There was a spark, that fundamental moment between consciousness and death. The first thing that he noticed was the warmth. A gentle weight resting over his body trapping the heat his body created. It felt soft and comforting as if standing next to a blazing fire against a cold breeze. Warm, but not hot, cold but not freezing. Just somewhere in between that made him feel at ease.

The second thing he noticed was the pain. Everything in and out of his body ached, the sharp pain of muscles being overused and torn. The twisting feeling of a stomach that has been empty for days. A small groan came from him as he attempted to adjust himself. Unaware of what was causing him so much pain, his vision was met with only darkness.

At first, he feared that he may have gone blind. But after lifting his hand back up to his face he found that from the middle of his nose up, had been tightly bandaged by some sort of thin cloth. He winced as his arm fell back down to his side. Disturbing the comforter and sheet that were laid on top of him. It was not the worst pain he had ever felt, but unlike those pains, this one was all over.

His ears picked up what sounded like a crackling fire. Unsure of how he arrived in this place he started to think back as far as he could. The last thing he remembered was seeing a bright light in the distance, along with a sweet-sounding voice calling to him. Besides that, not much seems to pass through his mind as far as memories go. He remembered his name, callsign, rank, and team members.

"What...happened to me...? Okay let's go over what I remember. I woke up in a frozen wasteland with suppressed powers, my name is.....my name is Gabriel. I was looking for Jericho and Trissia before I saw that bright light. Hmmm I....I dont think I'm dead, but if am what kind of shitty afterlife still let's you feel pain?"

Gabriel wasn't really sure who he was speaking to. Perhaps to himself? He often found filling silence with words calms him down when he was stressed. But as he lay there pondering his situation all he could feel was confusion. On top of everything his throat was incredibly dry, and his thirst was making itself known, along with his hunger.

Another groan of pain escaped his lips even though they felt dry and cracked. Just then another sound caught his attention. The distant muffled sound of a door quickly opening then closing. Along with footsteps in what he could only assume to be another room in a small house. These wraps around his head prevented him from seeing, and Gabriel briefly entertained the idea, of pulling them off. Though it was quickly dashed as knew next to nothing of his condition and worsen any injuries he might have sustained.

The footsteps could still be heard from where he lay. The crackling fire doing little to mask their presence. Was this the person that had saved him? If so, why? What did they stand to gain from keeping him alive? He was in their debt to be sure, but what would they ask for in return? These questions clouded his mind so much that he only heard the footsteps again, when they approached the door, that seemed to be the room he was currently in. He stopped moving the instant he heard the door creak open. What sounded like boots against a wooden floor slowly approached the bed he lay upon.

A soft feminine sounding sigh was heard from his side, before the sounds stopped. He wasnt sure why as he could not see, but soon enough his answer came in for of. A presence on his forehead a warm fur covered hand rested there as if taking his temperature. While another pulled the covers he had disturbed back over his arms and chest. Then he heard it again that same sweet sounding voice.

"Oh my...your finally awake. I was beginning to wonder if you would ever wake up. Can you hear me? It looks like you've moved around a tad. I'm just here to make sure your feeling better."

She said pulling her hand away and taking a step or two backwards. To give her patient some space to breathe and talk. Gabriel wasn't sure what compelled him to answer, but something about her voice and the gentle touch she had. Made him feel safe and comforted strangely. Although he could not see her he still turned his head to where he thought she was and spoke.

"Y-yes....please if you have any water. I-I would greatly appreciate it. Where am I? And I hope this is not rude...but who are you? And why did you save me?"

Gabriel asked unable to keep the questions from pouring out. He felt ashamed demanding so many things from someone who just saved his life. And presumably tool him into their home to recover. But these questions were burning and needed answers. But the woman stayed silent through his words listening intently. And she responded in kind her voice carrying a hint of amusement with it.

"It is quite alright I do not mind. Can you sit up? I have a pale of water right here next to your bed. I'll help you drink some with the ladel inside."

Gabriel would give her a nod another moan of pain coming out, as he slowly started to push himself to a sitting position. His bare back leaning against the slightly chilly wooden wall. A shiver running down his spine, the sound of a pale of water being moved in front of being all that heard.

"Open up and we'll get you something to drink. Be careful not to drink to fast okay. Your probably still in a lot of pain."

