He can tell she's tiring, but he's pleased to see her pushing her limits. It means that someday, probably soon, she'll be even stronger, and that sends shivers of anticipation down his spine.

He'll trust her to know when she's pushed too far and so continues the pace. The seal isn't far now, anyway.

It's only the spar that has him anxious to be home, but the good feeling makes him feel a little less like everything that can go wrong, will. Maybe there will even be good news waiting. About what, he can't begin to guess, but just maybe...