As Layla dove, it felt as if Maric's heart stopped. He looked down only to see the very ground rushing up towards them, which was almost enough to make him cough up the breakfast they only just had. The paladin made a mental note to himself to not eat right before he had to go flying again.<br/>"What?" Maric shouted back to Nimue after she finished instructing him.<br/>All he heard was something about bending his knees, and feet touching the ground.<br/>Suddenly, he felt the dragon's grasp release him, and the ground rushed up to meet the frightened knight. Sure enough, he kept his legs bent, but did not try to run forwards, as that part of the message escaped him during his panic. Instead, the knight rolled upon contact as he sometimes did upon leaping from his horse into battle, but his momentum from this was too great. Instead of rolling back onto his feet as intended, Maric flopped forwards and continued to roll for some time before landing on his back with a heavy thud, knocking the very breath from him.<br/>After a few moments, when he thought himself recovered, the paladin attempted to sit up, but fell back down onto his back as his ribs still ached from the impact. He was sure nothing was damaged though. There was no pain to suggest that he had fractured anything. Only a few bruises.