(Joe's POV)

After a nice talk at his cabin, Joe told his guests that he was going to chop some more wood, and perhaps mine. 

Suddenly, loud footsteps were heard, and Joe saw a lady with a hood on and auburn hair running through the woods with a panicked air about her.

The woman ran past him, but soon succumbed to exhaustion.

Joe dropped his pickaxe and went to go check on her.

"She's still breathing. That's good.", Joe thought as he rolled her onto a blanket that Joe had thought of bringing.

Joe almost thought of checking her total physical condition, but then kindly decided that she had a hood over her face for a reason.

So, with the few wood and stone he had, Joe built a hut around her to help her out, and watched over this stranger until she woke up.

(Grian's POV)

Grian had snuck away from Xel, because the chickens grew boring.

He had leapt into the trees and decided to explore.

Not too far away from the sleeping chicken flock was a man named Mumbo Jumbo.

Grian was nervous for a while, but eventually, he was more open to him.

"So," Mumbo started. "Where'd you come from?"

Grian stopped nibbling his steak as he thought about what he would say.

"A small town... called Phoenixborn near the Liula Volcano.", Grian lied. "It was said that the town was a gift to humans from the King of the Phoenix, Incantus."

Well, his dad's name was true.

"Fascinating.", Mumbo responded while staring at him, a look of awe on his mustached face.

"How did you come here?", Mumbo then asked.

Grian gulped as he remembered his escape. "I actually don't know. I just know that the town was attacked by something huge. And then, I flew north to this island."

That was a half truth.

Mumbo was looking at him with genuine concern and friendliness. It was nice to have somebody other than his parents to have that kind look.

"How about you?", Grian then switched the subject.

"W-well... I... fell into a vortex. I... wasn't chased. I just had a normal life, and then just fell with two of my friends.", Mumbo admitted while taking a sip out of a water bottle. "Want some water?"

Grian nodded enthusiastically, and took it, sipping at it with great thirst.

"Wow. You're thirsty!", Mumbo laughed heartily.

Grian laughed with him. "Says you! You ate all of the steak already!"

(Cleo's POV)

Cleo winced as she woke up, and saw a man bandaging up her wounded leg.

She lifted her head.

"Ah. Good! You're awake!", he says cheerfully.

"Owww....", she muttered.

The man looked at her with a concerned gaze under his glasses. "What happened there? You came runnin' past me and then fell!"

In too much pain to talk properly, she muttered softly, "kraken..."

The man sighed as his gaze glanced at her injured parts. "Well, as you collapsed, Ah took you in here. You're going to have to limp and wince for a while, ah'm afraid.", he said.

Cleo groaned, but then a sudden thought crossed her mind. "Did you take off my hood?"

The man gave her a small smile. "What? Naw. I assumed you wanted it on, and I'll respect that."

Cleo put her head back down. She sighed. "Thanks, then. Really."

The man nodded. "No problem, really. Do you think you can handle a little walk? It's safer in my actual cabin, even if it's half finished."

Cleo winced, but she responded. "I-I can try."

"Great! Here, I'll help you."