Moonspear by a route obscure and lonely

Putting what tattered shreds of faith he could muster in Lyra’s grasp, Cypress nodded a bit stiffly to give her the go-ahead and fiercely bade his body, “Endure.” He gulped air like a landed fish — one swift, vigorous snap of his jaws as his stern mouth settled into a grim line — and held it until the pressure in his lungs became painful. By the time he loosed it on a slow, fluttering sigh, he was dizzy — and she was a palpable, precious weight settled tremulously against his side.