Crux couldn't help imagining Cryptis standing in the shallow water, ripples forming around her legs as she stood there trying to figure out how to fish and a crooked smile cracked across his face. She offered him thanks for his help and he shook his head then realized that she might not have seen that so added voice to his refusal. "Please don't thank me." He really hoped she wouldn't any further than she already had, he felt self-conscious about it all, that little inferiority complex rearing it's ugly head once the adrenaline had worn off. "I knew how to help so I couldn't just stand by and watch. Anyone else who knew would have jumped in too." Okay he couldn't say that for sure but he was almost certain anyone else who had would have had a better idea about how to keep her warm and avoid embarrassing her. There was always something he would never do well enough. For who? Who knew, maybe it was just himself.
He watched her walk over to the lake and he settled himself on his haunches, letting some of his tension slip away. He offered her an encouraging nod as she glanced back at him before she set to drinking. Crux sighed, tipping his head back for a moment, trying to keep his breathing regular. She was okay, he could stop feeling so on edge. He hadn't realized just how hard his heart was hammering against his ribs until now. He was glad he had been there and the alternative didn't bear thinking about but he still hadn't conquered the anxiety that spiked through him each time he had to actually use the skills he'd been developing, terrified that one day he might mess up in an irreparable way. A worse thought entered his mind... Now what? He wasn't sure he had an answer, maybe helping her back home? Maybe it'd be better if he just left her alone, he could always come back another day... That thought made his stomach drop in a way that wasn't just worry, disappointment? He pushed that from his mind. Well, he supposed if it was about Cryptis then he ought to follow her lead, so he'd wait for her to give any indication of her intentions or preference.
