What could go wrong?

There was a brief moment of relief as Crux heard and saw Triss take in one cleaner breath. But then it was gone, and he was already moving onto the next step, though the wet red mist Triss coughed up nearly made him stumble, he hesitated, for just a moment before the part of him that kept the panic at bay slammed back onto the gas. He could have a break down about this later, once they were both okay! He quickly tipped his head back, calling for Riya who he'd left at home, mercifully they were not far. He hoped she'd arrive quickly. Then his attention was fully on Triss again. "Keep trying to cough." Crux wasn't sure if his words were even registering, it was half for himself anyways, a way to work through his thought process a little.

"Try to stay upright if you can." His tone was soft, as he leaned down and manoeuvred one of his paws to start lifting her back up, using his wrist to support her full weight if he had to. Her lungs, her esophagus and diaphragm needed the extra space being upright would offer, instead of constricting them she needed open air for them to fill in her chest and abdomen. His other fore paw went to her back. It was an awkward position, one that made his aching leg very unhappy, forced to lean back and sit on his haunches in a way he hadn't forced himself too in a bit, having started allowing himself the comfort of one leg sprawled more to the side. But he needed it firmly under himself now.

Crux gently searched for the space between her shoulder blades, found it, tilted his forepaw to the side to fit more easily between them and then wound back and with force slammed it back down onto her back, thrusting slightly upwards as he did. He repeated this action a couple of times. If there was blood in her throat they needed it out. Hopefully between coughing and this they'd clear it... If not...

Triss was so small, even giving her some slaps on the back felt like he might break her. The idea he might have to escalate to something even more potentially dangerous did not exactly fill him with confidence.

"Speech"