Alaric's eyes cracked open.
The cave ceiling came into focus above him. His vision swam slightly before steadying.
He groaned, pushing himself upright took more effort than it should have.
His body felt heavy and sluggish.
He sat there for a moment, then brought both hands up to rub at his face. One hand moved to his head. Scratched through his hair absently.
He looked around.
And blinked.
"How did I get here now?"
The words came out confused. Genuinely uncertain.
Then his gaze gone down.
Clothes hung in tatters, shirt torn across the shoulder, sleeve barely attached.
Deep rips ran down one leg of his pants. Dark stains covered the fabric. Blood. Some of it dried, some still tacky.
He looked around.
The cave itself looked like a war zone. The massive crater dominated the back half, edges. Scorch marks streaked up the walls in black patterns. Chunks of rock lay scattered across the floor.
"What the hell?"
