Flashback...

"Hunters! Shit!" I cried out, diving for cover... er, diving into the water. I stayed under a few minutes, then surfaced, spitting out water. "Close one." I heaved a sigh. This was going to take some getting used to.

My thoughts were broken when I thought I heard a noise. I turned and looked all around, but found nothing. I started for the edge of the swamp and was suddenly smacked hard on my side, sending me careening into the rocks. 'Damn gator...' I thought, then blacked out.

"Such an amazing creature."

A voice? Well, I don't think it was in my head.

"Come on, wake up. Please?" the voice urged. Sounded friendly enough.

My eyes cracked open and I found a young woman smiling down at me. I groaned, but she kept smiling.

"That's a pretty nasty injury to your head. A decent size bump and several cuts, scratches, and bruises," she explained.

"Man..." I moaned.

"You can talk," she stated, still smiling. "Do you have a name?"

I stared at her blankly. Name...? "Ugh... I can't remember."

Her smile fell a little. "That, unfortunately, usually comes with a head injury. Memory loss, that is. Do you remember what happened to you? I found you washed up on the shore of the swamp hidden back in the hills."

Even though my head was swimming, I managed to grasp everything she said. "No, I don't, I... can't seem to remember anything." Beat. "What's your name?"

"Adalida. My friends call me Addy," she answered, her smile becoming full again. "Now, you need a name... atleast a temporary one until your memory comes back because I'm afraid I'm not very good at guessing a name without any clues."

"S'okay," I said.

"Let's see, then... what would be a good name..." she sid, then tapped her left index finger to her lips. "How about something simple... um... Michael?"

The name sounded familiar enough, but I couldn't place it. "Okay." I tried to push myself up.

"Oh, be careful. You've also got atleast a mild concussion, hence the memory loss. Here, I'll help," Adalida said, then helped me sit up. "So... how is it that I'm here talking to a five foot turtle?"

"If I could remember, I'd tell you," I said, regretfully, beginning to feel a twinge of annoyance.

"That's okay. Do you remember if there are others like you?" she asked.

That also struck a chord... ableit a very small one. Still, nothing was surfacing in my brain. "I can't recall."

"Oh. Well, in that case, are you hungry?" she asked.

"I'm starvin', despite the dizzyness," I said, giving her a small smile.

"I'll get you something to eat and something for the dizzyness..." Adalida said, standing.

"Adalida?" I asked.

She turned. "Addy," she corrected.

"Thank you, Addy," I said.

"You're quite welcome, Michael," Addy returned, with a smile.