Add onto this story, I'm too lazy to make more.

When all hope was lost and Felrein fell silent from the pain of his wounds an unlikely scenario presented itself. A masked stranger moved silently beside the cookie monster. The demon wasn't even the slightest bit aware of their presence as if this person were an apparition. Maybe a delusion of Felrein's failing mind. Pitch black shadows enveloped the already dim room. They entangled themselves around the monster's own shadow created by the flames of the wood burning stove. "Ah, what's happening? Why can't I move from this spot?" questioned the gingerbread demon. Not saying a word the masked figure stepped in front of the creature before kneeling down to eye level. With a subtle movement of the masked person's hand they lowered it partially to reveal their face. From Felrein's position he couldn't catch a glimpse, but whatever the demented cookie saw was enough to make it wail a ghastly howl followed by a loud chomp! Chewing noises were the last sound made just as Felrein went unconscious.

In the foggy corridor of near death Felrein had a dream. That dream was of a world ruled by a great serpent. The snake coiled itself around the whole globe while devouring its own tail. As it ate itself the planet that was trapped in-between the giant monstrosity's form crumbled to dust. Then as the monster slew itself there was a great empty void left to be filled by something new. In the absence of what came before an inexplicable spark gave life to itself amidst an endless cold apathetic space! Felrein felt his consciousness being pulled as if by gravity towards the ball of fire! Quicker he hurdled into the bright light until it enveloped Felrein's entire soul and he found himself lying awake on a mat inside a tent. "...What? Where am I?" Felrein's whole body felt like it was burning, but he could still move with extreme discomfort. Looking around there appeared a silhouette outside the thin fabric of the tent that was moving about. Continuing to lay on one of his less sore sides the wounded man considered various options about what to do next.

Noticing his clothes were laying nearby on a blanket Felrein quietly crawled over to them and slipped back into the garments though they were a bit ragged from his earlier battle and covered with blood as well as sweat. Once dressed Felrein moved a shaking hand near the flap that opened the tent so he could eyeball outside. There was a person in a mask sitting facing the tent across from a fire. Felrein cursed his luck being spotted right out the gate by this unknown stranger. Hoping to have slipped away unnoticed he had no choice, but to see what the stranger's actions would be. Without a word the enigma motioned him to come from out of the tent and have a seat by the campfire. Hesitantly Felrein heeded the gesture. Slowly stumbling along on weak legs eventually brought him to the spot where he collapsed upon the ground awkwardly. It was a good thing he didn't try running as his current condition wouldn't have let him get far. "Ouch..." Felrien coughed out an exclamation while cussing under his breath for the rough landing. Sitting in awkward silence waiting for the mystery person to speak Felrein grumbles, "Suppose I have you to thank for still being alive. Thanks..."

The masked one doesn't speak. Using a simple nod they affirm Felrein's question. "Not gonna talk or can't?" Felrien rubs the back of his neck while waiting for another response from them. Though this time it appears to fall on deaf ears as the mask chooses not to give any answers verbally or otherwise. "Hmph...keep your secrets then!" Resolving to simply leave the conversation at that until something else prompted him to continue, Felrein just looked into the fire. It would be another long awkward silence before a sound would emanate from one of them in a loud gurgling noise!

Rubbing his aching belly Felrein grows hungry in silence. He doesn't wish to make it known to his potential captor as he hates being further in their debt. Still it's hard to not be obvious with his gut making noises and body becoming increasingly shaky. Suddenly the masked stranger gets up to wander over to a bag of goods nearby. Searching for a moment they pull from it what appears to be dried meat of some kind as well as some fruit. Going over to Felrein they hand over the small offering. With a quick sniff Felrein inspects the food as if suspicious, however it seems unlikely the person would poison them at this point. Taking little nibbles of the meat and fruit he tries to make it last as long as possible. Stomach churning for a bigger meal the pathetic man settles for what's clearly the only thing available. "It's alright...bit dry, but I can't complain too much, heh. Further in your debt I've become."

"Alright, what are you really? I mean you're keeping your face concealed and that could mean various things, however none of them are good." Pausing a moment to bite into his food Felrein follows up his question. "Don't speak much. Could simply be mute as well as disfigured." Another pause this time looking for a reaction. "Sorry that was rude of me, yet I'm only throwing out these thoughts cause you're leaving me to do all the guess work! Man could you just explain what we're doing here cause it's literally killing me waiting on this cold hard ground for the solace of some grand revelation!"

Finally growing exasperated Felrein jumps up off the ground in a huff to approach the masked individual. Reaching out to grip the covering over their face he's met with surprise as all that's revealed to him is dirt... From the ground. Felrien is now face down in the dirt as the stranger deftly sidestepped his reach allowing him to stumble forward from his own momentum. "Ah hell, that was embarrassing!" Felrein mutters while wiping a piece of dust from his eyes. "Had it coming though. You understand my frustration don't you?" He looks up at them to see they're extending a hand to help him back to his feet. He can't read the expression of the other person although he imagines they're smirking at the sight of foolishness.

"Alright this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to simply thank you for all the hospitality and head back to town. Can I do that?" Turning his head around to look for a familiar direction, Felrein discovers he's not quite sure which way town is. "Uh... actually where is it from here? Kinda hard in the dark to see a road." The masked one points in a direction. "That way? Ok...thanks!" With that he waves goodbye before making his way in a singular direction through the woods. There was no telling how far he was going to be walking, but it was what it was. If he journeyed in a straight line then it would only be a matter of time, right?

Thinking to himself that it would stand to reason no human being without a horse or some other mode of transportation could have carried off another person unconscious very far. Clearly less than a day's journey would bring Felrein back to town in no time! Listening to the crackling of forest debris beneath his shoes the man wandered ahead undaunted. Even as the first hour past he still couldn't imagine civilization would be too far off. Walking one foot in front of the other while crossing various brooks along the way Felrien never lost hope of returning to his job with the blacksmith. "I wonder what that old man thinks happened to me? Hopefully I don't get canned for abandoning the job on the first day. Of course they can't possibly understand my circumstances! Who would believe me if I said I got kidnapped by a voiceless masked individual after almost being killed by a demonic gingerbread cookie?" Felrien shook his head with a smirk. "Either way...oof," he felt his legs and sides burning, "I need genuine medical attention to address these wounds of mine!"

As Felrien walks in silence, he starts thinking to himself about how he'll even begin explaining to his boss about what happened today, wondering if he'll have to quickly make a backup plan just in case he gets fired. What will he do if that happens? Where will he go? A voice is heard suddenly from the woods, his steps slowing as he listens to...his own voice? Coming from the trees, ""I need genuine medical attention to address these wounds of mine!" Thick eyebrows furrow at the mocking tone...his...own voice makes back at him, standing a little taller in hopes that whatever is out there is scared by him. "Who are you!? Show yourself!" The sudden stinging of his sides and the flaring burn of his sore leg muscles is a reminder to Felrien as to why he shouldn't have asked for that. He's in no shape to take on whatever beast or creature is stalking him. "Who are you!? Show yourself!" The voice taunts again, Felrien growing confused as the only thing he sees is a mocking bird perched high above a tree, its head tilted curiously as its beady little eyes look at him carefully.