With a nod in the direction of the boar, Rada interrupted the girl's thoughts.
"I have no idea what you're talking about but.... How about we postpone it until later?"
"Yeah, you're right!" Rei quickly nodded her head and postponed the discussion for when she got home.
"Are you able to walk?" asked Rada extending a hand towards her.
"Thanks, the pain in my foot doesn't seem to be subsiding but I should be able to" Rei took Rada's hand and leaned against his body with a few grimaces of pain.
The two of them walked silently towards the river, for some reason they didn't talk to each other anymore, there was a strange atmosphere, you couldn't understand what they were thinking.
Every now and then Rei would cast a glance at the expression of the boy at her side, she was increasingly puzzled by the person next to her.
He was quite tall, he was a few inches taller than her, he had a powerful physique but didn't give the impression of being strong, his eyes were clear and kind, but at the same time gave an air of confidence.
Being next to him gave her a feeling of peace, it was as if a voice inside her was telling her that everything was fine, she didn't know why, but it was the first time it happened to her.
What she felt were unknown feelings that she had never felt until now.
"There's the river, it's just a little while away," said Rada, excited at the sight of the river. Once the scent was removed on them it would be very difficult for the boar to track them down.
But something went wrong, the earth began to shake again, the two of them looked into each other's eyes, they knew what it was all about.
Suddenly sharp spears crossed the forest piercing everything in their path.
Instinctively Rada sensed the danger and threw Rei away from where they were, allowing her to dodge the blow, but she didn't have enough time for herself. The sharp spear pierced him in the abdomen, throwing him far away, after which he retreated.
"Rada!"
Rei was shocked by the scene.
The boy was thrown away, with a trail of blood in his wake spilling profusely from his wound.
"Run!"
He only had time to shout these words before he lost consciousness.
"No!"
Rei stood up and ran limply towards Rada, her eyes red with emotion. It was the second time she had been rescued, this time the situation was truly dead-end.
When she reached him, she immediately covered the wound with her hand, her tears mixed with the boy's blood, she tried to stop the bleeding, but in vain.
At this rate he would die.
She had a strong regret mixed with anger, she thought that everything that was happening was her fault, should have been the one to save Rada, but instead she had just been saved twice.
She was completely bewildered by his crazy behavior, he didn't have the slightest hesitation in risking his life for her, a perfect stranger. And she did it with inexplicable naturalness, as if the simplest thing in the world.
Little Kiba, waking up from the commotion, came out from under the girl's shirt and approached Rada's face, tapped his little face on her cheek. His big eyes were sad and tired, apparently the reason he was with him wasn't just because of the mark of the boy.
The little guy was really starting to get attached to him.
From not far away, the giant shadow behind the forest became more visible, the sharp spears retracting were the tusks of the boar.
The fear of death was far more palpable than before.
The beast prepared for its final charge, the final blow on the defeated creatures. The two humans in front of him were now helpless, they would not escape his wrath.
Rei saw that the boar was there for them again, her face was pale. It was the end, because of him Rada and Kiba would also die, she felt terribly guilty about this.
The only thing that could console her was that they would die together. Exasperated, she leaned against Rada's body, closed her eyes and waited for his end.
Kiba, on the other hand, dragged himself weakly close to the boy's face and closed his eyes. The two, along with the cub were in the hands of fate.
The huge boar kicked heavily the ground leaving a deep furrow on the ground, before launching itself on its victims with immense vigor.
In that instant, before it was all over, before the huge boar had completed its revenge, a huge hiss followed by a beam of light stopped its run.
It seemed to be an arrow, but it wasn't a normal arrow, it emanated an emerald green glow, much more intense than Rei's.
The arrow immediately made contact with the beast, piercing its thick armor. The impact was so powerful that it lifted the beast's two tons off the ground, as if gravity itself no longer mattered.
The whole thing lasted a fraction of a second, and Rei didn't even have time to realize what was happening when he slowly raised his head and saw someone coming.
The expression on her face changed instantly, it was one of joy, her brother had made it in time.
The shadow of a man came forward from the forest, his silhouette became more and more visible, he was at least two meters tall, semi shiny plates covered his right arm.
In his hands he had a large bow with peculiar engravings, it gave the impression of being very heavy, his robust physique gave off an imposing aura.
Rei was as happy at the sight of the man as ever, her father had finally arrived.
"Rei, are you okay?"
The man's voice was loaded with charisma, but one could sense concern for his daughter.
"Daddy! Please help him!"
Rei could heave a sigh of relief, but her reddish tears furrowed her face.
"Let me take a look..."
The man walked over to the two boys, placed his hand on Rada's pale forehead, and closed his eyes.
Vibrations could be felt from the man's body; he was peering at Rada's unconscious body.
"Well? How is she? Dad?" the girl was in the unnerving wait for an answer from her father.
After a few minutes, the man opened his eyes, he seemed to be contemplating what he had seen in Rada's body.
"From what I've seen this boy doesn't look like a normal person" the man's words gave confirmation to the girl's suspicions.
"Is he going to be okay?" asked Rei.
"Yes, but there seems to be a lot to clear up" the father replied.
Then he continued, "Starting with your stupid behavior!" the man raised his voice.
A few minutes later more people arrived, they were villagers who were ready to help.
There was also Cody among them along with an old man with a lived-in look, but at the same time energetic, like an old redwood tree that still lives undaunted despite the inexorable passing of time.
When they got there, Cody saw his sister's exhausted face turned down in front of his extremely serious-looking father, underneath them the unconscious body of young Rada.
The elderly man rushed to treat Rada's wounds, pulling out bandages and medicinal herbs.
Cody picked up little Kiba still rolled up next to Rada.
"Elder, is big brother going to be okay?" asked the little boy.
"Um, the wound seems to be deep, however it has already stopped bleeding, the regenerative abilities of this young man are remarkable!" said the old man in a surprised tone, he was already clear in his mind of what he was seeing.
Suddenly he saw the mark on Rada's palm, he opened his eyes wide for an instant, but did not mention it.
"Little Rei you also seem to be hurt" the Elder walked towards her after finishing with Rada.
"Yes Elder, I think I broke my ankle..." the girl replied almost shyly, without her typical energy as always.
"Uh oh, don't worry my child it all worked out for the best in the end, cheer up!" he tried to cheer the girl up.
"Yes, thank you."
Rei gave a small smile to the Elder who had just finished treating her ankle.
"You guys help carry the boy to the village, while the rest of you help with the boar's body" the father of the two boys quickly gave respective orders and led the group towards their village.