"Nng." The collision actually made Gabriel wake up, and he squinted at Re'l through his goggles, holding his head. Her voice hurt. Ow. "I was sleeping," he said, his voice pitched more quietly than hers. "Figured I'd give that whole 'exercise while you rest' thing a go."

How he was going to make it back up the cliff once it was time was something he hadn't quite stopped to think about when he'd heard the assertion down going down and back up again was the best route. He hadn't been in any position to argue, and part of him had suggested that going downstairs, where there would likely be less sunlight, would be a good idea. He just hadn't dared to stop and think it over beyond that, in case he wound up not moving again at all.