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Her lips twitched into a brief, reluctant smile. Teenaged boys were always hungry. She supposed that it oughtn't be a surprise that this one would be especially so after his ordeal. Rather than commenting on his obvious hunger, or the fact that he shouldn't be apologizing for nodding off, Alice stood and returned to the kitchen.

It was a bit late to be cooking a full-fledged meal, assuming the boy could even stay awake long enough to eat it, but she had plenty of other food about. Rummaging through the cupboards, she produced the morning's bread, some cheese, dried meat and fruits, and piled them up on a plate. She set all of that as well as a mug full of water at the table for the boy.

"It won't do either of us any good if you keel over from starvation," she informed him.

Shaking her head at the boy, Alice handed him silverware before placing a bowl of treats on the floor for the grimalkin. Then, she took a seat across the table from him and sipped the tea she had brewed for herself.

"What were you doing all the way out at the Ward Tree?" she asked. It was rare enough for anyone to willingly venture into the Wood, but it was unheard of for any but Chosen to go to the Tree. Until now, she had never heard of any but a Chosen even knowing how to find it.

"No, I suppose they don't," she mused. Most had long since forgone the Old Ways. Modern advances were so alluring, and all tangible evidence of the spirits had been missing for so long that people had fluttered away to greener pastures. Human memory was remarkably short-lived.

"But your efforts don't seem to have helped you any." Not if the wolves were going after him regardless of his supplication.

Alice was dubious, to say the least. "I should think that there are easier ways to get that point across than sending a pack of wolves after you," she pointed out. "Especially as they have not been seen this far south in centuries."

There were always stories of wolves to the north, but it was another matter entirely to actually see them in the very heart of Sunderland, Wardwood or no. Still, there was one thing to be said for his theory. "It would explain how you made it out alive, however."

The woman gave him an odd look. "You must not leave the Wood very often," she said. "Every town in the north and every village bordering the Wood has its own group of volunteers. Militia, I suppose. They patrol for the beasts, do their best to protect their people against them. From what I hear, Oldcastle seems to be the best organized. But there are groups all over."

Alice was one of those keeping an eye on her own village, for all she was situated a ways outside of it.

The boy had already been cleaned, clothed, fed, and given medicine. What more was a bed for the night? As it so happened, she had an extra for such occasions. In its own room, no less. It might not be overly spacious, but neither was it cramped and it served its purpose well enough.

"Through the other door and to the right," she told him. "No use falling asleep in a chair. I'll not be taking care of any cricks you have int he morning."

The next morning found Allison rattling around the kitchen before the sun was even all the way over the horizon. It was an unfortunate curse of hers, waking so early, and she was at least twice as surly for it. Still, she did not like wasting time, so she made the most of it, fixing an early breakfast. No doubt the delicious aroma would wake even the most reluctant of guests.