Wheeling Gull Isle and the worms ate into his brain

He'd made it down to the beach and thought himself to be stuck, but with some effort Mou had managed to climb back to a segment of dry grass so as to get his bearings. When the boy finally came across a familiar path he followed it, and soon he found himself breathing heavily. The air was already thick with summer heat and it would only get worse as the hours progressed.

After a second or two to catch his breath, he got back up and began searching for the path that would take him to his hovel — at least it would be cool and comfortable there. He didn't make it far, though, before the familiar sight of Maegi caught in his good eye; he didn't think, he just reacted. The boy's body lurched and he staggered towards her, sinking to his belly when he was next to her, chuffing and whining with his useless airy voice all the while.

He was excited to see her — so, so glad that she was alright — and he was mindless in his affections, reaching for her with his nose and trying to bunt her chin, lick her cheek, anything that would convey that since he couldn't simply say it.

Of all the moments to be the way he is, this one pains him the most.