Alice had begun to give up hope. She couldn't be that far from St Mungo's - could she? It hadn't felt like it had taken her this long to leave the scene where she had found herself after the explosion, but then again, she had been fending for herself for three weeks, with a broken leg. Auror training and the wonderful immune system of a magical being - that was the only thing keeping her alive, she knew. Everything had been fine until the snows came in on the third week, limiting her movements and ability to find food. She knew that if she returned to wherever it was the Order was keeping itself now, she would only be ridiculed for trying to make it on her own with a broken leg and close to no magic. Alice could hear Alastor now - "Thought you could rough it? Thought you could live without magic? Community, Prewett. It's about staying with the group."
Before she could register the change in her surroundings, Alice found herself surrounded by a large group of witches and wizards, some she knew, and some she didn't. She picked herself up out of the snow, suddenly realizing how absolutely freezing it was - her Warming Charm had worn off. The gash on her chest was obvious - the blood stained the front of her robes still, and it began on her neck, peeking up over her collar. Her leg was bent at an odd angle, but didn't appear to be broken too badly. It was the deep purple bruising on her knee that was troubling - it was from where she had reset her own kneecap. Overall, Alice seemed okay, very bruised, and a little frostbitten, wan and thin. She had scratches and gashes over most of her body, some healing from after the explosion, some newer from living in the woods. The most serious injury was the only one that didn't present itself immediately - her right eye, of which all the eyelashes were missing. It was slightly inflamed and slightly red. She doubted anyone would notice right away, and when they did, she doubted they would ask questions.
She reached for her pouch and placed her journal, quill, and wand back inside.
It was then she heard her name.
Seeing Ted was enough to make her heart leap out of her chest and dance on the snow in front of her. A friend! A friend out of all these strangers looking at her like she was a mad woman for living by herself in the snow with apparently no regard for her family or those who cared about her.
Of course, Alice being Alice, none of this showed. She smiled weakly and spoke, surprised at the thin quality of her voice.