Sipara's manner can be grating online. In person, it is not proving much better.

Your lusus seems to agree. He sneezes distastefully as the two of you back up, and as soon as the grate opens, he shrugs free of the harness and jumps down into the sewer. You can't help the way your hand goes out to stop him, even though you know he'll be fine: he's part scalebeast, part meowbeast and entirely boneless, when he wants to be. The only harm the jump'll do him is if he accidentally chips his horn.

"I am taller than you," you inform Sipara snippily, and then you descend down the ladder after him.