She was adrift on an unsteady piece of a blown-up boat, in a dark ocean with non-sequitur fireworks exploding overhead and Tex was singing Johnny Cash to her. Laura felt like she was caught up in a crazy analogy of her own crazy life.

When Tex stood up, waving his hands and shouting to attract Bastian’s attention, the shard of boat jerked alarmingly, and Laura squeaked and tried to flatten herself further, stabilizing their makeshift craft. Warm water splashed over the surface of the decking, soaking parts of her clothing that had only just gotten dry.

But it worked. Within a few moments, Bastian caught sight of Tex, or heard his ridiculous cowboy yodeling, and circled around to fly straight for them. He dove into the water just in front of their craft and came out of the water in human form, pulling himself partway up and asking flippantly, “Hey, you guys need some help?”

Swamped in the water that rushed up over the decking due to his extra weight, Laura could only laugh weakly. “I’d love a drink.”

Bastian tsked. “What kind of bartender are you, Tex, coming out all this way on a romantic excursion with no drinks?”

Tex, crouching again to keep them from capsizing, mock laughed. “Very funny, Bastian. All the booze sank with the boat. Can you tow us home?”

Bastian was already inspecting what was left of the railing, and nodded in approval. “Shouldn’t be a problem.” He had a little coil of rope unclipped from his belt and began tying a sturdy knot. “The real problem,” he added, “is what Scarlet it going to say when she sees what you did to her boat.”

“It won’t compare to what she’ll say when she realizes the entire shipment of wine is at the bottom of the drink,” Tex said.

“How did you know to come looking for us?” Laura had to ask. “Did Fred tell you?” Something was very wrong with the entire situation with Fred, and she had a bone-deep need to understand it, as badly as she didn’t want to believe it.

“Fred? That balding fellow with the nervous twitch? No, he hasn’t had anything to say beyond asking for more drinks at the bar. Which by the way, Tex, I don’t think Scarlet is ever going to let you leave again. No one can keep the natives from getting restless like you can. No, it was an otter that clued me in.”

“An otter?” said Tex and Laura together in astonishment.

“We were just talking about whether I should go out after you when it came right up on the beach looking utterly wiped out, dragging what was left of your hat. Must have swum it’s little heart out, poor thing.”

Twice that otter had saved them, Laura realized, and she felt unsettled.

“Now, speaking of swimming a heart out, you two hold on. I can move a little faster than an otter.”

Bastian shifted as he dove back into the water, jeweled scales cutting through the waves in the pale moonlight like diamonds. He had the other end of the rope in his mouth, and Laura was glad that she’d taken his advice to heart and wrapped both arms around a piece of railing.

The rope went taut with a jerk, and they were gliding across the water like a poor attempt at a water skate, every other wave cresting over and drenching them. Laura was pathetically grateful when Tex wiggled his way over to her and reached around so he was cradling her between his arms as he held them both on.

She even felt safe enough to take some enjoyment out of the wild ride; the water seemed to be going past as fast as it did on the boat, but they were down at the surface of it. It felt like they were part of it, like they were somehow connected to the ocean’s fierce energy.

It was difficult to look up, as that meant a faceful of water periodically, but glances showed Laura first a glimmer of light on the horizon, then it resolved into the familiar terraces of Shifting Sands, the pool deck lit like a beacon. There was a dying bonfire on the beach.

Over the reef, the water was suddenly much more still, and Laura could look up and see all the gorgeous levels of the resort. It felt like home, and she suspected that not all of the saltwater on her face was from the ocean.

Bastian remained in dragon shape as they got to the beach, and pulled the boat fragment far up onto the sand. A few remaining guests and tired staff reached hands to help them up from the fiberglass shard.

Laura was wrapped in a thick towel and handed a bottle of water.

She was stiff from the long wait in the cool night air, and her whole body protested the workout that had come from holding herself in place while being dragged back to shore.

Everyone had questions, and Laura truthfully answered what she could, not bringing Fred into the conversation, and keeping a wary eye out for him in the crowd.

Tex was never far from her side, and she was glad to lean on him.

“Your hat,” Bastian said, handing Tex what was left of it.

“It’s all chewed up,” he said mournfully. “I’ve had that hat for fifteen years!”

“Give the otter a break,” Laura said, feeling defensive of the creature who had been so good to them. “What happened to it? The otter, I mean.”

“Gizelle wrapped it up in a towel and took it up to the pool deck,” Bastian said. “Muttering about her human being scared, too, and something about long swims and water that wasn’t wet. You know Gizelle. About half of it is nonsense.”

“And half of it isn’t,” Tex said thoughtfully, fingering the hole in his hat.

Laura swayed on her feet as a wave of exhaustion broke over her, and Bastian immediately noticed. “You guys have been through a lot. Do you want some dinner?”

“Breakfast, actually,” said Breck, indicating the dawn breaking on the horizon.

Laura’s stomach rumbled distinctly, but she said, “A shower. I’d really like a shower first.”

The crowd dispersed, back to their drinks and what was left of the bonfire, and let Tex and Laura climb the stairs from the beach up to the pool deck alone.