The warmth from the fire felt good as the cave was a bit damp and very cool. Derowynn held her hands out towards it's warmth, watching the flames dance and flicker inside the wood they were consuming. She started to realize that she truly did smell bad. It had been awhile since she bathed and she knew this needed to be remedied soon.
"What's your name, anyways? I've told you mine twice now." Her head jerked up as she heard Vadik speak again. She gave a sheepish smile before speaking to him for the first time. "I apologize for being so quiet. I didn't mean to be rude. I guess I am just, I don't know, shocked? confused?" A sigh escaped her as she poked at the fire with a stick, watching the embers float up into the damp air of the cave. "My name is Derowynn Hopkins. Dero is fine. I'm not homeless. My folks live in Lincoln, Nebraska. We were a military family so always moving from place to place and even after my father was discharged, we continued to roam around the country in an RV. I guess that wanderlust never left my blood and I decided to continue wandering when they decided to stay put."
Pulling off her shoes and socks, she stuck her feet by the fire and let out a bit of a satisfying sigh as if this felt good and was just what she needed now. "I was just in Denver. I love the mountains. And yea, I know, I stink. I took refuge in a dumpster to sleep so I didn't need to spend money on a motel room. I was working my way back to Lincoln and funds are short. So, you do what you need to do."
Looking up at Vadik she had a look of worry on her face. "I'm afraid, Vadik. What is this place and what was that thing that we saw back there? And what if there are more of them or even worse? I just want to go back home. I am done wandering. I will go to Nebraska, get a job and settle down. I don't want this. I want to go home!" At this she broke down crying. Her face went to her hands and she pulled her knees up to her chest and made herself small.