Gia had already struck this poor soul with her pan twice, knocking them unconscious time and time again, but she wasn’t about to let her guard down. Her "mother" had filled her head with tales of how terrifying the outside world could be. For as long as she could remember, her entire existence had been confined to the tower, and the stories of danger beyond its walls had left an imprint of caution in her mind. Fear mingled with her instincts, and though she wasn’t entirely sure what she was doing, she didn’t hesitate to defend herself.

Koda, her little bunny, hopped curiously atop the still-unconscious body, sniffing it as if trying to make sense of the situation.

Gia paused, studying the figure on the ground. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down her back, and with a swift, almost unnatural movement, she wrapped it around the person’s body, securing them tightly to a nearby chair. Her hands worked quickly, tying the individual with an efficiency born of desperation. When she finished, she leaned forward, the hem of her pan hovering near the unconscious figure’s chest. She poked them gently, her heart pounding in her chest as she checked for any sign of life.

Koda, perched on her right shoulder, tilted his tiny head in curiosity, his soft ears twitching as he watched her every move.