"Shaman, what exactly is going on? Did we do something wrong and anger the Beast God?"
"Yes, Shaman—has the Beast God truly grown angry? Are we going to be punished?"
Below the altar, anxious beastfolk began calling out.
"No," the shaman said, raising his hand to calm them. "Don't panic. There was nothing wrong with the ritual itself. Let me see where the problem lies."
One of Dora's beast husbands leaned close and whispered something to her. Dora immediately stepped forward and said, "Shaman, could it be that someone who shouldn't be here has come among us? The Beast God despises her and refuses to shelter her, which is why he's angry."
As she spoke, her gaze fixed squarely on Nina.
The surrounding beastfolk followed her line of sight and all turned to look at Nina.
Nina: …This blame came out of nowhere.
So Dora had been holding a grudge all along—and clearly came prepared.
The shaman also looked at Nina. "You mean her? Why do you say that?"
