Tsume grabbed for Kuromaru's scruff just as the blade came within reach. She buried claws in the fur under his ear, digging her nails into his muzzle. Some things, even those lost in pain and hopelessness would fear.

He began to scream when Ryouma pressed the blade down. Forelegs scrabbled, trying to pull back, while the high-pitched ululations of a creature afraid and in agony ricocheted around the cave. Tsume dug her hands in, sticking herself in place with chakra, burning more trying to keep him as still as possible.

"Hold!" she snarled at her familiar, blocking out everything except the need to be obeyed now. The scrabbling eased. The screaming didn't.

When Ryouma finally pulled away, Tsume let go, twisting to yank her mask off and retch. She didn't have time to be sick. Kuromaru was still screaming, back pedaling, the whites around his eyes visible as he slammed himself into a wall he wasn't even aware of and began to claw at his face.

She dragged her mask back into place and leapt on him, wrestling with a beast made of claws and fur and writhing muscle. The smell of urine stung the air, and then she had him, heaving over so they crashed on the hard rock, his body sprawling across her legs.

Blood soaked almost instantly into her pants. The ruined mess of seared flesh stared up at her, black and red but no longer oozing.

He twisted to hide his head between her arm and ribs, whimpering and shaking.

"It's all right. It's okay," she breathed, trembling as hard as he was. His claws splayed on the wet stone, gouging lines into moss, blunt nails digging into the green as his whole body tensed and waited for more pain. He pushed against her, as if crawling inside her might keep him safe--even though she'd been the one to help hold him there while they cauterized him.

Cauterize. Pretty word for burning a creature alive.

Tsume dug her fingers into his scruff, running her other hand up and down his back, his shoulders. "It's okay. You've been very brave. It's okay." She couldn't see. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision, and ignored the hoarseness in her voice.

With the hand on his scruff she tapped out a code, and almost couldn't look up for the answer. Did you get it all?

If he hadn't... If we can get it before it hits his eye... He'll have a chance.

They'd do it again.