They were falling. Satori released the edge and wrapped both arms around her, positioning his body beneath hers.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
"Making sure you survive the landing," he answered simply.
Celeste's heart jumped to her throat. He was planning to cushion her fall with his own body. The gesture was so unexpected, so selfless from someone who claimed to be purely pragmatic.
"Don't be stupid," she hissed, channeling her Aspect with every ounce of concentration she possessed.
Ice formed beneath them, a crude slide that slowed their descent. It wasn't enough to stop them completely, but it might prevent fatal injuries. They hit the bottom with a jarring impact that knocked the breath from Celeste's lungs.
For several seconds, they lay still in the darkness, Satori's arms still wrapped protectively around her. Celeste could feel the rise and fall of his chest, the steady rhythm that gradually began to slow from the panicked sprint it had been during their fall.
