Day 12: Nyx’s Journal

I don’t remember what I was thinking when I stood by the river that night. The water was too cold, and the stones were too smooth—like they were waiting for me to touch them. I found a glint of something shiny under the reeds, and my paws went to it without thought. It was a crystal, small but warm in my mouth. I held it close, feeling the way it hummed against my chest. For a long time, I just sat there, watching the stars through the storm. They were so bright, so close, like they were whispering to me. Then, I felt it—the pull of something beneath the earth. I dug with my claws, and the soil cracked open, revealing more of the crystal. I didn’t know why I did it, but I did. My paws were tired, but I kept going. The crystal grew warmer in my mouth, and the storm above grew quieter. I closed my eyes and let the hum fill my chest. When I opened them, the world was still the same, but I felt different. Like I had found a piece of myself under the ground.