"Yeah," he murmurs, soft and weak, automatically reaching out and grasping onto her like a lifeline. "Just - just can't-" His head almost goes under again and Nova baps him roughly to keep him moving. He's so fucking tired, starting to come apart, residual panic and the cold of the water making him tremble all over. They're close, if she can just help him, pull him out - the monster is still subdued, whatever Daine's doing, it's probably insanely badass, knowing her - they're almost, absurdly, improbably, safe.

"He's okay, he just needs help swimming to the beach," says Nova somewhat frantically. "Please."