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In the end, it took them about the same amount of time to get back to the camp as it would have taken had Storm and Starr walked on their own - because with Earendil carrying Starr, Kelirahc carrying Storm, and Leyenda carrying Celeb, they had to be careful and thus walk slower than they would otherwise have.

But when they walked out onto the beach, even Storm seemed relieved. "Finally," he murmured, sliding off Kelirahc's back and onto the sand. "Sleep ..."

Kelirahc looked a little alarmed, and he picked up Storm again, this time carrying him in his arms. "No now," he said anxiously. "Wait ... to shelter ..."

"I thought they both got a lot," Earendil frowned, listening to Starr's even breathing as she slept on his back, her head on his shoulder, mouth to his ear. "Perhaps if they have a good sleep tonight they'll be fine. If not we'll have Arwen check them out in the morning."

He called out to Kelirahc. "Come, let's take them to the shelter," he told him. "Let them sleep."

"I don't know," Earendil replied softly as they headed towards the shelter. "I've never seen them like this ... even when they were upset, they were always full of energy."

Still, nothing would be gained by worrying, so all they could do was drop them off and let them sleep as long as they needed to.

As soon as the two were safely in the shelter, fast asleep, Earendil stretched and rubbed the back of his neck. "What about you, Lin?" he asked her with a smile. "You ready to sleep? Or did you want to do something else?"

Now was their chance to relax, perhaps have a bath, or chat with some of the others. It seemed Leyenda, Kelirahc and Celeb were off with Arwen and Roydon already.

"Not ready to sleep either," Earendil admitted. "Though I'm feeling a bit stiff and dirty ... I might go into the water for a bit. Kelirahc's also promised to teach me to swim tomorrow or the day after. For now I just won't go in deep, I guess."

He tilted his head at Lin. "Want to come with me?"

Earendil grinned. "Excellent. Come on, then." He got to his feet again and stretched, then grabbed the bottom of his shirt and lifted it over his head and tossed it aside. The bare skin of his chest and back was just as dark as his hands and face, bronzed by the sun and the wind.

"Race you," he winked; and without warning, he took off for the water at full speed.

Earendil blinked in surprise when he saw Lin appear in front of him in a flash of light (or so it seemed to him at least) but his step didn't falter.

"Now who's not playing fair?" he laughed, lengthening his stride and running even faster. "Come on! I'll still beat you!"

Earendil laughed, and as they reached the water's edge he splashed his way into the water until he was up to his waist - the same height as Lin's chest.

"You know I'd wait forever for you anyways," he grinned at her, flicking some water playfully in her direction. "But it makes races more fun at the least."