[ sam watches geralt’s gait, keeping an eye on everything he can see. his injuries aren’t life threatening, but they aren’t light either, things that can get worse but also things that sam doesn’t need to fix now. and that’s the mindset that sam has taken these last few days, week if he’s being honest - what can be put off, and what is needed immediately. what has to be addressed in the moment, and what he can come back to later.

geralt, right now, is on his feet. he’s clear-headed (enough), and sam knows he can keep moving just a bit longer. it does have sam on edge, already ready for monsters, for people, for anything else that might interfere. he’s going to take care of it, if it does come up. but for now they walk. ]

Me. I get at least an hour, but then you can start rolling your eyes. [ and sam’s smile is wider, though not exactly blinding, when he catches geralt’s eyes. it’s a kind of silent communication, that kind of conversation they’ve had before. and while sam hasn’t let the relief fully settle quiet yet, he does feel a bit of that tightness around his chest ease up.

easier to breathe in the cold, easier to keep focus. he turns back to the path ahead of them, checking for movement - friendly or foe. ] The portal’s beyond that ridge, just over a mile. How bad off are these others? [ and then, when he notices the way geralt braces, and frowns. ] I can splint you up if needed. You gonna make it?