The lizard lunged—its claws slicing through the air.
Min raised his small shield by instinct—then froze.
A flash—blood, screams, that same shield drenched in red.
The face of his fallen comrade flickered before him.
"Tch…!" He jerked his arm back, abandoning the block and twisting his body aside instead.
The claws grazed his shoulder, tearing through cloth but missing flesh.
He grit his teeth.
He couldn't bring himself to use it.
Koko sprinted toward Ahrie, skidding to her knees beside him.
"Ahrie! Hang in there!"
Rocky rolled up next, pebbles scattering with each bounce.
"Geez…" Koko muttered, prying open a potion bottle. "You've been beaten pretty badly aren't you… "
Rocky gave a solemn nod of agreement.
Ahrie smirked faintly through the bruises. "Heh… I've had worse days."
"Yeah? You sure look like it," she shot back, tipping the potion to his lips.
He swallowed slow, color creeping faintly back to his face—
but his body still refused to move.
