Obsidian had fallen asleep against the hard metal frame of the POD. The sunlight breaking through the trees woke him. He blinked, wincing at the sharp brightness and brought his hands to his temples to quell the pounding that rattled his brain. A course groan caught in his throat as he coughed at the unbearable dryness. He thought about the events that led him to the small clearing in the woods. His body, sore from the crash, was not as wounded as he had first feared. He swallowed hard and forced himself to stand.

Atop the POD lay two carved wooden bowls of what appeared to be water. Obsidian eyed it suspiciously but ultimately his thirst won out and he swallowed one of them down, letting it moisten his sandpaper tongue. Next to the bowls were a handful of berries and roots with an arrow drawn into the dirt that pointed off into the woods. When the water had proved not to be poisonous, Obsidian moved to eat some of the food laid out before him. He recalled the strange creature who seemed to speak to him through his mind and remembered the spinning lights of the world around him. It was possible he had given himself hallucinations with the mushroom he'd consumed and dreamt the whole thing, he considered, but the food and water was proof that someone, or something, had found him.

Now that his world wasn't spinning it was easier to focus on the POD. It was curious to Obsidian that the POD had stayed working this far out in the forest. As he inspected it closer, he found wires leading to a solar panel for power. Still, from what he understood, the POD should've only kept the girl suspended for two hundred years, and it had been nearly four hundred years since the Great Migration.

Who put her here? Why would they leave her? Did that creature do this to her?

He brushed aside dirt around the paneling of the door and found a timer, counting down in mere minutes.

He froze. The girl would be waking very soon and when she woke, she would most undoubtedly be suffering from shock and hypothermia. Obsidian panicked. Maybe the water and food hadn't been for him. He cursed himself for being so selfish and carefully moved what remained of it to a safe place away from the soon to open POD. He would need to find more water and food for her but even more so she would need heat. He looked around the clearing for options, but blankets didn't grow on trees, and he hadn't brought anything with him aside from the clothes on his back and his basically empty satchel.

He grabbed at anything soft he could find in the clearing. The fallen leaves and moss along the ground were cushioning enough to create a makeshift bed. He threw his satchel down as a pillow of sorts. They would have to do. As he finished, he heard the loud hissing of the POD opening.

Obsidian rushed to the POD. A cloud of cool air billowed out as the lid retracted open. He watched as the dense fog dissipated and revealed the sleeping girl, glittering in a light frost and motionless. A moment passed and he exhaled a dejected breath.

She didn't make it, he thought. A heavy lump formed in his throat. Of course she didn't make it. Who knows how long she's been here. It was just wishful thinking she could make it so far from the safety of the cities.

There is safety in the cities, and only death outside, the Regent's voice echoed in his mind.

He found his hand reaching for the hair that had rested over half the girl's face, and gently swept the long twisting curls aside. Drawing his hand along her cheek, he brushed away the remaining frost, his fingers lingering on the curve of her jaw.

Suddenly the girl jerked awake, gasping and choking. Obsidian rushed to scoop her from the POD. She shivered violently, her eyes fluttering open as she struggled to breathe. He laid her into the makeshift bed on the ground and pulled his shirt off to drape it over her, wiping away whatever ice he could see on her. It was all he could do as he held her close and offered his own body to warm her. Her skin was so cold that it chilled Obsidian as he rushed his hands over her body to create a warming friction. The shivering lessened as the girl's breathing became steady. He watched as she closed her eyes and her body melted into his and relaxed. Her chest rising and falling as true sleep overcame her. Obsidian imagined how much heat he was providing her now that he felt it himself as it built in his chest and up to his face. His heartbeat staggered and he bit nervously at his lower lip.

She's alive! Tears began to well in his eyes as he looked down at her face.

She was wet with sweat and condensation from her frozen state. Her cheeks had begun to pinken, her lips began to redden. She was beautiful.

She is Eve.

Obsidian thought about the creature from before. It had said she would need him, and she would be needed by all of humanity. For what, Obsidian could only imagine.

