"Wait," Briar said as she turned to go, reaching into his pack. "In case you can't get out the side gate, take these. The salve's for burns, and the packet will make a tea that'll get whatever you inhale out of your lungs. Coughing that stuff up is... unpleasant, but it's better than more permanent smoke damage." He tossed them lightly to Gwen one at a time. It was that or put them on the floor, since he'd thought quickly enough to remember he couldn't touch her. Briar wanted to avoid making her think about that any more often than she already had to. "Medicine's my most useful contribution in a crisis. Knives are third on the list." Briar didn't elaborate on what came second. Gwen wasn't the only one with combat abilities that went beyond physical strength.

"Thanks for the offer," he told her, "I promise I'll keep it in mind." Grimly, Briar added a reassurance. "I've survived this once already. What's one more time?" One more time was a whole new round of nightmares, but at least Briar knew what was coming. His chances of making it out were higher this time around.