The frying pan hit the dirt with a dull thud.
Ren scrambled over the carcass of the dead bear, dropping to her knees beside Kael.
"Kael!" she screamed, her hands hovering over him.
He was a dead weight. His massive, muscular body was completely limp. It took every ounce of Ren's hysterical strength to grab his shoulder and heave him over onto his back. He flopped over heavily, his head lolling to the side, his eyes closed.
Ren's trembling fingers went straight to his neck.
There, protruding from the thick muscle just above his collarbone, was the projectile.
She gritted her teeth and pulled.
Pluck.
It came out easily. Ren held it up to the dappled sunlight, her breath hitching.
It was a needle made from a stiff, sharp porcupine quill. The end was fletched with soft, white dandelion fluff to stabilize its flight. The tip was coated in a viscous, glistening purple liquid that smelled faintly sweet.
"System!" Ren barked, her voice shaking. "Analyze! Now! Is he dying?"
