Muscles locked in terrified stiffness, Daniel has very little wherewithal to do anything but screw his eyes shut and try not to think of the pitiless drop beneath him. Maybe he'll wake up if the branch truly breaks. Maybe he won't have to actually endure the absolute horror of the entire lengthy fall.

He almost latches onto the branch out of instinct, the only remotely solid anchor in his life right now, when he's seized and lifted and spilled onto the mercifully solid wooden floor in breathless heap.

For a long minute he splays there, unable to articulate much between the wordless panting, until he rolls onto his side and levers himself up on one elbow to give his rescuer a cautious look.

"Er." His eyes need a couple moments of rapid blinking and head-shaking to readjust. "Thanks."