"The cabin I like to call home is about 3 kilometres ahead, it's nothing special, but I should be able to fix you up with a set of clothes and something to eat. I assume you'll live until then?" The old man asked, raising his voice slightly to be heard over the cacophony of nature.

"I certainly hope so!" Avakian exclaimed cheerfully. "I haven't really planned for the alternative."

The old man barked a laugh, "You've certainly got a sense of humour, I had a student just like you back at the academy. I'm Andrew by the way; most folks call me Andy."

"A student?"

"Mhm. I taught sociology and intervariant dynamics back in the city for 25 years; I'd like to think I was a decent teacher, but I have a feeling the kids just used my class as an excuse to slack off." Andy chuckled as he toggled a lever on his rifle and slung it over his back.

"Let's get a shift on now, as you can imagine I have more than a few questions, but I'll restrain myself until we get a roof over our heads and I treat that wound of yours. You have a name you're particularly attached to?"

"My name is Avakian Gray, either Avakian or Gray is fine I suppose"

"Avakian it is. I can't say I've met an Avakian before, must be an uncommon name." Andy mused while stepping over a thicket.

The journey towards the cabin was relatively silent, punctuated only by Andy's advice on how to traverse a particularly nasty bramble. Andy made good on his promise to not ask questions, and Avakian was mostly occupied by his ruminations.

'Andy alluded to more of his ilk back in this 'city' of his, it must be some kind of gathering place for intelligent beings. Perhaps I can ask Andy for more information, it is obvious my knowledge of this world is quite lacking.'

---

As the duo crested the top of a knoll, the cabin made itself apparent before them. Contrary to Andy's comment, it was a rather large affair, two stories constructed entirely of lacquered wood, complete with a porch and balcony.

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Andy creaked open the door to reveal a large common room, furnished with several armchairs, a geometrically-patterned rug, and several other amenities one would associate with the word home.

"Stick around here for a second while I grab you something to wear"

Andy rounded a corner into a corridor, and Avakian heard the sound of footsteps ascending time-worn stairs. He took the opportunity to peruse the decorations in the room.

The walls were festooned with a multitude of musical instruments, including a violin, a cello, and a large cylindrical wooden pipe with primitive paintings of animals on the outside. A framed picture portrayed Andy in his younger years, along with what was presumably his wife and young daughter.

Andy appeared back from the corridor holding a pile of simple clothes and a pair of plimsolls, Avakian noted the absence of anything mustard-coloured, something he was glad for.

"Get dressed but keep that shirt off; I still need to disinfect and dress that gash." Andy said with a wince. "How'd you even get a wound like that? Looks more consistent with a stabbing than anything that could have happened in a forest."

"A piece of glass hit me in the stomach when my pod crash-landed" Avakian deadpanned.

"Pod... Crash-landed?" Andy gave him a look packed with scepticism, and sighed. "Avakian; know that I would help you regardless of your circumstances. Telling me what actually happened could let me better assist you."

"That is what happened!" Avakian protested. "I awakened in a pod about 9 hours ago, I don't have any memories before that."

Andy looked thoughtful as he dabbed at Avakian's abdomen with a cloth smelling of antiseptic, before seemingly coming to a conclusion.

"As unbelievable as that sounds, I don't doubt you believe it. After you get settled I'll go back out and look for this pod. Could you describe what the surrounding area looked like?"

Avakian could, and did; he went into detailed prose about the landmarks, the terrain, and the type of trees he spotted. He even took time to describe the jay that he attempted to start a conversation with.

"Yep, I think I know where that is. Looks like you crashed at the bottom of Aemon's forest and then wandered downfold into the plains. I should be able to make it here and back in a couple hours."

---

Avakian relaxed and sat back in a reclining chair with a bowl of stew that Andy had made before leaving on his trek. His wound had been taped up, and he had been given specific instructions on where to find specific items should he need them.

Andy had also left him with several books to read whilst he waited, the one currently holding Avakian's attention was called "A Journey to the Depths". It was a fictional account of a valiant swordsman called Arthur, who was tasked with slaying a mythical beast located near the centre of the world. He had just made it up to the part when Arthur had saved the day for the seventh time using the power of righteousness when sleep decided to take ahold of him.