Stavanger Bay losing feeling's getting old

he too, had been holding his breath, wondering if she would come to join him, and when she did, velen let it out in a low sigh. this wasn't so bad; it was similar to how it had been when they were walking, the warmth of her seeping into his damp fur toward his skin. only now, the boy was keenly aware of how small she was, how fragile dalia could be in quieter times, and the feeling of instinctual guardianship rose in his heart again.
"it would suck to catch a cold," velen mumbled, a pleasant heat sweeping across his withers as she pressed her slender muzzle against his neck. carefully, aware of their proximity, he moved to mirror her, letting his lips linger just beneath the bulb of her ear before pulling away.
the girl was speaking now; the ceto cupped his ears to listen. a grin cracked his jaws; tongue lolling in amusement, he gave a short laugh. "honestly my mission was totally compromised by an orca." but despite her light-hearted humour, velen found he didn't feel much like joking, not now.
on a whim, afraid she could hear the wild thudding of his heartbeat, the mayfair-cairn shifted and passed his muzzle across her cheek reassuringly. "i'm glad to be needed." especially by you. only by you, velen added silently to himself, swallowing some vestige of terror before looking out to sea once more, seeking to steady himself on the scent of brine in the cold night air.