She softly commanded as she lifted the ladle full of water to his mouth and tilted the handle forward. He sighed as the cool liquid touched his lips, and he greedily began to swallow it down. The soreness in his mouth and throat disapearing with every sip. He almost didn't hear her speaking to him as she dipped the ladle back into the water to give him another drink.

"To answer your questions my name is Nightingale. And you are inside my cottage. When I found you, you were on the brink of death so I managed to drag you back to my home. To try and nurse you back to health. As to why I saved you, it was just the right thing to do. I would have done the same for anypony...or any creature in your case hehe. What about you? Do you have a name?"

After he had his fill she set the pale back down next to the bed. And Gabriel took in a much-needed deep breath. His chest and lungs burning and aching from overuse. But he managed a small smile, as his head turned back towards who he now knew as Nightengale. A strange name to be sure, but he was not willing to voice his judgements to his savior.

"Yes thank you kindly I owe you my life Miss Nightengale. My name is Gabriel, and my gratitude knows no bounds. But I have to ask...did you just say anypony? What exactly does that mean?"

Nightengale paused her smile slowly fading as her head turned to side in confusion. This strange creature had asked her a question that nopony ever had before. She stared at him as if he had grown a third leg and hummed in thought. Of course she knew the answer, but she thought everypony did.

"Well...it mean referring to other ponies like me. And I said every creature because your not a pony. Or at least you don't look like one. What are you might I ask? I've never seen any creature of your kind before. And it's very nice to meet you Gabriel."

A small memory flashed in Gabriel's mind of when he saw her for the first time. She was obviously not human with her muzzled face and, large eyes and, ears. But she somehow spoke his language and walked on two feet as he did. He didn't get to see specifically what she looked like. As the blizzard clouded his vision at the time. She referred to herself as a pony. He knows he's heard that word somewhere before, but he just couldn't place it. Not while his mind was racing like it was now.

Gabriel's eyes were still bound by the bandages around his head. But given what she had said what he experienced couldn't have been a hallucination. While thinking about his eyes he brought one if his hands back upto his face and touched the thin cloth. A heavy sigh coming from his mouth as he spoke once more to Nightengale

"Um...Miss Nightengale I must ask. Did something happen to my face? I'm afraid I don't remember much about what happened."

She tsked and gently grasped his hand with her own. Pulling it away from the bandages as she spoke in a slightly more commanding tone.

"Hey! Don't touch! I just changed those bandages last night. I was going to change them again before I realized you were awake. You got a lot cuts and scrapes from the wind, and when you fell down. I dont know if your eyes were injured, but I wrapped most your head to be safe. I-I suppose if you'd like I could remove them. And fetch some new clean ones. As long as your promise not to touch!"

Said Nightengale still holding his hand in hers. His hands were so cold. They lacked any natural coat like she was used to seeing. It was no wonder he was practically frozen to death. His whole body only had a small amount of hair. And he certainly was not dressed for that type of weather. After realizing she had been holding his hand the entire time she let go. Her face gaining a small bit of pink as she pulled her hand away.

Gabriel felt her touch to be quite strange. It was so unusual to be touching a hand several times smaller than his. And this hand appeared to be covered in a thin coat of fur. It was very warm, but not unpleasant only a little strange. Regardless of this Gabriel nodded to her question and stayed still to allow to her work.

"If you would not mind that would be very helpful. And I promise I will not interfere with your care, and thank you."

She hummed in approval as she stood closer to the bed. Leaning over him to the point where the light from the fire was blocked out by her presence. She traced her hand along the side of Gabriel's bandaged head earning a small wince from the human. She squeaked and stopped pulling away with a hint of concern in her voice

"Eep! S-sorry I didn't mean to hurt you. I was only trying to find where I tied of the bandage.

Gabriel quickly raised a hand in placation and spoke in a gentler tone than he usually used.

"I-its quite alright Miss Nightengale. It was more surprise than pain. Please continue and ignore my winces. I am nearly not used to injuries such as these"

A small moment passed by before Nightengale released a breath she wasn't sure she was holding. While she thought it would be rude to say she was slightly terrified of Gabriel. He was rather large and strong looking. And provoking his ire was the last thing she wanted to do.

"V-very well Gabriel please tell me if it hurts too much okay? I would hate for you to be in any more pain than you already are."

