The forces had already begun returning to the bloodwrath, why back there, for the sake of plot and thread continuity. Back on the ship, Ling found Macha waiting for him. She had reverted to her original shape, and was anxiously waiting for his return. Once she saw him, she ran to hug him, careless of those around them. "Dearest! You're alive!" She tightly hugged him. Very tightly.