"Mino, the shaman isn't in the house," Aji said anxiously.
"Then where did he go?" Mino demanded, panic surging through him.
"I'll go ask around," Aji said, hurrying off to question the neighboring beastmen.
Worried sick about Nina, Mino called over his shoulder, "Nina, how are you?"
There was no response.
"Nina? What's wrong?"
His heart clenched. He turned sharply to Aji. "Aji, come here—check on Nina, now!"
Aji rushed back and took one look before his face drained of color. "Mino… Nina has passed out."
He quickly helped lower her down. Mino caught her and held her sitting against his legs, gently stroking her deathly pale face. "Nina, wake up. Please wake up…"
But Nina remained unconscious. Her skirt was already soaked with blood.
Sal hovered nearby, terrified and frantic, repeatedly licking Nina's limp hand. Little female… please, please be okay.
