It had been an entire night. Finally, the doctor emerged from the room. "The surgery went well," he informed her, "but he was... resistant at first. We had to drug him. Would you like to see him?"
He led her into the ward where August was asleep in a bed, his eyes closed. His face was puffy from the surgery and there were bandages around his face, but he was quiet and calm.
He grumbled slightly, waking up slowly. His eyes had returned to their deep, warm, sweet brown. "Aspen...?"