Gerald awoke several hours later to the sounds of birdsong. Rubbing the last vestiges of sleep out of his eyes, he looked around. He was no longer in the meadow, but was now lying comfortably on a pile of cushions. Looking down at himself, he found that he was wrapped in a thick blanket. He sat up, feeling confused. This couldn't have happened. Last he remembered, he'd been alone on the beach.
Slowly, he began to recall what happened next. He was still groggy from the sleep, and he stumbled to his feet, looking around. There was no sign of anyone, except for a lone person sitting nearby, leaning against one of the trees. He approached the stranger cautiously. As he approached, Gerald recognized the familiar figure sitting beside him.
"Felix?"
He took another step forward, his eyes wid
