The anxiety had put Ariel on such an edge that the sound of the door opening made her jolt in her seat. When she saw it was Rukeewei, she exhaled and placed a hand over her collarbone.

"You gave me a fright," she said through a nervous laugh. "I was going to see how you were after breakfast, I...Um..." She looked at her food. "I'm sorry if yesterday was sudden. I didn't want to keep secrets from you, I just needed to keep Sabine safe, and it wasn't something that I thought would result in this offer, and..."

Ariel was beginning her usual increased pace of words, showing her own nervousness. Rukeewei knew her for long enough that it was in times like these that it was better to interrupt her than allow it to escalate.