"Yeah, well. Let's not test it out today." Ellie manages a smile for him, a light pat on the cheek that might be a little harder than she meant it to be, but she takes out her knife and stays close. She has the ugly suspicion that he's going to lose his footing soon.

"Only the front lines," she quips, a little huff of breath that is and isn't a laugh, and reaches out to slip her free hand into his, squeezing.

"Don't worry. I can get us through. Just keep hold of me."