Dakota slowly opens her eyes.
Her mind is groggy, and her body feels slightly numb.
As sensation gradually returns to her, the first thing she notices is the feeling of something cool and damp on her forehead.
It is refreshing. So much so that she almost wants to go back to sleep.
But in the distance, she hears muffled voices. That is all it takes for her instincts to kick in.
She makes her first attempt to sit up and reaches a horrific realization.
Her chestplate is gone, laid aside next to her.
Her chest is fully exposed. Her entire midsection is wrapped in some sort of hastily made bandages.
She draws in a quick, short breath, and that is all it takes to alert her captors.
And suddenly, she is pounced upon by a long-eared figure.
"Friend Dakota! You are alive! I am so relieved! If you died in this awful, disgusting place, I would have wept for days on end and-"
Suddenly, Nila is lifted off Dakota by the scruff of her neck.
