She looked at him, a bit stunned. "You really know what you're doing."
Kai shrugged as he packed up. "I've patched up worse."
The girl knelt beside her injured beast, gently running her fingers across its fur.
Her shoulders slumped with relief, though her eyes never fully left Kai.
He crouched beside her, wiping his hands with a cloth after finishing the makeshift treatment.
"The bleeding's slowed," he muttered, eyeing the beast. "It's out of the danger now."
"Thank you," she said quietly, "For helping."
Kai didn't respond. He was more focused on the beast's breathing.
Still shallow.
After a moment, he stood, brushing dirt from his trousers.
"So... what exactly was your plan before I showed up?"
She blinked at him. "What?"
"You and your half-dead beast. Running through the woods. Injured. Chased by those bandits. No supplies. No backup." He tilted his head. "What was the grand plan?"
She stammered. "I-I would've managed."
Kai raised a brow.
