Heron Lake Plateau [expletive deleted]

Oogh, Bat thought when nothing but choked air escaped her. She sucked in a breath to try again, then captured it in her chest as she saw Tegan appear and run straight toward her. It burst out of her in an audible whoosh when he embraced her. It kind of hurt (her body ached all over) but she wouldn't have said anything even if she could. Fat tears squeezed out of her eyes even as she closed them and smashed her face against Tegan's chest. She couldn't articulate but that didn't prevent a ragged sob from rattling its way up her throat.

His words momentarily chilled her blood, simply because she could easily imagine what he must have thought when she'd disappeared beneath the ice. She had no idea if he blamed himself for that but Bat certainly didn't. She continued clutching at him for a long spell, unwilling to let go (and pretty sure he felt the same, judging by the tautness of his grip), though she eventually sniffed and drew back just far enough to free her limbs for some rudimentary signing.

-Bat home,- she said with shaking limbs, so caught up that she didn't realize she'd spoken in third person. -Tegan.- It felt almost as good to "say" his name as it did to look at his face.