Hunter woke up to pain.
Not the sharp kind. Not the immediate "something is stabbing me" kind. The deep kind. The "your body is filing a formal complaint about recent management decisions" kind. The kind that suggested every cell in his body had unionized and gone on strike.
His shoulder throbbed. His meridians felt like someone had taken steel wool to them. His dantian was empty, a hollow void where his qi should be. Even his hair hurt, which seemed excessive but his body was apparently committed to the bit.
He opened his eyes. Immediately regretted it. Sunlight stabbed through his retinas like personal attacks.
"Ow."
"You're awake!"
The voice was small. Familiar. Very close to his ear.
Hunter turned his head. Mistake. Everything spun. The cave ceiling became the floor became the ceiling again. His stomach threatened revolution.
Mei's face swam into focus. Those too big eyes. That serious expression. The doll clutched in one hand.
