Thomas' heart is speeding up next to him, and he smells excited and anticipatory. Derek smiles and then counts down from three, pushing through his heel once he says go. At first, he keeps pace with Thomas, who is exceptionally fast for a human, and he even lets him fall ahead a few times.

It's just a little over half a mile to the cove and Derek pulls ahead just before the break in the treeline, hopping gracefully between two pines to find himself on a small, rocky beach. It's blocked in by two tall cliff faces, creating a small, private bay where the ocean comes through. Derek slows once he reaches the smoother sand, tipping his head back and taking a deep breath of the salty ocean air.