He watched her sleep, cradling her in his arms, afraid to let go that she might only be a dream. He breathed in the aroma of her hair. It wafted over him with a soothing floral essence. Obsidian had no way to tell time but assumed by the arch of the sun that she had slept for several hours. Her skin had begun to match the warmth of his own. He watched as her eyebrows furrowed together and then her eyes finally struggled against the intensity of the light to open. Her bright green eyes squinted up at him and then widened in shock.

She gasped. Her arms were weak, but she managed to push herself away from Obsidian. "Where am I?" she asked, sitting up, her voice hoarse and barely above a whisper. She clutched her hand to her throat and attempted to clear her voice. "Who – are you?"

Obsidian offered her the bowl of water. "My name is Obsidian. I found you," he stumbled over what words to say.

The girl eyed him warily. She took the bowl of water and slowly tipped it to her lips, all the while watching him curiously. "Why don't you have a shirt on?" she asked, holding the bowl over her lips like a shield. Her voice held a cadence Obsidian had never heard before.

His cheeks burned suddenly, and he awkwardly retrieved his shirt from the where it had fallen away from the girl. "You were cold," he swallowed, pulling the shirt over his head. It was hard to look directly at her now that she was awake. Her returning gaze judged him in a way that made him feel ashamed that he had stared at her beauty without her consent. "I found you still frozen in the cryo-POD," he gestured to the POD.

She looked to where it sat, lid open and nestled in a mound of dirt and moss, and her face twisted into anger and confusion.

"Do you know how you got here?" Obsidian asked.

The girl shook her head, "No, I – I don't remember."

"Where are you from?" he pressed.

The girl shook her head again, "No, I don't remember anything." She dropped the bowl, her hands falling limp into her lap. "I don't remember anything," she repeated.

Obsidian placed a hand over hers, "It's okay. I'll help you."

She needs you, the creature had said.

He wasn't sure how he could help her. He wasn't sure how he would help himself. He was still lost in the Outlands. He was still facing exile from the Regent. "Let's start with something small. Do you remember your name?"

She thought for a moment about it, her hand moved to the base of her clavicle where it touched something hanging there. "I – I think it's Ev – Everly," her voice and hands had started to tremble.

Eve.

Obsidian was shocked. How could the creature know? "Are you hungry, Everly?" The sound of her name quickened his pulse. Everly, he repeated her name in his head. He offered her what was left of the food, "You need to regain your strength."

Her hand moved automatically as she picked at the berries and roots given to her. For a moment they sat in silence as she ate. Her gaze wandered around their surroundings, occasionally glancing at Obsidian. When she finished, she sighed, "So how long have I been out here?"

Obsidian shook his head, "I don't know. I only just found you yesterday." He considered telling her it was possible it had been nearly four hundred years but thought better to leave it alone for now.

Everly looked around at the clearing and hugged her arms around herself, "What do we do now, Obsidian?"

Obsidian shivered. The only sound better than her name was his name from her lips. He cleared his throat, "We need to get moving – if you're up to it. The Outlands aren't safe. We need to get to a city." Even though he dreaded what would happen to him if he was to go back, he knew her best chance for survival was in a city. The Regent couldn't possibly punish her when it was clearly not her fault she was in the Outlands.

"Okay," Everly struggled to stand at first and Obsidian offered his hand to aid her. She glanced at it but didn't take it as she walked to the POD with unsteady steps. For a long moment, she simply stared at it, sliding a hand along its cushioned interior. Then she spoke, "I remember – we were leaving Earth to go to Eden Major." She didn't turn away from staring at the POD's interior. "Did we make it?"

Obsidian wanted to hold her, to offer some reassurance that everything would be okay. "Yes," he simply answered. Although he feared that the ship she was on hadn't. It was the only logical reason he could think of that her POD would end up out here all alone. Although he still wasn't sure who was responsible for modifying it to stay powered.

"What's this?" she asked after closing the lid to the POD and pointing to the dirt-drawn arrow.

"Oh, uhm, I was trying to remember which direction to take to the city," he lied. He considered he could've told her the truth, that some mystery creature had left them food and water and this even more mysterious arrow, but how could he explain all that without telling her he was simply lost. Waking up in the clearing he had realized he'd wandered off the trail of destruction he had been following back to the city. He didn't even know where to start to get back on the path. And besides, the creature had only helped him so far. It was very possible the arrow did lead back to a city. Telling her he was lost would only add undue stress to the situation. She didn't deserve that.

