Kai couldn't see any way of making it out in one piece against Nadya in his current state. Honestly, even at his best, he wasn't sure he could take her on. But backing down wasn't an option - not if things escalated. So he braced himself, drawing on whatever scraps of strength he had left.
Only… she didn't shout or hurl explosives his way.
Nadya just looked at him. Her wild hair slipped over one eye, and when she finally spoke, her voice was quieter than he expected - almost gentle.
"There was no need to run off like that," she said, faintly amused at how he was inching toward the door. "We know what really happened."
Kai blinked.
No accusations. Just a calm and strange weight in her tone.
He exhaled hard, running a hand through his matted hair. "Phew," he muttered. "Thought I was gonna need to make a break for it. Not sure how far I would have got in my condition."
In an instant, the tension seemed to disappear, and Kai eased up.
He shuffled over to the table, snatched a bottle of water, and downed it like he'd been stranded in a desert. Then, he tore into the leftover food - bread, fruit, meat, whatever was edible in front of him. He didn't care about flavour, he just wanted to fill his stomach.
After a minute, he dropped into a chair opposite the others and finally breathed again.
Nadya leaned forward, elbows on her knees, eyes fixed on him. "Thanks, Kai."
He paused mid-chew.
"…Huh?"
"You heard me." She smiled faintly. Not her usual smirk. Something more genuine and grateful.
He scratched the back of his neck, trying not to look awkward. "I mean… all I did was kill the damn thing."
But something in her expression made it harder to play it cool.
'It's not like I managed to save those kids in time...' He didn't say it out loud. Just shoved the thought aside and grinned instead, not wanting the atmosphere to be tense.
"So… does this mean you're gonna pay me for my fight last night?" he asked, flashing her a hopeful look.
Nadya snorted. "Not a chance!"
Kai laughed and leaned back with a groan. "Figures."
He then began recounting his chaotic day, and they could only sit and listen, mouths agape as he did...
-
With a half-finished sandwich in one hand, Kai began.
"Woke up late, no one around. Thought I'd wander," he said, voice rough. "The town was quiet. Ended up near this busted old playground… peaceful, you know? Kids playing and laughing. Felt... wholesome."
He paused. Everyone already knew how things had spiralled.
"Then... things went to shit." He didn't need to elaborate further. Instead, there was something he was curious about.
"How did you guys know what really happened?" he asked, glancing between them. "I mean, if I saw that scene… I'd think I was the one who did it too."
Isaac leaned back, arms crossed. "Everything that happens around here reaches her ears. You must have noticed by now - this is her turf. She protects the people, especially in this part of town, and they all respect her very much."
"This was also her hometown," he added, but before he could delve further, Nadya shifted uncomfortably and nudged Isaac with her elbow as if to say, 'Drop it.'
Kai's eyes flicked toward her. He'd figured most of that out already and was connecting the dots. 'Nadya runs the fight club here, bringing in outsiders and funnelling in money and resources. The fighters and rogue mutants also double as protectors. The Association doesn't have a presence here in the lawless zone, so she's filling the void... pretty smart.'
There was a moment of silence, then the least expected person spoke to break it.
"What happened after that?" Amina's voice was soft, barely above a whisper. She still wouldn't meet his eyes, but the curiosity was clear as she surveyed the injuries on his body.
Kai smirked at her, amused. She quickly turned away, face reddening.
He chuckled. "Well... I ran. Kept running until I was far enough from town. Didn't want to bump into anyone, especially after that bloodbath. I ended up in some creepy-ass forest."
"You went into the Wolfsgrave Woods?!" Amina gasped.
'So that's what it's called,' Kai thought. 'Quite fitting.'
He went on to explain what had happened in the forest - his encounter with the beast, the near-death struggle, the overwhelming exhaustion. Nadya started laughing before he even finished.
"You're serious? You fought that beast?" she said through laughter, gesturing at his torn clothes and visible wounds. "That mutt's the King of those Woods. I'm surprised you even survived."
"Didn't have much of a choice," Kai muttered, lifting his ragged shirt. The claw marks were deep, and the acid burns still looked nasty.
Nadya's eyes narrowed. "Your healing's usually pretty good, but those don't look too good..."
Amina stepped forward hesitantly. Nadya gave her a quick nod. Taking the cue, Amina approached Kai, hands glowing softly as she reached out.
Kai didn't move - afraid he might spook her again. But her hands landed gently on his skin, and the glow spread like a wave through his body. A strange tingling followed, like warm static.
It was working - fast. Much faster than usual. The burns and wounds around his body faded before their eyes.
"Whoa," Isaac murmured. "That's… not normal."
Amina's healing ability was potent, but the way Kai's body responded - it was like pouring fuel on a fire. The two powers weren't just compatible; they amplified each other.
"Back before the Z Virus," Nadya said idly while watching, "the woods were still dangerous, but nothing like now. My dad used to hunt there. Even kept wolves as pets."
She smiled faintly, though her tone had turned solemn. "Times changed."
Kai's eyes flicked to her. 'That explains her surname. Volkova, was it? Which translates to of the wolf,' he thought, remembering hearing it in passing.
His fluency in Russian had emerged suddenly earlier, as had his memory of a grandfather figure while smoking the night prior. Small fragments were also surfacing slowly.
'I guess it's only a matter of time until I piece together this puzzle in my head.' Kai felt hopeful as he returned his focus to Isaac, who chimed in.
"I've been living here for a while now. The animals and beasts in the woods don't bother the town. Not just because of the king, either - pretty sure Takeshi patrols the deeper parts. They're afraid of him."
"But," he added, looking pointedly at Kai, "you went into its territory. Of course, it reacted the way it did."
Kai sighed. "Yeah… fair enough."
'But next time, I won't be the one fighting for my survival,' he added internally.
With Amina's healing, his body continued regenerating at a disturbing rate. The pain was finally dulling, and his strength was creeping back.
That was until...