[Dylan]
For a second, none of us moved, or even dared to believe that it was Avira who had coughed for fear of getting our hopes up, and then getting disappointed.
What if it wasn't her?
Declan's sword hung frozen in the air, a few inches from slicing through Gamma's throat. I saw his ears twitch towards Avira even though he stood frozen. Although he faced Gamma, every part of him was focused on Avira where she laid on the floor.
My heart slammed painfully against my chest, as the thought that Avira might still be alive hit me, and at the same time the thought that she might not be alive, that I had imagined the sound of coughing hit me, stealing the dim light which had appeared in my mind.
Then the coughing sounded again.
A weak, ragged sound, but unmistakably alive.
My head snapped toward her in time to see her body jerk as another cough tore free from her chest, pulling in air after what felt like an eternity of stillness.
