KAIA
I drop to my knees beside him, my hands hovering over his body, shaking. Blood. There's so much blood matting his dark fur. Three silver arrows stick out of him.
He's not moving.
"Vincent?" My voice comes out small, terrified. I reach for him, then pull back, not knowing where to touch without hurting him. "Vincent, please."
Nothing. No response. No movement.
My breath comes in short, panicked gasps. What do I do? What am I supposed to do?
I press my ear to his chest, desperate to hear something—anything. His fur is warm against my cheek, but I can't hear past the blood rushing in my own ears.
Breathe. I need to breathe.
I force myself to take a shaky breath, then another. And there—underneath my panic, underneath everything—I hear it. Faint. Irregular. But there.
A heartbeat
