When Victoria's eyes opened, she was met with a blurry, bright world in shades of green and grey. the ringing in her ears was deafening and she had a splitting headache. something moved in her vision and her head snapped to the left to try and focus on it unsuccessfully. she tried to move her arms, but she couldn't and all she got was a sharp pain for her efforts. she inhaled sharply through her teeth at the pain.

“where am I” she demanded, knowing that if she was tied up she was up against a smart enemy that wanted something from her, meaning she was not in risk of dying if she spoke up.

rapidly blinking the world gradually became more clear just as she received her answer.

“Australia” announced a gruff voice from behind her.

now that she could see the world she could tell she was in some sort of abandoned city. grey buildings were covered with overgrowth and beginning to fall apart.

She turned her head to try and see the source of the voice, but she couldn't turn it far enough in her current form and she didn't want to push the patience of her captor by trying a transformation.

“where in Australia” Victoria asked again, seeing conversation's the only way out of this situation

“the middle” replied the voice

Victoria couldn't help but chuckle, it was absolutely useless

“fine” she said, frustrated “what are you”

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“More human than you” replied the man “what are you?”

“less human than you apparently” replied Victoria pettily

the voice gave a brief chuckle before she felt a kick to the back of whatever she was tied to“you want in control here, don't play smart with me” they threatened

“fine, I am a hunter from Beowulf, it's my job to track down and kill monsters, usually, this mission was supposed to be a mission to evacuate fringe settlements, but clearly that didn't go as planned. I am human; however, I have monsters’ organs implanted into me giving me power” she exposited dryly

Victoria was left alone in silence, she could hear stubble being scratched as if her kidnapper was in deep though

“I'm taking a risk here” announced the voice “but I'm going to let you go, on the condition that you don't try anything, and stick with me”

not being in the position to barter Victoria nodded her head as much as she could in the restraints.

a light sawing motion could be heard before with a pop her arms for free, another few seconds and the rest of her was free as well.

he raised her arms above her head, stretching, she had had an awful ache in her spine and now she could finally get rid of it.

Victoria turned to see the face of her captor. he was a man, with a stubbly chin and moustache, he held a spear that had been fashioned out of some kind of animal bone and he was clearly a local.

“I didn't think that there was anyone out here Victoria said

“you wouldn't” replied the man “they're always surprised”

“how did you survive down here”

“luck and skill”

Victoria chuckled, she had heard something similar before, from Mel, the thought of Mal brought a smile to her face, even in this place.

“the name is Victoria by the way” she said holding out a hand for him to shake

“garth” replied the man shaking her hand vigorously with unnatural strength “charmed”