He’s starting to wonder if he’ll ever get out of this forest — since retracing your steps only worked if you remembered how you got there in the first place. ( Maybe he’ll starve to death first — not like it’d be the first time he’s faced that particular problem. ) He felt…more or less in a dream, but every time he checked his watch, the seconds continued ticking how they should. [ There goes that theory. ] As time continued to pass ( and how he knew it to, at that ) he hoped whatever amnesia fell over him would fade and he’d have some clue, no matter how small, to how he got there. If he’s being honest, he can’t help but think he had gotten into something he should’ve left alone — classic! Or maybe, more simply, he was just finally losing his mind. [ Something to worry about later. ]
Speaking of finally’s — A PERSON. He fights the urge to call out for them before he’s made his way over: he didn’t know this place or how it worked, probably best not to attract any unwanted attention… ( See! He could think things through first…sometimes! ) But she speaks first and apparently his situation is completely obvious, “ Uh… ” eyes look over how she’s dressed ( not exactly expected either, but at this point, what part of this was? ) before moving down to the dog. “ Yeah, I guess I am… ” he says, almost like he’s thinking out loud, but he kneels to the ground with his hand outstretched to let the dog sniff him. ( Maybe that’s him clinging onto something that feels NORMAL…let’s not think about it too deep. ) “ …Uh…where exactly am I? ” looking back up to the woman. He knows it’s an odd question to just casually ask a stranger, sure, but he’s faced enough in his life to stop caring about what others might think of him.
SHE SIZES HIM UP WITH A QUICK GLANCE, a study of strength and character and the like — all too happy to make easy assumptions on her part. A brow raises in suspicion as the dog trots forward, eager to greet their new guest ( or at the very least eager to oblige in friendly affection ); unlike she, no judgements were made on his part. The bundle shifts entirely under one arm, an impressive feat of strength in her own right, freeing up her other hand to dust the dirt and moss from her dress. When he answers back with his own question, she turns her attention to the path ahead of them. “ Just over half a day’s walk from the town of, ” she pauses, “ Pottsfield, I believe it’s called? But I live just down the trail. ” The family tended not to engage with other inhabitants of the wood ... for whatever reason.
Taking note of his strange clothing that didn’t seem particularly suited for the oncoming chill, her lips press into a visage of thought. She knew very well her mother would have her hide if she’d learned of her leaving a stranger out on the trail without so much as an offer to warm up inside. She sighs, almost begrudgingly if one were to read too far into it, patting the dog as he returns to her. “ In any case, night will be upon us soon and if I were you, lost and with no direction, I wouldn’t want to be caught in these woods. ” She grins a knowing smile, somewhat teasing in her own disbelief of what could be out there, but having heard enough stories to pass on the tale.
“ You have a name, stranger? ”