Elara could breathe while someone held the red ring.
Pela held it first.
Blood from the cut above her eye ran down the side of her nose. She sat with both boots against the leash conduit and kept the breathing line pulled to its dark mark.
Elara inhaled.
Pela relaxed half an inch.
Elara exhaled.
Pela pulled again before the black strip could count for her.
The depot medic came through Aren's wired call every thirty seconds.
"Color?"
"Bad fluorescent."
"Her color, Pela."
"Less gray."
Rina recorded each breath on paper.
Elara's right hand still belonged partly to the leash. It opened toward Caleb whenever he entered arm's reach. Her knees turned toward the empty frame if nobody blocked her feet. Pain crossed her face each time she bent a joint against supplied direction.
Her left hand remained local.
Caleb stayed on that side.
"Transfer hold?" he asked.
Elara tapped once against Pela's boot.
Pela passed him the ring.
He took her place only after Elara's answer.
