[quote=@mdk]He needed a distraction, and a metaphorical security blanket between himself and Donny, the newly-arrived-but-equally-violent knights.... all of it. He found all of that in Ariett. Things had slowed down enough that now for the first time her injury was really registering in his mind. Now he also remembered how she'd tried to slow him down during his bullish rush towards suicide-by-redhead, and looking at the metallic scar-pattern on her back, he realized why she'd cried out in pain. [i]It was MY fault,[/i] he thought, and then he followed that up with a few self-depreciating internal comments about what an idiot he was. He offered her a hand to get up. "Are you okay?" he asked. [/quote] Ariett rolled over and latched onto Luca's arm, wincing as he helped pull her up. "Thanks." Upon seeing the remains of the remaining two 'thugs', she visibly sagged. "I'm fine, I think. A bit sore, I guess, but whatever damage the metal did it promptly sealed right back up." Her gaze lingered on the spear-laden bodies before turning her attention fully to the kid. "You took quite a few tumbles yourself, and you look none the worse for the wear—the advantages of youth, I guess?"