        He looked at the writing in the sand, then back at his backpack.  She was suddenly reminded that her writing supplies were still tucked into her saddlebags—she hadn’t expected to be this far away from them.  She hadn’t planned to take them off, but the girth strap was damaged, and it pinched her belly.  She’d been meaning to get that fixed, but with all the planning that had been done, she just hadn’t had time.  Lyra wasn’t sure how to communicate that she wanted to get parchment—would he be insulted or worried if she ran back to her bags?