He knew she was too out of it to be talking, really, but all Conall had heard was the vague report from the Ministry, and he wouldn’t trust anything until he’d heard it from her own mouth. It had to have been bad, for them to have moved her out here - he would have to harass the healers about it once she was asleep. (The healers who worked at this hospital, and thus actually had some business being here, this time.)

He whistled through his teeth, mouth twisted into a grimace, as she gave her account. Water buffalo, Nile crocodile? He might not have seen much of the Zoo yet, but he’d not have bet on them having either. (Not that he’d expected to encounter hailstorms and fire rain in Irvingly, either.) “They were darn lucky to have you,” he muttered, squeezing her hand to communicate how sorry he was for the damage the croc had done. It’d have been nasty, no doubt. His chest clenched at the thought that she was lucky to be here, even in this state, and his throat closed up in gratitude soon after.

Conall nodded at her, making sure she caught it through her barely-open eye, but returned his hand to the crown of her head, stroking her hair the way he remembered doing when she’d been a tiny little girl drifting off to sleep, all those years ago. If this had happened, and he hadn’t been here...? He didn’t think he had ever felt more relieved. He was here, and she would soon be right as rain.

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