The Once-ler wondered if he was losing too much blood, because now there were three more Lingormrs and that couldn't possibly be right. Still, he willed himself forward. When the three men whipped out daggers and flung them, he practically threw himself to the side to avoid them.

He, too, was surprised when none of the daggers hit him, and continued forward, leg protesting every step. He hissed as a fourth and very real blade whipped past him, drawing a line of red on his side. At the same time, Soma cried out and he saw she'd been hit too.

Heart pounding in his ears, the Once-ler lengthened his stride, drawing level with Soma. If she stumbled, he could pull her up as she had done for him, and with the way she shone her flashlight around erratically he feared that could be a very real possibility.

"To be honest," he gasped out, "I think I'd take any of his moods over this!" Where was the second hall on the left? They had to be getting close.

"This cure had better be worth it!"