Nathan watched the portal above close before an oak branch smacked the back of the head. The blow caused a fall into unconsciousness on a flat bed of soft moss surrounded by tree roots.

A warrior riding a mare scarred by blade wounds heard the crack, a cry, and then observed the landing. He wore tattered robes, sandals, and a sword was sheathed to his sash. His brown eyes shaded by untamed wisps of hair quickly scanned the surroundings.

What appeared to be a young woman with shimmering black hair spread loosely around glowing pale skin took gentle breaths through parted pink lips with a whispering rhythm. The warrior stared for the longest time.

The garments this maiden wore were unlike anything he'd seen, they were neither robe, nor kimono, nor peasant clothes, nor battle grab. The poorly fit garments did much to hide a rather curvaceous figure. She was of fair complexion. All her features were smooth and petite. Dainty hands with soft skin indicated a lack of toiling labor.

The man on horseback blushed as the hoof of his horse scraped the moss to expose the dirt. His mouth opened a bit as if he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. In the distant interior of the forest a wet squirming sound of some mass of sloshing beasts grew. There was little time so he dismounted. First, he gave a quick respectful bow before running his hand along the left cheek to feel her breath. A moment later he lifted the stranger on the back of his horse delicately. Nathan's only complaint was a gentle moan.

Nathan finally awoke with a terrible ache in the temple. The back part of the scalp was sore to the touch. At first vision proved only a blur, but slowly gained acuity. A wreath of morning glories growing from the floor encircled the flat wood panel that served as a rather harsh bed. An oval pillow of carved birch wood was beneath his head, while now lengthy hair was spread over the torso side of the panel.

It was a simple dwelling assembled from finished maple wood. Sliding doors made from bamboo and panels of thin paper closed two sides of the room. The ceiling opened into a sky light revealing a star-filled night sky. Dragon-faced lanterns hung from the ceiling were providing a gentle light.

Nathan caught hair under the palm while attempting to sit up, so the back gave a little arch and lips tensed into a frown as eyes clenched shut. The back of an already bruised head smacked against the wooden head rest. A nasty exclamation ensued before Nathan carefully turned on the side, then swept the overflowing hair behind the back before sitting. The bruise on the back of the head again throbbed when touched.

Dried crusts were stuck in the eyes which needed to be rubbed out. They caused a few tears before a slender hand grazed the chest. Nathan cupped them with wide eyes and an open mouth. No one was here, so Nathan pulled the ragged shirt outwards and peeked. The staring commenced first, as they were large enough not to go unnoticed. Pinching one of them caused a flinch. Vaguely remembering what had happened, Nathan pulled the band of the pants outward and blinked while staring over the shirt bump.

"I'm a girl?" Nathan asked of herself, aware that she was speaking in a language foreign to her, yet understanding it completely.

"Yes, and that makes two of us," said a smiling young woman in a pink flowing kimono. A steaming bowl of broth rested in her hands. The sliding screen behind her remained open as she knelt with the bowl. She smiled pleasantly. Outside, the wooden huts of a village were visible in the moonlight. Soft lantern born light glowered from the windows.

"I'm Awlena," She said, "I saw you were awake and thought you might be hungry. You must be a brave traveler, not many people venture in the south forest anymore."

"Where in the world is the south forest?" Nathan asked.

"Your memory must be damaged from that terrible fall," she said, "My brother found you lying unconscious on the forest trail. You had no open wounds, thank the Divine. But never mind that now; you need something in your stomach."

Nathan lifted the bowl, sniffing its organic aroma. Differing shades of pale orange swirled in the brew.

"What is this stuff?" she asked.

"Carrot soup. It aids in the healing of bruises. You must be famished, so why don't you drink it? It's very refreshing."

"How do I drink it?" she asked, looking at the bowl.

"From the bowl of course," she giggled, "You must be from a very strange kingdom if I have to show you how to drink soup."

The hostess knelt on both knees and mocked lifting a bowl to her mouth with a slow delicate motion. Nathan knelt, lifted her bowl, and dared to take a first cautious sip. The hot carrot broth was remarkably good; she drank until the last drops were slurped away. Only then did she realize how hungry she had been. The girl in the pink kimono giggled some more as Nathan placed her empty soup bowl on the floor.

"What are you laughing at?" Nathan asked.

"You slurp your soup like a greedy man, and you left broth on your lip," the hostess said, "Where you come from, is that considered customary for a lady?"

Nathan frowned as she wiped her mouth with the sleeve of her shirt. "A lady..." She blushed. "I'm very thankful for your help, but I really have to leave. Could you tell me where I am. If I'm not home before curfew my dad will kill me."

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That is, Nathan thought, if he even knows who I am. Nathan coughed and slapped the throat with her wrist, as she was not yet comfortable with the delicate new timbre of this voice. Nahan wondered when this dream would end and suspected it wasn't going to any time soon.

"So, your father is having you to travel on an errand with Curfew, and he threatens to kill you if you fail to return first?" the hostess asked, "What kind of contest is this? He must be the worst kind of evil."

"Curfew is a time to return home. And by kill me, well... that was a figure of speech!" Nathan explained, "It means he'll be really angry. He's not evil! Really, he's not."

"You don't have to defend him."

"Really-- I'm not."

"Do you live in a desolate region?"

