It's only as her hand rests with Aqua that Ashley begins to realize. Realize that her nails are grown out, longer, that she has claws instead of her regular nails. She nearly flinches though Ashley manages to steady herself, not wanting to take the chance of hurting Aqua for the kindness of helping her.

"I can't..." She makes a face, ducking her head. "Don't let me hurt you. I don't want to hurt you. Don't let me," she says softly. Mostly because she's terrified of what might happen if she fails and does hurt Aqua, and what she'll do after hurting another. She's hurt people so much in the last few weeks, and parts of her, the parts they created, they still crave that. She can't let herself give into the darkness, to the blackness where Ashley didn't exist and a monster did.

Settling in by the fire, shoulders curled in, huddling in on herself as if that would make it all okay. Except she's not really sure it ever can be okay.

"Thank you. I... thank you," she says, nodding. "I need... I want to remember here. Ashley. Who I am."