[color=ed145b]CORRINE DOOLAK[/color] - west road - after dark

[i]Well, that ain't right,[/i] her last full thought as the spear met a thicker, tougher hide than ever before, just as the angler knocked her into the air and to the ground.  There was a loud smack and an explosion of pain through her head.  Everything was dark.  She thought she heard the sound of her spear clattering down next to her, but couldn't open her eyes, let alone move, to see.

There was a sound of rushing air between her ears.  Corrine's head pulsed over and over with a pounding ache.  Her body felt heavy and thick, like her joints were sandbags.

"Corrine!", Steve called through the sound of the wind, "Are you alright?"

The sound of the rushing air was overtaken by a ringing, instead.  Warmth rushed to her head and cheeks and finally she felt like she could open her eyes.  Her breath hitched into the back of her throat in shallow pants.  The pain began to radiate from what felt like the middle of her forehead.  Corrine pushed herself up onto her hands and knees.  "Fuh...fufuffing..."  Her lips felt like rubber.  She raised her head just enough to be able to look Steve in the face.  There was only one of him looking back at her, so she figured that was a good sign.  She offered a small smile, then flopped onto her backside back onto the road.

"Just a little...just..."  She reached up and touched her forehead, wincing at the tender injured spot, then inspected her fingertips for blood.  Sure enough, there was some.  "I'll live."  Corrine pointed towards both James'.  "What about them?"  She dropped her volume before posing the next question.  "What about James W.?  Did he lose the arm?"