13.1 Discovery

You're suddenly met with a blindingly intense pain in your head. Exhaling softly, you find it difficult to summon the strength to move or even open your eyes.

"Is she dead?"

You quickly stop trying to move at the unexpected and unfamiliar voice.

"Move back." You hear another voice reply.

A moment later, you can barely make out the feeling of someone's fingers on your wrist. They stiffen slightly when you're unable to stifle a soft groan. The pain coursing through your body is quite unbearable.

"She's alive." You hear the voice continue to say and the grip on you loosens. "Can you hear me?"

"What's going on?" You barely manage to breath out, feeling increasingly dizzy from the pain.

Your hearing becomes slightly muffled as you're increasingly distracted by the intense throbbing in both your head and leg. You can tell more words are being spoken, however, are unable to concentrate on what is being said. Your body stiffens in surprise when something cold and wet presses against your cracked lips. You feel your eyes **** themselves open when you realize it's water. Surprisingly cold droplets run down your parched throat, eliciting an instant coughing fit. You feel a steady hand slip behind your back, quickly helping you to sit up. Your vision is still slightly blurred and the pounding in your head has only increased.

"Easy there." The same voice as before speaks in a gentle tone. "You're okay now."

Clearing your dry throat, you blink slowly before turning to face your rescuers. As your eyes continue to adjust you begin to slowly make out the figure before you. A crop of raven black and shaggy hair covers the unknown man's head. As your eyes continue taking the stranger in, you make out dark, almond shaped eyes. High cheekbones grace the otherwise wide and tan face of the man before you. His brow is furrowed and a concerned frown tugs his mouth to one side of his face.

"Are you real?" You inquire in a raspy voice, not entirely sure you're not just hallucinating.

A melodic chuckle meets your ears and you see a slightly playful grin tug at the corner of the man's lips. Instead of answering, he reaches forward, pressing a cold flask against your mouth again.

"Gentle." He warns, a slightly indescribable accent making his voice surprisingly relaxing.

Just appreciative to have a drink, you slowly sip the cool, refreshing liquid. When you're done, you look around and startle visibly upon noticing the man's entourage. Two other figures are standing in the near distance, watching you warily. Your eyes are immediately drawn to the man directly ahead. Piercing blue eyes are staring intensely at you through a mop of reddish brown curls. His square face is covered in a thick yet surprisingly well-kept beard. Feeling slightly uncomfortable by his gaze you quickly avert your attention to the last man.

He appears to be the youngest of the group, somehow still maintaining a bit of baby fat on his otherwise lean face. Pale green eyes look at you rather apprehensively, their color only enhanced by his olive skin. Messy, dirty blonde hair hangs around his face, a long strand having been pulled back in a haphazard braid. You feel a blush creep against your sunburnt face as you feel all eyes upon you. Gingerly, you raise a hand and nervously brush your disheveled hair from your face.

"We heard yelling," Your attention is quickly drawn back to the man by your side when he speaks again. "But even I was skeptical we'd find anyone."

"I fell," You mumble, starting to regain your memories.

"I don't think you broke anything." The man replies somewhat reassuringly, his hand unexpectedly moving to your injured leg.

A wince quickly spreads across your face when his fingers brush against the scraped skin. Your blush deepens when you look up to see the other two men are still watching.

"I'm fine." You find yourself saying quickly while leaning down to move the man's hand away. "Who are you again?"

There's a brief pause while the man's sharp eyes examine you carefully. Eventually the hint of an amused smile returns to his face.

"I'm Sam, that's Dane and Adam." He replies, nodding at the man before you then the younger one off to the side.

You glance at each man somewhat warily before finally responding with your own name. Your vulnerability is acutely evident as you have no idea of these men's intentions. However, you're also aware that you're in no shape to continue on your own. You take Sam's hand when it's offered and allow him to help you off the ground. Grimacing slightly you can tell you'll be unable to put all your weight on your injured leg. Seeming to understand this, the man gingerly slips an arm behind your back. Tentatively, you lean your weight against his lean frame and follow him into the unknown.