Erwin awoke with a start, gripping the blanket that had been placed over him. Disoriented, he gazed around at unfamiliar surroundings. He was inside a small wooden cabin. The crackling of a fire drew his eyes to the fireplace, its warm glow the only illumination in the darkening night.

Taking a moment to steady his ragged breathing, memories of the previous day's ordeals flooded back, the undead swarming the city streets, his desperate flight from the chaos. He'd run until exhaustion overtook him on an empty highway, and then...nothing, until now.

As his mind sorted through unanswered questions, movement in his peripheral vision caught his attention. A figure stood with their back to him in an open kitchenette area, busy at a counter. Erwin lifted himself to an elbow slowly, not wishing to startle them. His dry throat worked to call out a raspy "Hello?"

"I found you outside," they reply evenly, tone giving nothing away. "Thought you were a goner for sure." They return attention to the kitchen, continuing to work as they speak. "Got some veggie soup on. Eat up and get your strength back, then we'll talk."

Moving to the couch, they offered him a bowl of hot veggie soup. "Eat. You're safe here for now."