Glad to hear it! [Something told her that he probably wouldn't tell her even if he wasn't fine. Judging by the particularly-shaped bruise on his head, she was fairly confident in that assumption.]

Do you need to sit down for a minute?

[But no sooner than the words had left her mouth was he speaking up again, telling her to get behind him. Mari's eyes widened and she turned her head to look in that direction, only for her eyes to widen.]

O-okay! I'll do that.

[Obediently, she's scurrying to stand behind her rescuer. She has one shoe left which she'll save for a 'just in case' type of situation.]

We need a better strategy.