"No," he said, because he didn't hold any illusions to the contrary, "But you won't get to hurt anyone else. It's not about revenge, it's about making sure a predator's dead."

He shrugged vaguely, his expression sad.

"It's all I can do. And provided you don't run into anyone else after this, it's a cleaner death than some others would give you. I made sure it was strong, stronger than the one you used."

He'd used a multitude of plants in making it, making sure it would be potent stuff.

"I hope it's fast." He meant it.

Even now with his face maimed, he wished that. Even for her, even after she'd nearly killed him, even after he'd spent a night wracked with pain and seizures, he wished that. If he dared to stay long enough to see her die, he'd give her the same ritual he'd given Mindy.

Because in a place that made people eat one another, tear each other apart, who really was to blame for the creation of monsters?

But he did not dare to do that. Before she could attack again, he simply turned and darted off into the underbrush, making sure this time to put trees and bushes between them quickly so she couldn't hit him with a poison dart again. He didn't wait to see her die because he knew he'd get no enjoyment from it.