mine as he ravages through the food like a savage.

In a minute everything is gone, including the bones and my mouth is on the floor.

He gets up and places the chair back where it was then heads for the door. But he stops before he opens the door. "I found you on the riverbank." Then he is out.

He just spoke a full sentence to me. Then I process his words; he didn't save me?

Then who did? I think. Maybe a fisherman? But that is just silly, it was the middle of the night. Nobody fishes at night, especially at the waterfall and I am certain I fell.

Is there more of them, Igor's kind, then?

Where is the person who saved me? And how did I end up here? Why did they save me then leave me? I have so many questions and currently no answers. And the only creature who has my answers doesn't seem all that keen in talking to me.

So, he can speak. Maybe he is not very talkative. Or maybe he doesn't like humans, or maybe he has a wife, and he is not supposed to talk to other women.

So, mission one, I have to find out where am I and who this Igor is, get him talking. Why he brought me back here and what his plans are with me.

I hope he doesn't see me as a human pet because I am nobody's pet.

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