Nightengale said her voice wavering slightly as she went back to her work. Running her hands along his head. Trying her best to ignore the winces and grunts of pain. Eventually she did find the small knot she tied to keep the cloth in place. And she sighed in relief as she untied the knot, and began gently unwrapping Gabriel's head.

Gabriel could feel the cloth being pulled away layer by layer. His eyes remaining closed as to not be poked by the cloth. The last layer made him wince once more as parts of the bandage stuck to his face. A sure sign of nasty cuts have crusted over with blood. But the light from the crackling fire washed over his eyelids as Nightengale pulled away from him. And with some effort he slowly pulled his eyes open. His vision blurry from the tight bandages restricting his sight. But with a few blinks and a focusing on the fire in the room a few moments passed until his sight cleared.

"I-I...I can see! By the gods I thought I had gone blind. Miss Nightengale you truly are a....miracle....worker.."

Gabriel exclaimed his voice trailing off, as his head turned to face Nightengale. There it was the muzzle, the eyes, and even the ears. He had already seen it once before, but yet it was still so shocking to see it a second time.

"Is...there something wrong Gabriel?"

Nightengale asked her soft voice and large portraying the concern, that he had only heard upto this point. Where ever Gabriel was it certainly wasn't earth. At least not anymore it wasn't a hint of dread creeping up his spine. But he quickly swallowed it down taking deep breaths to calm himself. Forcing himself to look back up at Nightengale after he lowered his head.

"N-no Miss Nightengale I am just still a little shaken from yesterday. Forgive me if I seem jumpy I've been around too many ponies hehe"

Gabriel said with a nervous chuckle, and Nightengales gaze softened. And she seemed to sigh in relief as she set down the bloodied bandages. Giving Gabriel a quizzical look when he mentioned the day before.

"Yesterday? If I remember correctly Mister Gabriel you've been unconscious since I brought you here. And that was about eight days ago. I've been doing my best to give you food and water since then. Hoping that you would awaken eventually and tell me how you eneded up in the tundra. O-oh....did I say something wrong?"

She asked as Gabriel looked at her with hid mouth slightly agape. A look of shock and horror plastered on his face.

"E-eight days!? That's a little over a week! My companions were with me! You didn't happen to find anyone else out there did you?!"

Gabriel said in a panicked voice making Nightengale take a few cautious steps back. A wince appearing on her face as she watched him groan in pain while attempting to stand. She quickly rushed back to his side as he swung his feet over the side of bed and onto the floor.

"No! Please don't try to stand your far too weak you'll hurt yourself. I promise I did not see any others out there. I went back and checked after I brought you here. There was nothing even after the storm ended. I saw nopoby else if it makes you feel any better I can tell you what I saw when I found you"

Said Nightengale managing to keep Gabriel seated on the bed. And he let out a low growl as he his legs shook from even the smallest amount of weight placed on them. Soon enough he nodded looking back up into Nightengales concerned deep blue eyes. She was much closer now and the fire seemed to illuminate her form. So much so that he was now picking up more details of her body. Her fur coat was a very dark blue nearly black. Her eyes were a bright piercing blue, and slitted much like a cats would be. Her muzzle had two small fangs protruding from her top lip that glistened in the fire light. She smelled strangely wonderful, a hint of lilac and lavender. Her clothes were rather simple, her tunic was a slightly lighter shade of blue than her fur. And a white undershirt could be seen in the v shaped hole on its chest. Her hair was past shoulder length. And was a lighter shade of blue than coat and it somehow shined in the light of the fire.

Her clothes seemed ro exemplify her features in a way he had never seen before. He did his best not give her chest a size as he felt it disrespectful, but it more than generous. Gabriel felt his cheeks heating up as he realized he had been staring after not answering her question.

"O-oh...well I would like to know if you wouldn't mind. My family was with me, and I have to find them."

Nightengale sighed in relief as Gabriel stopped struggling and sat back down on the bed. Pulling over a chair from a desk that Gabriel hadn't even noticed before she began her tale.

"Well it started when I came home from market day a little over a week ago.."

Author's Note

This story is going to subject to alot of edits and rewrites ^^;. Right now getting someone to proofread it for me. Sending me any mistakes I make. So I can only hope it gets better from here.