My body stiffened. For several heartbeats, I just stood there staring at a spot below her mouth until I couldn't stand it anymore. I had to know if something was inside the tree.
I twisted the ax around so I now held the blade and prodded the handle's end into the hole. Out streamed more blood from the corners of her mouth. It sloshed around the inside, and when I pulled the handle out, red coated the last fourth of it.
Seeing so much blood inside her plunged a heavy weight inside my gut. This could not be good.
Using the ax wasn't working though because I couldn't feel what was inside. I stared down at my hands and tightened them into fists. This was going to suck so much, especially if she could bite down. If I had to choose which hand Tree Ica might take, I would choose the left one since I was right handed.