The salt breeze had been such a shock that it took Meli's frantic scream that would show her that this was reality.

She could feel the sand all along her legs--they had given out, and she fell on them. Her entire body shook something fierce, a cold sweat down her face. What an unfamiliar feeling that had gripped her heart so, something that had shaken her to her very foundation. It was so foreign, there was something that maybe a long, long time ago she had it once, but...gods, how it gripped her. So tight. It was paralyzing, it was tremendous, and even as she would plead with her body to move, it would not let her. Tears threatened to fall, but she fought against them, though she already had wrapped her own arms around her body, trying to fight off that feeling.

Fear was a poison she thought she had long conquered.

Aloa forced herself back to her feet as reality would once again set in, rushing to Michel. She had to ignore Meli's barrage of words, none of which made sense (though whether it was due to Meli's shock or Aloa's own fears was up to debate) as she placed both her hands on that small, dangerous void. She knew how to deal with it, or at the very least, knew how to prolong it. But as she willed the magicks to appear, they would not heed her call. It took her a moment to realize her arms had been trembling.

[i][color=plum]Not like this. My own death, perhaps, but not his.[/color][/i] The grim thought crossed her mind, pouring a warm feeling over her body as focus returned to her. Lacing her magicks over his body, she poured her mist--or rather, someone else's--into Michel's body, and for the moment, the portal would lessen, and after a moment, it would vanish. She released a breath she had been unaware she was holding, throwing her head back. [i][color=plum]I've gotten sloppy,[/color][/i] She sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"[color=yellowgreen]Is--Is he going to be alright?[/color]" Meli asked, having calmed down herself.

"[color=plum]For now. I know little of the void,[/color]" Aloa admitted bitterly.