<div style="text-align: center">Ashley listened to her words, his own worries about his people and their safety somewhat put to rest. To hear that they were the only humans to surface in the nearby area concerned, if not confused him. How had this settlement flourished for so long through the nuclear wars and radiation? Ashley wanted to ask, but for now, he was just happy to be able to stay. It wouldn't be fair to his people to ruin their chance at safety and freedom.<br/>
<br/>
"Thank you, Anlaf. If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to see for myself how they're doing." Ashley said, meaning no offense to the woman. He trusted her as much as one could within the first ten minutes of knowing someone, but there was no telling if the Earl was being truthful. Plus, he was worn out from the journey over. While his injuries were not life threatening, his body ached from the cuts and bruises he sustained escaping the bunker. And the people they'd lost - good people- left Ashley with a heavy heart. He gave a nod of his head to the Earl, then turned to leave the longhouse with a heavy sigh.<br/>
<br/>
As he walked through the doorway, he stopped just a short ways out. There was a bale of hay in a cart and he leaned against it to catch his breath. Looking out at all of the people, and the health of the life surrounding him put a smile on his face. There was no denying that this place would be better than any other he had known, and he wanted to know how the others were doing. Ashley ran his hands through his hair and gripped it tightly, the act somehow grounding him and helping to clear his head.<br/>
<br/>
"Hey, Ash! Ash, hold up!" Rashid called out, followed by the sound of footsteps padding through dirt and grass. Ashley stopped and looked over his shoulder, a man with dark-skin and hazel eyes was running up to him. He was dressed in a tunic with a fur lined cowl and boots. "Hey, man. Where have you been? You missed out, the locals helped us with new clothes and food. This place is paradise. You've got to come see, it's great."<br/>
<br/>
"I met the Earl. This city's leader, and she's... something else. All her guards are women, and I seriously thought every one of them was gonna kick my ass." Ashley whispered to Rashid, and they both laughed. "But it's great. I can't complain. You look nice, how are the others doing?" He asked, and the two men walked off together to see more of Kaupang, laughing and chatting like two teenage boys.<br/>
<br/>
~~~~~~~<br/>
The sun was just setting when clear, blue eyes opened up for the first time since they'd arrived on the surface. There was a dull pain that lingered on her side, but it was nowhere near the level of pain Saga felt when she forced herself up earlier. She glanced around and saw that she was in a room, much cozier than anything she had ever experienced in the bunker. There was a basket at the foot of the bed loaded with fresh flowers, and a pale that was filled with steaming hot water. Her hand naturally gravitated toward her left side, where she caressed the cloth bandage that resided over the large hole in her skin. She suddenly remembered fleeing the bunker, falling somehow and being partially impaled by a steel bar sticking out of the ground. Someone must have helped her out, but she couldn't remember who it was.<br/>
<br/>
Saga began to sit up in bed, a quiet groan leaving her lips as her core worked to lift her body. She'd noticed that her clothes had been changed, and someone had gone through the effort of cleansing her skin of the caked on blood and dirt. <i>Where am I? </i>Saga wondered, carefully swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. Her legs were no longer bare, and the sweater she was wearing was nowhere in sight. Saga stood up, and walked over to the mirror situated on a wall near a tree stump. She was wearing a simple, off-white cloth dress with a leather apron and bralette that sat over the top of the fabric. Parts of her hair were braided, while the rest tumbled down her back in her natural waves. The cuts and bruises glistened with a layer of thick ointment, providing some relief to the minor cuts.<br/>
<br/>
"Hmmm." Saga stared at her reflection, feeling somewhat violated by the sudden change. She almost didn't recognize herself. Saga looked around at the room once more, and then decided to leave the small space. She was surprised when the door opened up to the outside, and was greeted by the giant, warm glow of the sun hanging over the sea. She had never seen anything like it. Saga looked away from the beautiful scene and at the bustling of the people standing before her. There were others from the bunker that she recognized who appeared to have only recently received medical attention as well. A garden full of green herbs and various flowering plants was off to the left. Saga slowly made her way down the grassy patch and saw a billowing pillar of smoke not too far off. She carefully made her way towards it, the distant sound of laughter and music causing intrigue. Decadent scents filled the area, and her stomach grumbled for the unknown foods.<br/>
<br/>
Saga smiled to herself as she approached the festivities. People were dancing and singing in a language she didn't understand, but it was truly a sight to behold. The other human survivors had joined in as well, but Saga stood off to the side watching.<br/>
<br/>
<i>"Saga! You're alive!"  <br/>
</i><br/>
The red head looked around when she heard her bunkmate Brenda's voice. A pair of cool hands covered Saga's eyes briefly, and she grabbed at them gently and lowered them. There was light laughter, and Saga turned around to see a petite, curly haired girl with lightly tanned skin. Like Saga, her old clothes had been replaced and her hair was syled in the local fashion, a colorful flower reef on her crown. "Brenda?" Saga smiled at the girl, who was mostly unscathed from the cave in. "What are you doing here? What is all this?"<br/>
<br/>
"It's our welcome party, I guess. Apparently we're the first humans to surface in years, and everyone is celebrating. I still can't believe that this all real," Brenda replied, her smile practically glued to her pink lips the entire time she spoke. "They have alcohol. You have to try it!" The blonde took Saga by the hand, and then led her over to a table with pint sized mugs filled with a foamy, amber colored liquid. Brenda didn't know whose mugs they were, but she grabbed one and handed it to Saga. "Here! You're going to love it."<br/>
<br/>
Saga put her lips up to the cup, the bitterness of the liquid almost causing her to spit it out. However, she continued to drink it. It felt like her body was being warmed from the inside out, a strangely pleasant sensation.<br/>
<br/>
"Ashley came to check on you today. You had a really dangerous fever, but the healers were able to bring it down and close your wound." Brenda explained, taking the mug from Saga after she'd finished. "Wait, are you even supposed to be out of bed? We were all told you would be out for the rest of the evening."<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know. I guess I feel fine. A little hungry, but I've never seen anything that looks, or smells like this." Saga said, quietly sighing to herself. "Anyway, don't worry about me. I think I'm going to say hello to the others." She added. Brenda didn't seem to be fazed by this fact, as she was already chugging down more alcohol and had found herself surrounded by handsome young men. Saga walked closer to the bonfire, then rubbed her hands together and allowed them to catch some of the heat.​</div>