Rita uses her wings to slow her descent enough to land gracefully on her feet, but that doesn't stop her heart from leaping into her throat at the sudden plunge. She shoots a dirty look at Nightshade, but the others' complaints more or less echo what she'd like to say, so she leaves it at that.

Her attention is pulled away from spiteful thoughts when Childermass brings up the temperature. "Now that you mention it... You're right. This isn't normal, even if it's underground." Says Rita, who should know, having spent most of her life essentially in a cave. It's not entirely out of place, considering the bizarre weather patterns of the Wyldlands, but it makes Rita feel vaguely uneasy, despite that.