A group of Metkayina kids — Tsireya, Rotxo, Ao’nung and the human boy, Miles Jr., are also among them — appear at the marui’s entrance, causing Ronal to shrouded from surprise. They all look tired and out of breath.

— Mama, we need help! Ao’nung exclaims, clearly worried. Miles got bitten!

Ronal turns to them, her tail twitching — her expression instantly changes from a calm smile to a frightened frown — the motherly instincts taking over her mind.

Ronal quickly gets over the initial startle and turns, looking at the kids and their human companion with a frown. She can instantly feel the concern rising up inside her as she notices their exhausted and worried looks, and quickly moves closer to the group to assess the situation.

— Bitten?! Ronal repeats anxiously, her eyes quickly darting down to Miles and searching his body for any signs of the injury, while at the same time, her gaze flicks to the other children, trying to get a read on the situation.

— We were playing on the reef, Tsireya mumbles, visibly scared and with tears in her eyes, when suddenly got attacked by a pack of viperwolves…

Ronal gasps, her heart skipping a beat at the sound of that, and she almost can picture the scene in her head as she imagines how the attack could have gone. A group of kids being ambushed and attacked by a bunch of hungry predators during the playtime on the reef… this was every parent's worst nightmare.

She kneels in front of Miles, checking his body for any marks, while the rest of the kids crowd around, also looking worried. 

— Where did you get bit? Ronal asks urgently, needing to know where the injury was and assess the situation properly.

— It’s okay, just a scratch, Miles answers unevenly and reluctantly, but his previously white shirt is visibly torn and dirty. Someone must’ve scared them away…

Ronal’s tail twitches, her heart pounding as she tries to maintain a calm demeanor, but inside, she's worried sick about Miles and the other kids. She can't help the frown, her hands hovering over Miles as she notices the tear in his shirt and the hint of red staining the edge of it. Her heart beating furiously, she takes his hand and gently pushes the ripped fabric aside to check beneath it.

— You're bleeding. Ronal states, trying to keep her voice steady as she continues inspecting the injury.

All the while, the other kids continue to crowd around, the worry and fear still very visible in their expressions. And as Miles' shirt gets pushed aside, they gasp almost in unison.

Miles' back is covered in huge claw marks, not deep and not reaching the flesh, but still pretty creepy looking.

— I’m telling ya guys, I’m fine, Miles slightly winces at their reaction. I am vaccinated, they wouldn’t infect me with rabies even if they wanted.

Ronal swallows the lump in her throat at the sight of the wounds on Miles' back, her hand instinctively rubbing his shoulder a little in a soothing manner, even as she gives him a look that is both relieved and a little exasperated by his attempt at reassurance. Despite the fact that he probably is right, rabies wasn't the only thing to worry about.

— You're a brave kid, little one, but those don't look like just 'scratches' to me, Ronal points out gently, her eyes taking in all the details of the wounds before looking up at the other kids. You should have ran away from the predators than fight!

— Mom, Ao’nung silently interferes, he saved Tsireya…