Nocturne Summit Bodhyanga

Only when the two of them were crammed into the small space did Wildfire realize she hadn't been this close to anybody (except Thuringwethil, albeit always briefly) in a long time, particularly a man. Oh, yeah, and she hated caves. She sucked in a loud breath and held it, trying to force down the anxiety that crept through her nervous system like poison. She felt a sudden impulse to shove Gavriel away from her, right out of the hiding place, and then jump out herself. Wildfire bit her tongue, trying to distract herself and be still, reminding herself that they were in real, actual danger and that Gavriel and this pitiful excuse for a cave should be the least of her damn worries.

While she was still holding her breath, she heard voices come closer, then seemingly drift away again. Her breath exploded from her noisily again, right into her guard's ear, and she couldn't help but push at him. "I think," she said in an odd, gasping voice, "the coast is clear. We should get out." Wildfire pushed again, more urgently this time, trying and failing not to sound so bossy. She knew it was irrational but she would almost rather risk confronting Floki and Charon than spend one more second smashed behind Gavriel in this claustrophobic space. "Nothing personal," she muttered under her breath.