Kato collapsed.
One moment, he was standing there, spear planted on the ground, blood dripping from his nose.
The next, his knees buckled and his weight folded against him as he plummeted to the ground.
Ryn barely caught him.
"Kato—!"
His legs almost gave out under the sudden weight. Kato was heavier than he looked, dead weight dragging at Ryn's shoulders as he struggled to keep them both upright. Kato's head lolled forward, breathing shallow and unresponsive.
Questions flooded Ryn's mind all at once.
How did he do that?
Was it really command?
What was the cost?
Could he do it again—
Another sound cut through the noise.
A low, pained groan.
Ryn snapped his head up.
Mazin stirred against the broken tree, fingers twitching as he dragged in a shaky breath. His eyes opened, unfocused at first, then slowly winced as the pain caught up to him.
"…Did we…?" Mazin rasped.
"We're alive," Ryn said quickly. "Barely."
Mazin let out something between a laugh and a cough.
