[Carlisle keeps his eyes on the ground as they exit, focusing on that rather than the garden behind them, the dog beside them, or his companion before him. He holds his hands before him, wondering how long it will be before they wither away, leaving little more than bony digits to hide beneath his leather gloves. Does he appear this way because he's dreaming? Or is there some other factor controlling it? As disappointed as he was with the facade of his garden, he does miss the way he looked before, back when he w—

He stops as his foot hits the water, stepping back once, then again in quick succession as his attention is drawn up to the water, to Reynir standing on it, then to the vast, empty sky above them. They remain on the vast night sky for several seconds, wide with terror, the glowing energy housed within them bright, agitated.]

R-r-r-r-r-Rey-n-n-n—

[That poor attempt at Reynir's name goes unfinished as Carlisle is certain the sky will swallow him whole if he stays there another minute. His legs tremble visibly, giving way beneath him; he scuttles clumsily toward the trees, clambering to his feet as he darts to the nearest one. Rather than hiding behind it, he presses his forehead to the trunk, his hands at his temples to close out the world around him. With the unnatural still of the in-between place, his anxious murmuring carries.]

It's not real it's not real it's not real it's fine it's fine this is fine it isn't real it's not real it's not real you're fine you're fine you're here you're here you're here you're fine—