Swiftcurrent Creek How did I lose it when I was right there?

Hey - wait! There was very little time to react. Kel stood and stepped forward in the same frantic motion, catching Reverie before she could lift her child from where she rested. Hey, it's okay. You're safe. He tried to assure her, but he wasn't certain this was the right thing to say. Her words had been soft, but clear as day.
All he could really think about it was that's rough, buddy. It felt disingenuous, but he meant it. Kel had suffered with his own self-hatred for long enough to have some inkling of what it might be like to think of yourself as — cursed? A curse? Confusing. But he understood, as much as he could, so he tried to be gentle even as he held her firmly in place.