Greatwater Lake and like weeds do he only came and grew back again

While Phillip tried to clean himself off, Mal kept watch. Nobody came, thankfully. 

But the way the boy acted, it certainly added weight to the whole thing. It had been bad. Bad enough Mal didn't want to really ask unless Phillip brought something up first. Mal was here to help, no matter what had happened -- the details didn't matter other than Mal should have gone out after him earlier, but he was going to do what he could now. 

At some point Mal had sat down to wait, and in that moment of silence, his ears tipped back a little. How could he have expected something to happen? Why did it happen? Ugh. Tell me how else I can help you? he finally asked quietly. We can go whenever you want.