"Oh! Yeah, okay." She notices that he seems to be exerting a little more of himself now, and redoubles her own efforts, spreading the quicksand as far as she can without endangering them both. If only, she thinks, there were some way to make it safe - of course!

She closes her eyes, pulling together all of her focus, and a boardwalk of planks springs up underfoot - enough to allow them safe passage over the quicksand while still giving him striking access to the snake. This way, she can make it as big as it needs to be. Secure in her footing, and in knowing they're safe, she starts working on imagining deeper sand.