"No," Tsume said with a great deal of disgust, planting her hands on her hips and glaring at her mutt. "There's no problem."

"It's bleeding." Kuromaru's voice was a whimper. He tried to put his paw down, staggered, and picked it back up. "I think it's impaled straight through!"

"It is not! It's barely a scratch!"

He put his paw down again, yelped, and nearly fell over before he could rebalance as he yanked it back up. "You try walking on a hole in your foot the size of a kunai!" The look he gave her was filled with injured betrayal.

"Oh, for the love of--" She held up a long, thin thorn, and yelled, "It's not a kunai!"

"I think I feel faint. Quick, I need a blood pill!"

Tsume rubbed her forehead with her index finger and thumb, and wished she was anywhere but there.