[The strike hits and everything changes--he's on solid ground again, somehow, and the gate has dissolved. Even though he seems to have eliminated the threat the guilt comes full-force. It really did look like he'd just killed a little girl, even if she clearly wasn't human, and had been a deadly threat. For a moment he's reminded of Ellia, her story far more tragic, though--
He makes it two steps forward to attempt to check on Ava but it's too late--
--he jolts, waking up. For a second he can't remember where he'd originally fallen asleep--he jerks up on a park bench, gripping the edge of it as he tries to orient himself.]
cw: child death
He makes it two steps forward to attempt to check on Ava but it's too late--
--he jolts, waking up. For a second he can't remember where he'd originally fallen asleep--he jerks up on a park bench, gripping the edge of it as he tries to orient himself.]
...that was, uh, different.