The word is [i]why?![/i]

They were in a train station! And a desert before that! She’d just started to remember what it was like to be dry every morning. To not have to flip through her books and find the lingering pockets of damp. The Flood was many things, but she wouldn’t have thought [i]impatient[/i] would be one of them!

She scampered up the sparkling dunes and instantly regretted it, her paws stinging from a thousand tiny cuts. Maybe, the walls? Could her staff reach that far? No, no, they were all solid rock besides, there wasn’t anywhere to get purchase. A wave slammed into her, sending her spinning in the glittering depths and robbing her of all sense of direction. Where was she going? Which way was up? How much air did she have?! Not again, not again, no no no no no no no-

And stop.

Freeze. 

She panted madly. Fresh air. Not water. Water was over there. Water was going down. She was not. She was held. She chanced a peek downward. Black, scaly hands, ending in worn and weathered claws held her steady.

In one great sigh, she limply wrapped herself about his shoulders. “Th-thank you, Coleman…” Lucky thing she was shivering; he’d not catch the wince at her stupid, trembling voice.