"Okay," Everly turned to the direction the arrow pointed to and began to walk into the woods.

"Wait," Obsidian called after her, he hurriedly scooped up the two bowls and placed them in his satchel before rushing to her side. "Are you sure you're okay to walk. It'll be miles," he asked, placing a hand on her arm to stop her in her tracks.

She glanced up at him from under thick lashes that shaded her emerald-green eyes.

A fire burned in his veins and flushed his cheeks. He let go of her arm as if the touch had electrified him. "I'm sorry," he said, feeling ashamed again to have touched her without her consent.

"No, it's okay," she murmured, "I'll be fine. We should get outta here before it gets dark though."

Obsidian nodded, enamored by her resilience.

They walked a great distance in silence. Obsidian found that he had subconsciously been following her as they made their way through the forest. She occasionally glanced back at him expectantly. He thought again about how he was supposed to be helping her. How could she possibly need him? He was useless. And when they got to the city, he would be exiled. Then he would never see her again. The weight on his chest had returned. He watched her long black hair bounce with every step she took. Some of her steps were more sure-footed than others and he resisted the urge to reach out to steady her on multiple occasions. He resolved himself to keep his hands off her until she asked. And then he got carried away wishing she would ask him to touch her. His face grew hot again and he shook the thought from his mind.

"Are you okay?" she asked. Everly had suddenly stopped walking while Obsidian had been lost in thought. It had been so sudden that he nearly ran into her.

He swallowed hard, "Uhm, yes, I'm fine."

"It's just that you keep shakin' your head," she observed. Her breathing had gotten heavier with exhaustion.

He cursed at himself. "Sorry, I'm just lost in thought I suppose," he admitted, his breathing equally heavy.

"Well, I need to take a break," she announced, resting on a nearby fallen tree. "Wanna tell me what you're so lost in thought about?"

"No," his answer came quicker than he'd expected. "I mean, it's nothing."

She raised an eyebrow, "Okay, well can you tell me how much longer we're gonna be hikin' through these woods?"

Obsidian paused. "No," he slowly admitted.

"Okay," she said, after a long pause herself, and looked off into the distance of the forest. "Can I have some more of that water?" She stretched out her hand.

His heart sank. "Uhm, there is no more," he confessed.

She smiled and looked at the ground, "Okay."

Obsidian burned with anger suddenly. "No, it's not okay!" he shouted. "None of this okay. I'm sorry but I – I'm lost," he turned to shout into the woods, "I'm lost! I was in an accident that sent me hurdling out into these woods and I just happened to find you in that POD and now we're both lost! And I don't know what to do or how to help you." He couldn't turn to face her; he was too embarrassed.

There was a long pause between them until finally Everly spoke, "It's okay."

Obsidian shook his head and turned to shout, "No, it's not! Why do you keep saying that?" A small gasped escaped him as he met her smiling gaze.

She was calm as she looked him in the eye. "I guess 'cuz I don't really have anything else to compare it to until I get my memory back," she shrugged. "It doesn't really seem all that bad. Sure, I'm tired and a lil' thirsty, but things could be worse. I could've woken up alone." Her eyes fell to the ground again.

The blood drained from Obsidian's face. What would've happened to her had she woken up alone? Would she have died of shock or hypothermia? He shuddered. No, he would do everything he could to help her. She was his responsibility now. "We should keep moving. We'll find something to drink eventually, I'm sure of it." He offered her a hand to help her stand and this time she took it.

"Okay," she said, looking up at him from under the shade of her beautiful lashes.

He clenched his jaw and forced himself to release her hand when she found her footing.

"Can I ask you something?" Everly matched his pace to walk beside him.

"Uh," he stammered, glancing sideways at her, "Of course."

"Are you okay?"

"What?" Her question stunned him, stopping him in his tracks.

Her hand reached up and tenderly brushed his forehead. "You've got all these little cuts. Was it a bad accident? Are you okay?"

