Shiro strained against the mermaids holding him back. His whole body aches and he could feel his own wounds opening and closing as he squirmed but he had to go, he had to get to Matt, he couldn’t just leave him. He heard a soothing voice trying to reassure him but he couldn’t focus on it. Then he heard Matt.

He stopped struggling and looked for Matt, then sighed in relief. It was real, there he was. He was okay. He saw how excited he was and felt relief wash over him. He chuckled softly, “Well done Matt... you did well to get back here. You’re injured though, are you okay?”

Allura sighed and gently readjusted the pillows behind Shiro to allow him to sit up for now. She looked over the new merman before her. She already knew his name and this was clearly the Matt that Shiro had been calling out for. She hoped that he might relax now. She addressed Matt, “You are hurt, can I help you at all? It might help Shiro to relax too. We’re having trouble getting him to settle down but he might listen to you.”