"You're not kidding it's desolate," Nathan said, thinking this place couldn't be far from home, "Most of the towns around here would make a village ashamed of itself. So, tell me, what are we near, one of the abandoned mines, a beer distributor, one of local garages? This area doesn't feel anything like my home, but if you point me to the nearest road, I can take care of myself."

The hostess moved in closely, examining Nathan with deep curiosity. She even sniffed Nathan's hair, acting relieved at the lack of a certain scent.

"You're quite a strange girl, possibly delusional from your ordeal. You should sleep. It'll be to your benefit if your mind is clear when you meet the elders. All this talk of abandoned mines, beer, and monsters is inappropriate for a lady. It makes you seem to be from a foul land, even though your smell is not unwholesome."

Nathan lifted an eyebrow and smiled politely, "Ugh, thank you? But you lost me somewhere between monsters and smelling wholesome. I'm very sorry, but this place is far too weird for me; besides, I literally have a ton of issues to sort out that you wouldn't possibly understand. All I ask is that you give me my school bag and my bike if you have them. I just want to get home. Thank you for your generosity though."

Nathan opened the outer screen. Outside was a flat plain covered with rice paddies and the paths around them for as far as she could see. Water sparkled under the light of the moon. Beacons of the fireflies blinked throughout the evening air; they created waves of glowing wisps that rose gently. Nathan stepped outside with a heavy breath.

The land was far too flat! Since when were rice paddies a landscape feature in Pennsylvania? Bare feet stomped hurriedly onto the first path outside. There were too many bugs flying around and it was difficult to see in the moonlight. Exhaustion crept upon any sense of balance that remained. A defeated yawn escaped slender pale lips. Torn pants fell into damp grass at the knee.

"I guess I shouldn't have drunk the broth," Nathan said sleepily as the hostess approached and knelt beside.

"We added only an herbal remedy for your cuts and bruises. The sedative properties are considered mild for most people. Please forgive us. We didn't know you wished to be off so soon."

------------------------

A flat field crisscrossed by stone paths crisscrossed the village to create a circle of connected dwellings. A large bathhouse sat in the center of the arrangement. A stone path graced the immediate proximity of the bath house. The pattern of stone walkways resembled the spokes of a wheel as three paths sliced through the gardens between the dwellings and bathhouse, which served as the hub. From these main paths branched smaller paths that separated one-acre fields, each field growing a different crop. The vegetables were varied into small plots of tall corn, spreading cucumbers, round cabbages, and bushy tubers.

Awlena harvested turnips in one of those fields. Her robes were of thinner fabrics with many patches. A round wicker basket filled with daikon and little red radishes. The soil was black, healthy, and loose. Vegetables of above average girth grew there. As she worked a man in well-kept brown robes crept up behind her. Awlena stood and turned to face him before he announced himself. He was the youngest of the male hierarchy, one of the few with no beard. His hair was still a rich shade of dark brown.

"What are you here for Hiruko?" Awlena asked.

"I'm here to beg you not discourage your brother's newfound love interest just yet. We may not know much about this girl, but he watches over her with such fondness while she sleeps. This could be a blessing from the gods, once Dew has a family of his own to protect, he will understand how valuable the peace of our village is and stop provoking our enemies with these foolish excursions. Then we will all be safer. Why daunt his hopes by telling him she spoke of evil things?"

"There are many Garahges in her land. People actually live among them. And she spoke of other strange things."

"What of that? If the Garahges respect her people they must be a strong race. The Garahges will always respect a strong people. Truly, she could be the perfect match for your brother. She will bear him many strong children."

"How can you expect her to tame him, when her people are wild themselves. She wanted to leave before she was well, she wears such strange garb, and her mannerisms are barbarian."

"Why must you prolong the end of our despair when we are desperate for him to settle? You know as well as everyone that this stranger is the only woman he has ever shown even remote interest in. Perhaps you are simply jealous?"

"Yes, I'm jealous of a complete stranger who has no interest in him and refuses to know him! And if she rejects him, that can only lead to greater harm. Have you thought about that? Not all women are anxious to settle down and bear children."

"I know you care deeply for your brother's welfare, but his ego is not so frail as you may believe. In any case, you cannot interfere if he chooses the woman he has saved," Hiruko said, "I know many times you have said he should show respect for the women of his village, but if no one here excites him, we must allow for a reasonable choice from outside. Remember, if he dies without an heir, this fertile ground will not have the protection of his line. The soil will fail, and demons from the desert will overtake the land. I wouldn't worry about her, as long as Dew maintains his interest, this village will make sure she can't refuse him. We won't allow your brother to suffer a broken heart."

"He's only twenty years old; there is still time for him to make a better choice. If we send her on her way now, we'll be thankful later."

"Yes, but we have never had a protector with such a reckless disregard for his life. If this chance is missed, we may not get another."

"What is your plan?" Awlena asked.

"We'll make her feel welcome. Dew will demonstrate his affection. Once she shows a hint of liking him, Dew will propose with a substantial dowry offer for her family."

"It won't work."

"We have nothing to lose. If she loses interest we can send her on her way. I doubt she cannot be enticed, but even if so, there is no harm in trying."

Hiroko patted her on the shoulder, smiling through his mustache, which contained a few gray strands. "If you worry too much, your face will wrinkle. The stranger will soon awaken. She must be bathed, dressed, and groomed properly before she sees her future husband. I'll have the elder women watch by her bedside; we must not be careless in this endeavor."

Awlena smiled with nod and a blush as Hiruku patted her cheek.