Webby released his hand once they stopped, one foot nudging the ground. "I wasn't really going to make him bleed to death," She mumbled. "It was just intimidation. Granny says that's the first go-to tactic when facing opponents you assume can be easily cowed into submission, and they didn't seem that bright."

But it hadn't worked, or at least it wasn't something Louie was okay with. "I'm sorry... I just didn't want them to hurt you. I dove in without thinking, I didn't want it to be too late."