Obsidian found all the air had left his lungs. She had only briefly touched him, but he knew his face had betrayed him. It was no doubt glowing with how hot he suddenly felt. "Yes, I'm fine," he stuttered. He met her gaze fully and was tempted to brush aside the curl that had fallen across her face again.

Everly smiled gently, "Okay, good." She turned to proceed on their journey and paused, waiting for Obsidian. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, of course," he stammered, joining her.

They continued at a steady pace through the woods, walking side by side. Occasionally Everly would catch a foot on the uneven ground and this time Obsidian made no effort to restrain himself as he caught her each time. The sky above them grew darker. The returning lights of the yellow-green bugs welcomed them into the night, racing ahead of them in their pulsating glow.

"We should stop for the night." Everly pointed to the base of a large tree, "Probably as good a place as any."

Obsidian nodded in agreement as Everly nestled into the arms of two large roots that rose from the ground. He sat at a distance from her, watching as she made herself comfortable in what little comfort the ground had to offer. After a period of struggle, she still seemed unsatisfied.

She cleared her throat, "You wouldn't happen to be able to make a fire, would you?"

"Uhm, no," Obsidian blushed at his excessive ill-preparedness.

The light of the twilight sky was growing dimmer by the second. It seemed a night without the moons visible would leave them in more darkness than Obsidian had experienced the night prior. In the fading light he thought perhaps he saw Everly's cheeks grow a deeper shade of pink.

"Do you think you could sit next to me for warmth then?" she asked, never meeting Obsidian's eyes as she hugged herself tight.

He moved quickly to her side but hesitated at the closeness of their bodies. Everly tightened her grip around herself and leaned into Obsidian's chest. He clenched his fist closed and wrapped his arm around her, telling himself it was only for warmth. The darkness continued to envelope them both and Obsidian quietly thanked it for hiding the burning in his face.

After a time, they both grew warm enough to fall asleep.

-

Light spilled through the rustling leaves above them, stirring Obsidian awake. He blinked away the sleep from his eyes and looked down at Everly in his arms. Her green eyes shone up at him with their deep clarity. Obsidian felt the red hot of his face glowing under her gaze.

"I need you," she whispered, closing her eyes to lean up and press her lips to his.

Obsidian closed his eyes and relaxed into the kiss, breathing in her floral scent. He unclenched his fist and ran his fingers through her hair, cupping her face with his hand as he kissed her deeper.

She pushed him back against the tree as she climbed into his lap, pressing her body against him. Her lips parted his and she deftly tasted his tongue with her own. Obsidian groaned, sliding his hands down the curve of her body to grip the angles of her hips. Fire burned inside of him. It rose from his stomach and spread to every fingertip. Everly ran her own fingers through his hair, pulling his head back as she tore away from his lips to kiss her way down his jawline. Obsidian's eyes fluttered open only to roll closed in ecstasy. Letting the darkness behind his eyelids swallow him.

"I need you," she whispered into his ear.

–

Light spilled through the rustling leaves above them, stirring Obsidian awake. He blinked away the sleep from his eyes and blushed, remembering the vivid sensations he experienced in his dream. He wasn't sure how he could dream something so confusing. It was nothing he'd ever experienced before. Certainly nothing he'd ever learned in his lesson modules about partnership assignments. He was still blushing, an unbreakable smile on his face. Obsidian stretched out his stiff body and looked down to see Everly was no longer next to him. He panicked and shot to his feet, spinning around to find her staring into the forest in shock. Obsidian followed her gaze and found what it was that left her so stunned.

In the middle of the forest stood a young man. He could've been no older than Obsidian with a similar build as well. He wore clothes stained with the pattern of the forest and a cloth that covered his neck and wrapped around his mouth. Some sort of long satchel was slung over his shoulder. Where his skin was exposed, Obsidian could see that it was a light brown that was barely lighter than the disheveled brown hair atop his head.

"You," the man mumbled through the cloth, pulling it down to speak more clearly, "it can't be."

Obsidian looked to Everly for any sign of recognition. She stood rigid and motionless. "Everly," he called to her. "Do you know him?" he asked.

Everly shook her head, slowly turning to meet Obsidian's gaze. "Behind you!" she shouted.

He turned but it was too late. All he saw was a shadow as something heavy collided with his head and then all was black.