It took a few tries. His chest felt squeezed. It was hard to get a full, deep breath. He locked his focus on the snow, on the feel of Raylan's hand on his back, and just breathed. Breathed. The part of himself that danced along the edge of a breakdown whispered that he was breathing in the red in the air, that it would coat his lungs, that he'd never get this place out of himself, even if they made it back to the version of Mathias they'd been wrenched from.

Deep breath in, hold two three four.

Slowly, his breathing evened out. He wasn't sure he would call himself calmer. He wasn't sure he'd ever be able to call himself that. But he could breathe again. He straightened, slowly, then turned and pulled Raylan back into a hug. He hid his face against Raylan's shoulder again.

"We have to get back to the others."

There had to be a way.