When she opened her eyes, Pha was immediately blinded by a bright, cold light. The table she found herself on was in a round operation room. Before she could shoot up, a tall person pressed her gently back into the chair.
"Stay still" the voice whispered as they held the hands over Pha's face. "You got hurt pretty bad when you fell. Where did you plan on going up there?"
"I was..." But Pha didn't finish the sentence because she actually didn't know the answer.
"You didn't have a chip so I just took you here and patched you up. But you're still not there yet sweetie."
"...Chip?" Pha answered with her eyes still closed.
"Yeah, haven't met one that wasn't chipped or at least used to be."
"You one of the old Ones? The old Elves that live up in the mountain."
"No that's just what we call you down here. Because you belief in the old Gods."
Slowly Pha opened her eyes again, still adjusting to the brightness of the artificial light. After a few seconds she could finally make out the tall person she was speaking to. The most gentle green eyes looked right at her. The brown skin glowed in the blue light.
"You're not a human." The person erupted in laughter.
"Gods no. There are no humans up here. They are all down at the Harbor. It's actually just a few of us. Hermits."
"Oh everyone. Humans that had enough, Elves that came up here to die... But we never had an old one with us. Last time one of y'all send out a seeker I still lived at the Harbor."
"I... I don't remember that."
"Could've been one of the other tribes. If you tell me a little bit, I can try to bring you back y'know. Can't imagine all of this being pretty for you..."
"...what's your name again?"
"Shit, I never told you. My name is Persephone, but everyone here just calls me Sophie. And you are...?"
"Never mind, you got hit pretty hard on the head, if you remember even where you are right now would be a surprise"
"Yeah... I... I don't know."
"Then I'll just call you... Aphrodite"
"Oh just one of the old Gods. My name is one too. My parents thought it was funny." A slight grin as they reached out for her. "You think you can stand?"
Instead of answering, Aphrodite reached for her hand. When she felt the solid ground under her feet, she lost her balance for a moment.
"Woah there. I got you." Sophie reached under her and started to support here. "Let's take you to bed."
Sophies bed was much more comfortable than the operation table. She just woke up, but Aphrodite still hat the urge to go right back to sleep.
"You found me a t the foot of the mountain right? Why did you pick me up and bring me here?"
"Are you saying I should've just let you die?" Sophie said with a smirk.
"No, but... isn't this dangerous?"
Silence. She never thought about it that way. Ever since she could think, she was told the people in the valley hated elves.
"Listen, I don't know, what you are running away from, but you are safe here. What do you remember"
Aphrodite closed her eyes. "I... it's more complicated than that... but it's still a blur."
"Then sleep." Sophie said with a soft voice and tucked her in. "I'm not going anywhere. Promise to the Gods."
A fragment for a bigger project I am writing on. Gods I love Sci-Fi x3