Stefan stumbles, falling to his knees and rolling across what looks like sand, but doesn't quite feel like it. And although the setting seems to be perfectly still, it feels like he's in motion and it makes his stomach churn unpleasantly. (Back in the realm of reality, Stefan twitches, shifting in his spot in response to the unexpected discomfort.) He had anticipated a traumatic or terrifying scene, as was common with nightmares that gripped with iron claws at a person's consciousness and kept them anchored deep in their dreams, but what he imagined hadn't been this.

"River!" He shouts, gripping at the walls that come and go as they please, eventually finding his footing again.