Zeph stopped a few yards away from the house before turning to face Zuri. "This is doable, right? FireEmber is far, but it's not impossible. Leaving him here to find the plant is not an option. We should bring him with us. Get the plant and then save him."
Zuri was silent.
"Zuri?" He called her name, but she still did not respond. He snapped his fingers directly in front of her face, once, twice, and she jerked back.
"What?" She blinked.
"What's wrong?" Zeph already knew what was wrong, but he needed to hear her say it. Needed her to put words to whatever was coiling inside her so that they could face it together.
"Nothing." She shook her head too quickly and then tried to pull her wrist free.
Zeph did not let go. "Don't do that. This is not the time to shut me out." He said.
For a long moment, they just stood there. Zeph watched her chest rising and falling too fast.
