He's gotten an inch through her now; that's what matters.

He holds up a hand, placating.

"As much as I want to just use you as a jumping stone," he fully admits, "you're good in a fight. And apparently it's not just the creeping slime we have to concern ourselves with. Either one of us keep climbing and something nastier than the puss comes calling, we're not making it." He's still holding the hand out like she's the animal, not him. "Like it or not, we have to work together. Watch each other's backs. If we can get ahead of the ooze maybe we'll have time to figure out how to get out of here."