Crowded on a velvet cushion

It seemed his simpering wouldn't get him far this time. The burning in his leg made his eyes water and he didn't think he could manage a jump, but maybe those bridges from the other room would help? He went back to the other room and gathered some planks, trying to test them for sturdiness before aiming them at the flatter points of the stalagmites and rocking them from side to side to test their stability. One tumbled into the lava below and the boy swallowed down a lump that was forming in his throat. He thought he stood a pretty good chance of making it across if he took his time... and maybe if he held his breath, his legs would stop trembling.

“Speech”