Blood. It was everywhere. On trees, decorating the ground and even on some of the higher branches on the trees.

Mink stood not to far from Asuna, blood laying under her feet and her eyes were shocked at what she was taking in. Asuna appeared bludgeoned. She had sustained multiple wounds, some were months old and others were within a few hours. However, the wound that really caught Minks' eye, was a massive scar that extended from her neck and disappeared below her clothing. Blood had caked and dried on her hands and she was covered in deep, horrendous scratches. Her clothing was tattered and destroyed to ribbons and Asuna was laying on her side, breathing ragged and shaky and her eyes closed tightly.

"Oh my God! Asuna!" Mink had rushed to her sisters aid and pressed her clawed fingers against her sisters neck to feel her heart rate. It was erratic, out of place, and Asuna looked worse for wear.

"Oh my God... Doyle we have to do something!"

"Like what? She's Argosts lackey, right handed woman and his strongest ally. Bringing her back to the Saturdays is a walking death trap."

"You dumbass! My sister has sustained wounds from outside Argosts care! Her ribs are exposed, she's been starved. These gashes are from cryptids outside Argosts command. Asuna would never allow her body to be desecrated like this! She cherishes her strength for Argost too much! You used to be her best friend, knew everything about her, yet you immediately call her the enemy?"

"Sis... ter..." Minks gaze immediately turned to cold, near death green eyes. Asuna had regained consciousness and blood slowly leaked from her mouth.

"You... Remember..." Asuna pauses to hack up blood. "My scent?"

Mink felt tears form in her eyes. Her sister looked so broken, as if the woman before her was a beaten mother whom had lost everything. Asuna looked so hopeless, so broken, so dead. What happened?

"Asuna! Oh my God you're still alive?! What happened to you?" Where's Argost? Are you okay?"

Asuna smirks softly, the blood made it look faint, and distorted, she knew that Mink knew, she knew that Argost had forsaken her, her failure from three months ago, still held so much weight that she no longer had a home.

Closing her eyes for just a moment, Asuna tried to regain her strength.

"I'm okay.. I promise, I'm okay..." Is all her heart seems to be able to scream out, but the words never left. Instead a single, tear rolls down Asunas beaten, cut, bruised and bleeding cheek, clearing a single tear streak path from its blood.

Mink gingerly takes the cold, blood soaked hand of her beloved sister, feeling the pain in her own heart beginning to swell. "I'm here for you, Asuna, I'm sorry I haven't been here, but, I swear i won't leave you anymore, how can I help you?"

"Woah woah, hold on a second! Who says were going to do anything to help this low life? If she got herself into this situation, she can drag herself out of it. Let her die, it's her own fault."

Shock radiates inside Minks heart, why would Doyle say such a thing? Weren't they friends at one point? 'Leave her to die?' But Mink absolutely refused to sit there and listen to the words this thing spoke to her.

Standing up, she gently let's go of her sisters hand and her cold, violent eyes turn to Doyle. "Run that by me, one more time." She says in a cold, dead serious tone.

Doyle knew he fucked up, he had gone too far, they're sisters! Of course Mink wouldn't want her to die! But, she could be tricking them!

"Mink snap out of it! Do you realize how much danger we're in?! This could just be a ploy to lure us out int-" Doyle didn't get to finish.

"Leave." Is all Mink says after her hand had scarred Doyle's face. Even if this could've been some kind of trick, she won't leave. Family is never left behind.

"Mink, please... Don't do this to yourself... We both know this could be a trap... And... Honestly... I feel... Like... It hurts to think you'll leave now... Mink... I feel like I'm in love with you... Please don't leave me! I need you!"

"Doyle... I... I cant... You... Your not meant for me, if you can't understand this much. She's my sister... My family, she's all I really have. You, your not worth it... You really aren't..." And with a brave face, Mink turns her back on Doyle.

Silence fills the air for just a moment before Mink knows he's gone. And with a proud smile of her own personal achievement she turns her immediate, desperate attention to her own, dying sister.

Mink, carefully lifts her sister to balance on her shoulder, supporting her with her body as much as she could. Asuna groans in dull pain, eyes flickering back into focus, Mink, wanting to just be sure of what she hopes is right, looks to the eldest sibling.

"Argost, didn't do this to you, did he?"

Asuna smiles gently, she knew Mink just wanted to be sure.

"No... It wasn't Argost... Or... Any of his allies..."

Reassured with renewed confidence, Mink begin to transfer Asuna to a nearby river to clean her wounds.