Sabine was silently breathing out in some level of relief when the lookout turned and moved away. Her exhale was cut short with the shock of feeling the thud of Arinette against the tree trunk. Every muscle in Sabine's body tensed up in surprise.

The impact loosed some kind of dust or pollen from the branches above. Sabine's attempt to calm down only tensed her up again when she felt a dry itch at the back of her throat. She held her breath.

The time was up. Sabine barely sent the signal forth to Ahnasha. Her ring went cold to tell her that the enchantment had worn off.

The short distraction did not make the itch go away. Neither did trying to swallow it down. Sabine's quietest ever attempt to clear her throat was to no avail either.

Sabine held on for long enough for Do'rhajul and Arinette's dialogue to progress for another short while. She grit her teeth and internally screamed for the pair to walk away. She just needed a few more seconds. A few more seconds of holding her empty breath. Her lungs burned.

A reflex in Sabine's windpipe gave out just as Ahnasha placed the book where it was needed.

She covered her face and coughed once quietly through her nose.