Re-l was half asleep when the shuffling noises and laboured breathing intruded on her consciousness. She jerked awake at once, her years of training taking over, and her gun was in her hand even as she spun around, her legs shifting to push her up into a crouch.

What she saw did not really warrant the reaction she had given it. One tired maybe-angel staggering through the ravine, looking like he should have stopped walking hours ago.

Part of Re-l reacted with extreme irritation, insisting to the rest of her that this was the last person she wanted to see. It used a lot of words like obnoxious and irritating. This part was swiftly overruled by the rest of Re-l, which was more aware of just how bad Gabriel looked.

"What are you doing?" she said, standing up and half catching, half colliding with the man. "Idiot. This kind of behaviour is going to kill you."