Her parasol flew away from her hands when she's on her way to chase the goat.
"Stop there, Rumi," Nina yelled, but it ran along the shore and bleats, watching the river.
Nina sighed when she took Rumi in her hands, she's drenched and shivering in that cold.
"Why did you come here?" Nina asked and looked at the river bed.
"Oh, my," Nina muttered when she saw an unconscious man there. The river is going to overflow any moment, and he will be washed away if she doesn't pull him out.
Nina dropped Rumi on the ground and got into the river to get him out of here. She's hesitant to touch him first because he's barely clothed and she doesn't know whether he's even alive as there's no slight movement in him being in that freezing water.
"Hey? Sir?" She called, but no reaction from his side.
Nina rocked his shoulders and thankfully he growled in pain to let her know that he's alive.
"Goodness," she gasped and turned to see the water was rushing more. If she didn't pull him back to the ground, then they both would be washed away.
Nina grabbed both his shoulders and dragged him to the coast with much difficulty.
"Why are you so heavy, man?" she cried, seeing the approaching flood.
She stumbled in the mud gasping hard once they were out of the water and the stranger winced in pain as well. But he didn't open his eyes at all and she didn't have any clue about who this man was. How did he end up here? And what happened to him?
Instead of taking him to the house, she took him to the shed as it was much closer, as there's no more strength in her to drag him anywhere. She put him on the haystack and stood there nervously.
"Oh God, what am I going to do now?" she frowned and saw Rumi standing beside the stranger.
"This is all because of you, stupid goat," she gritted and went to the house to get a lamp, sheets, and other necessities. But didn't change her wet nightdress, she just covered herself with a coat.
Even though it's freaking cold, her mind is so occupied to save that stranger than anything else.
She thought it would be so much better if her father was here because touching this man is uncomfortable for her.
Nina entered the shed thinking it's her moment to save someone and she has to put the other behind. That man is shivering in the cold. Placing the oil lamp aside, she covered him in the sheets first and looked at his face. She can't believe her eyes because she thought he would look like a rugged caveman, but this stranger is so handsome.
While seeing his face, she noticed the scratch on his forehead. She wiped the blood off and nursed his wounds
Upon inspecting further, she saw a big stab wound below his abdomen. So this must be the reason he's half-dead, she presumed. Unusually, his arms and legs have curved fingernails and his perfect physique is rigid like a stone.
"Alas! What happened to you?" She muttered and tied a cloth tightly around his wound.
That must have hurt him badly, all of a sudden he came back to consciousness and grabbed her by her throat in defense. Nina starred in his glowing golden eyes, she had never seen a pair of eyes like that before and he intently looked at her face. Knowing that she's helping him, his mono eyebrows relaxed, he took his hand only to place it around her hip. Their lips were dangerously close enough to make her heart pound. She couldn't explain what's happening to her. There's something in his eyes which changed everything in that instant.
"You…" his husky groan sent shivers down her spine.
"Found me," he remarked. His voice is raspy, yet sweet.
She's dumbfounded and looked at this strange man. But before she could say anything, he fell on shoulders, unconscious.
His sigh gave her relief that he's still alive.
"Sir, sir. You need to wake up," she softly said and his grip tight to let him go.
Nina never thought, being in this stranger's embrace would complete her with this nameless happiness. But knowing that he could be someone dangerous, she pushed him aside and got up all flushed.
"What? Why am I feeling this way?" She panicked and walked to the door to calm this feeling.
The rain is pouring heavily now. She turned to look at him. "What a weird man," she frowned.
After making sure that he's warm and resting, she sat beside him looking at his peaceful face for some time wondering what he could be. He must have gone through something terrible. But she does not guess what it could be.
The most perplexing thing she noticed about him is how rapidly his wound is healing. She supposed he could be a gifted human and there she stopped imagining crazy things about him. It gives her an excitement to know more about him which she shouldn't do.
Nina placed one of her father's clothes beside him, in case he wakes up early the next day, he will need that and left some water for him to drink.
She doesn't have the heart to leave him alone yet she can't stay with him either. She turned to Rumi with a smile.
"You saved him, Rumi. He should be thankful to you," she said.
"Stay beside him, I need to go, have a good night,"
Nina walked into the house, there's no sign of her father, which is great. Locking the door behind, she changed her clothes and dried her hair before laying on the bed. Sleep engulfed her without letting her think further. One thing is sure, she can never forget this encounter, even in her dreams.
The next day, hearing the sound of chirping birds, Nina woke up. She stretched her arms and frowned feeling cold and feverish. But then she remembered last night and the stranger. It was her first thought in the morning. She quickly wore her coat before coming out of her. Her parents aren't at home, which is a relief.
The sun is up and it must be around half past nine in the morning.
There's no sign of yesterday's heavy rain, the sky looked so clear and warm. She came out of the house and walked to the shed, nervously.
She peeked in to know whether he's in there, her face turned sullen to find his absence. She won't deny she's upset. At least, he would have shown his gratitude by telling her goodbye.
Heaving a sigh, she walked into the shed. There's no sign of that man except that messy bed sheet. He has taken her father's apron but he has left something for her.
It's a black necktie, the fangs of some animal tethered as a pendant. She took that in her hand and thought, "Maybe he could be a hunter,"
She decided to keep it as a remembrance, that's the only thing left of that stranger who she might never meet.