"Two... thr—" Hajin hissed through his teeth.
The casing split beneath his thumbs before Vella's brine could wash across the exposed node.
Its forward tip snapped free between his burned palms and shot across the ward toward Lisbet's curtained alcove.
"Shit, shit, get back here!"
He lunged after the flying tip, and the burns across both raw palms tore open with the stretch.
Vella slammed the jug down and lunged for the curtain, "The alcove still has her trace!"
'It's already past those empty stands, and I can't beat it to that curtain.'
Beside Mara, Ash stared toward the blade with his little fingers spread open upon the blanket.
Light gathered around the toddler's chest and drew itself into a closed loop between him and the curtain.
A chime rang through the ward as the loop met the ceramic tip and ground its whole blade into dust. No fragments scattered toward the beds, and the loop held its place briefly while powder settled across the carrying route.
