Yeah. Definitely was going to have to tell her his real name, before he did another double take trying to figure out where his friend was in trouble. At least he didn’t have time to feel guilty.

No one could ever claim he wasn’t fast thinking in a pinch. He barely missed a beat, letting his balance drop with one leg leading out, counting on gravity to pull him down the rapidly increasing slope, allowing him to drop one hand down, skimming the sand before he grabbed her waist, pulling her firmly against himself as he used his momentum to send then both off into the sand.

He could feel her stumbling in her effort to catch her balance, so he kept her locked against him as he started to break into a run - half propelling her forward.

“I got you!” He yelled over the roar of the sand. Or, uh, maybe that was an actual roar. “Don’t stop! I’m right behind you!”

He let go of her waist and pushed her forward.