When he hears his name called, Ned realizes that he now knows Galen well enough to recognize him by voice alone, which is kind of nice. What isn't kind of nice is the stab of fear that follows, unbidden. He pushes it down; he knew this was going to have to happen, one of these days. Ned had no intentions of initiating it himself, so he's glad that Galen has seen fit to do so.

"I'm here," he answers, from a few feet away, hidden by a curtain of honeysuckle and morning glories. The air is sweet with the smell of growing things, the sun shining. It doesn't seem quite the right setting, for the conversation that Ned expects is to follow. His body language is similar to Galen's: hunched, defensive, arms folded across his chest tightly. Ned's back is to a tree, and it's a small comfort. He feels rooted, safer.

When Galen comes into view Ned glances up at him automatically, but pales visibly upon looking at his face, looking away quickly and not quite suppressing a shiver. He mentally berates himself for his complete lack of subtlety and ability to lie with his body language.

"How are you?" No need to be impolite.