Tzirret gave a nod to both warnings. He smiled at what Bheja might do, but he was more appreciative of the warning about S'nishi. Tzirret would have been very easily terrified of any threat from a Senche-raht.

Although, when Ma'tanza hugged Tzirret, all the words disappeared. Tzirret hugged her tightly in return as an automatic response, one hand on her back and another on the back of her head. He slowly released a breath that he did not realise he was holding and felt his neck and shoulders pleasantly release their tension. Another slow breath had his nose lower onto Ma'tanza's shoulder. He missed how good it felt just to hold someone he loved, but he had a feeling that it would cause Ma'tanza more fluster to tell her as much.

Ideally, Tzirret did not want to let Ma'tanza go, but in an effort not to embarrass himself with his body's involuntary response to such physical contact, he pulled away reluctantly. He kept his arms around the back of Ma'tanza's neck as he regarded her, somewhat abashed. "So, um...what does Ma'tanza feel like doing now?" Tzirret said in an attempt to Keep Ma'tanza's attention upward, "We could keep swimming, or just talk, or head back to camp?"

[hr]
Sabine knew Meesei well enough that she understood what she had actually meant when there was a laugh. Sabine chuckled uneasily with a little embarrassment. "Right," Sabine responded, "Yes, I would like to see. Do I...have to stand back?" Sabine took a few steps back anyway. She had seen some powerful spells before, but she did not know what was the highest level. She was a little tense, but also excited and curious.