Only when she turns to face him does he dare exhale with a modicum of relief, but even then, he can't be sure: His good eye is scanning her features intently for sign of something fell, something dangerous, even while trying to push something of a reassuring expression on his face.

"Mn, nothing good," he replies, letting her shoulder go. "Sorry for raising my voice, but...you weren't answering for a while. I was worried you were getting, uh, sucked in..."