"Wait," Ressha said, already lowering herself into a half-crouch. "Let me check the area first. There might be a snake, or a burrow-beast, or something else hiding under the leaves. I don't want anything biting you."
Lavayla paused, touched by the seriousness with which Ressha approached the issue of her safety, and nodded her consent. Ressha immediately went to work, sweeping aside leaves, pressing down sections of grass with the flat of her palm, checking for holes or disturbances in the soil. She even sniffed the air once or twice—an instinctual habit she probably wasn't even aware of.
Only when she was satisfied that the ground held no hidden threat did she straighten, brushing her palms lightly against her thighs. "It's safe now. You can… you know." She gestured vaguely, then stepped back several paces, turning her back respectfully toward the trees.
Lavayla glanced around, cheeks warming. 'Nessa, check for any wandering eyes,' she murmured internally.
