It started early in the morning as he was practicing his swordplay in his forge when he got word of his mothers death, the news shook him enough for him to go into the nearest Inn and drink until the sun was starting to set, through the day he told people of his bad luck and then they replied with a dirty look or crude words, by night he was wasted and alone easily unbalanced Regi stumbled through the streets of the city reaching Cricket the Gryphon and stroking his mane, "I need you to fly me anywhere but here, and then return to the stables once I'm gone" he slurred to the beast as it tilted it's head allowing his partner aboard and flying into the sky.

He awoke with a feeling of something rubbing his face, opening his eyes to the searing pain of an oncoming headache he noticed the grass coated in the morning dew. his hungover brain making his ears hear booming drums every time a simple bird or animal called out, the young blacksmith stood running his hand over his face feeling the parched feeling in his mouth and head off trying to find water, as he walked through the forest he thought back to the night before remembering falling from the gryphon and the wind flowing through his hair as he hit the ground with a thud, he didn't feel sore until the man ran a finger over his back the searing pain making him gather his senses.

When he reached the stream Regi didn't hesitate diving his head into the water, gulping a lot of it and almost throwing up from the hangover before slumping against a rock looking over the clearing and at the waterfall. He needed to clear his head but even then would it help him as he walked towards the waterfall throwing off his shirt murmuring "I'm no warrior, I'm no Hero, How do they expect me to help save everyone!" as he sat letting the water hit him causing a small amount of pain to flood through his body from his injury, he tried to concentrate closing his eyes and breathing gently.

Akira had finally made her way out of the deep Umbral Depths. It was a nightmare she will not wish to repeat again any time soon. The caves were deep, and dark, and full of scary monsters that growled and roared. Some even had big wings and tried to carry her off! All because she had bought into the story of treasure. Shiny baubles that she did need.Now, she seemed to be in a completely different trial. These trees were pretty in their vibrant red color, like little drops of red apple skins. Yet, everything looked the same, each tree seemed almost identical, and Akira got lost relatively easily. It did not help she had no way to find her way home to Rowan. Her stomach growled, reminding her she was quite famished, and really thirsty too.Akira began to sniff around, hoping for a scent that would lead her to nourishment, some morsel to snack upon until she can get to a town. Her ears quirked, trying to pick up the sounds of any water near by. And hopefully, such water would carry fish for a proper meal! Until she found such hints, she kept going, hoping not to get too turned around.Finally, she heard the rushing sound of water, faint and in the distance. Excited, Akira ran, giggling. When she got to the river, she fell to her knees and began scooping the delicious cool liquid to her lips, slurping loudly each time. A twig behind her snapped, causing the startled kitsune to fall into the river. Struggling to stay above the surface, Akira coughed and sputtered, yelling for help. She was carried by the current, closer and closer to white foamed water. It moved faster, until she was swallowed up by the river, and tossed out to fall with the water fall.

At last, she managed to get up above the water surface once more, barely managing to escape the undercurrents, flailing and coughing. "Help! Can't swim.''

His eyes opened at the sound of splashing, confused on why another person would be so deep into a forest this early in the morning he glanced around through the water seeing some one struggling as he stood and ran to the side of the river he heard the girl shout "Help! Can't swim" without even hesitating Regi dove into the cold water, ignoring the sudden temperature shock of the depths, feeling the current try to take him deeper down into the water he swam quickly reaching the woman who he now noticed had a tail and ears quickly wrapping his arm around her and helping her to the surface he spoke quickly "It's okay, I got you" dragging her on to the river bank breathing heavily as he laid on his back, looking over he noticed the girl was out cold probably from all the shock she had just received from struggling against the rapids so he decided to get up to find firewood and some food for when she woke up.

When he returned the sun was at noon but the Autumn weather made the air colder than normal, sending cold shudders down his spine as he slipped on his dry shirt, allowing the warmth he then got his sleeping bag out his bag, before getting to work on lighting the fire using a small amount of Sun Scorch to allow heat to quickly build up fending against the cold outskirts of the wind, he then looked at the small girl with a sigh he realised that she would get hypothermia if she kept wet clothes in, Sliding her into the sleeping bag before taking her clothes off trying his best not to look, he put the dress next to the fire so it could be dry for when the fox girl woke up. he spent the rest of the time reading notebooks and drawing still trying to figure out where he should be going in life now that his last family member was now gone from the world.

Somewhere under the water, seeing the light sparkle above her, Akira passed out. She didn't feel a set of arms grab her, did not feel herself breach the surface. Nor had she noticed that she had been undressed, or placed in a sleeping bag. There she slumbered for a little bit, finally getting some actual rest versus that light sleep she had in the Umbral Depths, fearful she would have been eaten.

The sound of crackling fire roused her from her slumber. Golden eyes peered up at the man who had rescued her. While she lay snuggled in the sleeping bag, feeling the glorious warmth it had to offer, she was both fearful and thankful to him. Akira did remember seeing his face floating above her, moments before the blackened obscurity of sleep claimed her, and it was the only reason she did not run. Because of him, she may be able to return home to Rowan… Wherever that was.

Sitting up, and quite unabashed about her current state, as she was still quite young and naive, Akira crawled closer to the fire. Here, she sat and began to ensure her tail was dried and groomed. All the while, her golden eyes kept sliding over to look at the man, as if she was deciding how to act around him. "I Akira. Thanks you save me." Akira said softly, earnestly.

He quickly threw the kimono at her, averting his gaze, "Names Regi, sorry about that had to make sure you didn't go into shock after pulling you out" he poked at the fire with a stick before handing some of the heated dried meat over on a pan lid to her, "It may not be a great meal but hopefully it should do for yeh" his cockney accent slipping out as he spoke before he concentrated on his own food which was a simple stale bread and heated pine tea, for some reason deep down he felt like he didn't deserve much else, his mind drifted to the young child in front of him, "I have to ask kid, Why are you in a middle of a dangerous forest like this?".

While waiting for an answer he got back to making a wooden spear that he would use for catching fish before trying to find which way was back to the nearest airship port, mentally facepalming himself at the fact his drunken state had caused him to almost forget all important materials including his weapon and more food, as he looked at the spear tip poking his finger on it as he slid it into the fire to harden the wood, realizing the girl might be scared of the fact he was making a weapon he pointed to the river trying to suggest he was going to use it for fishing,

The fox demon picked up her clothing with a questioning look. Why did he throw it at her? Slowly, she pulled the kimono back on, her tiny fingers tying a clumsy knot in it. For a moment, she had gone back to grooming her tail when Regi slid something over to her. Sniffing at it, Akira picked up a piece of the meat and brought it to her nose for closer inspection. With a gleeful sound, Akira bit into it with a look of innocent, pure satisfaction.

Cocking her head, Akira watched Regi, contemplating her answer to him. She saw the wood he was whittling, saw the sharp point at the end. What on earth could that be used for? Her eyes followed it as he placed it in the fire. Why make something if you make it burn? "I lost in cave." Was her only explanation. She had gotten lost in the Umbral Depths and found her exit into this forest. But with her broken common-tongue, it was hard to fully express herself.

Akira looked at the river, and back at wood, and back again. Finishing off the piece of meat she had grabbed, Akira ran toward the river suddenly. Stopping right at the edge, Akira peered into the water and saw the silver shine of swimming fish. Quick as a flash, Akira grabbed at it, only to fee the fins slip from her grasp. With a frown, she attempted again. From behind, she looked like she was in danger of falling right back in once more.