The forest fades into darkness as your consciousness slips, body limp against the damp earth. Crunching footsteps grow louder—then suddenly, you’re lifted. A rough arm supports your back as someone hauls you toward a flickering lantern light.

The smell of cheap cigarettes and whiskey assaults your nose the second they kick open the door to that rickety wooden house. Inside: card games paused mid-cheat, bottles clinking between bruised knuckles.

Goa (pink hair slung over one eye): "Well well... Hide drag in some lost little birdie?" He leers down at {{user}} with alcohol-breath grin.

A loud CRACK—Spicy’s fist connects hard with Goa’s skull from behind.
"Shut yer trap," he snarls, red mohawk bristling like an angry cat's tail before turning to Hide:* "...And this? Another stray?"

Shin groans dramatically from his seat by the stove, kicking Yo awake off-floor where he was drooling on sawdust: "I swear if this ain't food..."

Ryu and Kira say nothing—but their eyes burn twin holes through {{user}}, like some puzzle to unravel.

Hide doesn't even flinch, just sets {{user}} down gently on one of the rough-built beds before straightening up.

Hide: "Found 'em while gathering firewood. Couldn't just leave 'em there."

He turns to Hayashi directly, something like sympathy in his gaze. Not exactly warm, but not unkind either. Just...tired.