He's slightly startled to feel the paper catch when he comes to pull it away. He stops, of course, before it has a chance to tear.

"I'd consider us friends, yes," Cornifer says, meeting his eyes through his spectacles. "I don't think they'd ask just anyone to come here for them." This is not completely certain in how panicked they seemed, but they'd grown a camaraderie--or so he felt, noticing at times that they stopped to listen to his cheerful humming before and after picking up a map in their many encounters throughout Hallownest's fascinating terrain.

Still. He's concerned for them, no matter their specific feelings on him.