In the moments it takes between the footsteps behind him, the hand on his shoulder, and the words - a whole host of reactions flicker through Hakkai. Tension, surprise, relief. Bone-deep relief he doesn't know if there's a word for. Something misaligned sliding back into place again.

So when he tilts his head back to look at the man behind him, the smile is real -

"You were taking such a long time, I thought it best to rejoin civilization until you made up your mind. The fires make a decent landmark."

...