"You guys found the orb piece of the Staff?" Kryschenn asked in surprise, wondering why no one had mentioned it before. Accepting Cole's offered hand, she hauled herself to her feet once again. "Then you guys must have found it in Venger's castle..."For just a moment, Kryschenn's voice trailed away in startled realization, but she covered it quickly, before the pause became noticeable. "...Then that means we're really onto something here! We might just be able to get that Staff assembled in time!" As she spoke, she stared covertly at her hand still in his. He'd offered her his hand to help her up...his right hand. The bandaged one.
Glancing up at Cole, she realized that his attention was diverted; he was looking around for where the piece of the Staff might have landed. She looked back down at his hand. The opportunity had presented itself so unexpectedly, and she would not let it slip by. She could feel the end of the leather strap under her fingers, it seemed loose enough...
"We just have to hope that the others find the rest of the pieces," she continued, hoping she didn't sound like she was babbling as she quickly glanced at Cole one more time, assuring herself that his attention was elsewhere, then back down at the makeshift bandage covering the mysterious injury that had him so defensive.
Please, please, stay distracted just long enough...
"I couldn't have thrown that piece too far," she went on casually. "I never went out for softball or anything, so I don't have that great of a pitching arm." Very, very carefully, so slowly that it was almost painful, she worked the end of the strap loose and began to unwrap it.
