It is past midday before he wakes again, sunlight streaming through the trees near the edge of the beach to cast pockets of light on the place where he chose for their 'nest'. He is only partially awake, then startles because he cannot hear her heartbeat, the deep slow sound of the dragon gone from his ears - where is she - and he is already moving to rouse himself, needing to go find her.

Then his brain registers that she is wrapped around him and stirring (since he has woken her) and the relief that hits him is like whiplash.

"There you are," he whispers, voice a little shaky (thanks to the adrenaline rush). And he means it in so many ways.