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All was quiet, except for the distant sound of dripping of water onto the cold stone floor, leaking from some hidden away underground lake. The air was chilled, stagnant, it seemed to grow harder to breathe with each passing minute, and the sound of the clamoring hostile creatures around you only seemed to echo louder, closer.... It was overwhelming, how the blood dripped down from your body to the ground. You should have died, back when you were shot by an arrow and it just barely missed your eye, but you didn't. You held on by a thread, quickly blocking yourself into a small hole in the ground, praying for your life.
It was still a mystery, where you were and how you got here, and for a while, it seemed as if your stay would be incredibly short lived. Should you stay quiet? Wait for it to end? Do you try to make a break for it? Do you try to call for help? It was a difficult decision, especially when it seemed anything you do could spell out your untimely demise... Your body shook and threatened to collapse, and just when it seemed you had met your end, a familiar sound of a spider's hiss and the clanking of bones hitting the ground echoed through the caves.
But... How? Why?
Were you alone? Was this new presence friend or foe? Before you had the chance to properly contemplate this, the silence was broken.
"Hello..?"
A voice... Unfamiliar, and low with a slight quiver in their calm tone. "Is somebody else here?" Their voice was soft, gentle like the feeling of the crisp air of spring and flower petals on your skin, although it had an edge, as though it was rarely used.
It didn't take a genius to realize what state you were in. A more cautious and better prepared person might stay hidden away until the unknown presence had left, but considering how close you had come to meeting your end, along with the nearly guaranteed presence of unsavory company nearby, perhaps it would be in your best interests to take a chance. With a hesitant hand, you started to dig yourself out of the hole, immediately alerting them to your presence. In a heartbeat, the sound of a bowstring being drawn reached your ears, but when you finally dug yourself out, revealing the blood and dirt smeared on your face, the figure lowered their weapon.
"...Oh my god. You're hurt."
Within a heartbeat, the sound of heavy footsteps had made their way to your side, and you found yourself face to face with who you could only assume was your savior. As your eyes adjusted to the incredibly dim lighting of the torches on the ground around this section of the cave, you were gradually able to make out the features of the person who had joined you. From what you could see, they didn't seem like much of a threat, standing only at about 5'6 with a tense posture, even if they had on iron armor and a shield. Their bow was on their back, their axe hooked to their belt, and the only thing they held was a loaf of bread, which you soon realized was being offered to you.
"Here. You should eat, I have a few potions at my base, but this will do for now, and give you the strength you need so we can get you out of here."
With little other choice, you accepted the loaf of bread, nearly groaning as it hit your tongue. How long had it been since you had last ate something other than rotten flesh or raw meat? Before you could stop yourself, you had wolfed down the entire thing, and a small laugh alerted you to the fact you very much weren't alone, although they merely handed you another loaf of bread before pulling out a compass that seemed to glow in the low light of the caves, and started to walk. You could feel your body starting to regenerate, and you were grateful for their slow pace of walking. It gave you a chance to breathe, to heal, and it gave you a chance to examine your savior as well.
Your savior had long, messy curls that fell to their mid back, with pale skin, covered in freckles and small scars. The shirt they wore was slightly baggy, hanging loosely where it was cropped just above the waist, and if you listened closely, you could hear the quietest clanks of glass beads hitting one another as her footsteps jostled what appeared to be a belt. She appeared to be in relatively good health, despite the bruises and scarring that marred her skin, and she seemed to be in even better spirits.
Somehow, you found a strange sense of comfort in her company, even despite her hidden face. You could hardly bring yourself to comment, much less complain as she guided you through the underground, carefully fleeing mobs she seemed to be nervous about fighting, or defeating monsters that she couldn't escape from. By the time you had found yourselves at the exit of the cave, it seemed the day had passed, and the sun was setting behinds the hillsides of the savanna, casting the land in a beautiful shade of gold that reflected off of her vibrant green eyes and made her skin seem to glow. She was quiet, for the most part, only bothering to speak when spoken to, although on the long walk down a tidy trail, you had learned quite a bit about the individual who had saved you from that cave.
"My name is Lou, although some of my friends call me Lucky Lou. What about you? I don't think I've seen you around. What's your name? Are you a member of the birch nation or crimson dynasty?"
That was your first time having heard of either nation, and upon hearing this, she nodded with what appeared to be a solemn expression.
"Well... I suppose I should do my due diligence and inform you as to the different alliances, although I'm not affiliated with either of them. From what I've seen, there's two prominent nations in this world, the Birch Nation, and the Crimson Dynasty. The Birch Nation is run by the high duke, Frenchie, and the president, Mick. They're the founders, from what I've been told. The Crimson Dynasty is led by the notorious Reaper, although I have no stakes against him. From what I can gather, they just dislike birch wood to the point they formed their own nation, but I haven't been keeping up much with conflict. Personally, I remain a neutral party." She had an unreadable expression as she explained the order of the world, but at her mentions of being neutral, there was a brief flash of emotion in her eyes.
She seemed rather quiet for the rest of the walk back, seeming to become a different person when finally, you had made it to a well lit area with acres of well-maintained land. There was a warmth to the air as you finally stepped foot onto what appeared to be a path leading to a lively sanctuary. There was a small house, built around the trees on the hillsides, with a grand staircase leading down to bountiful fields of wheat and fruit, and a small pond with a waterfall. If you didn't know any better, you might've thought you died and went to heaven.
The moon had long since risen over the horizon, the pale light shining down on the land as she showed you around before guiding you to a small tunnel under the cabin, inviting you to rest, and when you opened the door, you were greeted by the sight of a small room made up of cobble floors and acacia walls with a small, cozy bed, a furnace, a table, and a small barrel for you to store your things. When you turned back, she stood at the door, her hands clasped politely in front of her, and she had a softness in her eyes. She spoke very little, only wishing you a good night, and making it clear you were welcome to stay as long as you like, and when you laid down in your new bed that night, surrounded by an air of safety and blankets that smelled vaguely of flowers, you realized that you may have just found your home, in this little sanctuary.
As you drifted off to sleep in that soft, red bed, you could almost hear her voice whispering into the dark of night, "Welcome home," it seemed to say, and when you woke to a barrel full of food and a promise of safety, you knew you were right. You made it out of that cave alive, and tumbled straight into a new beginning.