"Yeah, call it, call it..." Dan tries to say, but his body still feels numb and unresponsive to his commands. He ends up murmuring and drooling, twitching over Aster's shoulder until they're out of the woods. Blood streams down his face and neck; the wounds are minor, but they're effusive. He catches a glance of the shrieking, hissing women disappearing again into the mist.

"Let's get out of here," he says as soon as Aster sets him down outside the woods. He gets to his feet, holding onto Aster and feeling like he's trying to give his body orders in a language it only half understands. He staggers and fumbles on his way to the car, and takes a moment to catch his breath once they get inside it. He doesn't want to rush a vehicle with impaired coordination, so it takes a moment.

"I got to tell you about what she just did to me. Give me ten minutes to sort through it. I'm still processing it." He starts the car. "You mind patching me up at the greenhouse?"