Day 28: Gem’s Journal

I found myself near the old ruins again. I don’t know why I keep going back there. The stones feel cold under my paws, like they’ve been waiting for me for a long time. Vex said something last night by the river—his voice was low, almost like he was whispering secrets to the wind. I tried to forget it, but the words keep looping in my head: *‘You’re not alone in the storm.’* I keep thinking about how the world feels so heavy sometimes, like I’m standing on the edge of something big. Then I remember Kronyx’s den, where I sat for hours watching the stars. He didn’t say much, but his silence felt warm. I wonder if he knows what I’m feeling. Maybe he does. I don’t know what to believe anymore—just that I need to find a way to breathe without the weight of everything pressing down. The air smells like rain and old earth, and for a moment, I think I understand why I keep coming back to these places. Maybe the ruins aren’t just broken stones. Maybe they’re where the answers are. I close my eyes and try to remember the feeling of being small and safe, but my mind is restless. I don’t know if tomorrow will be better or worse, but I’ll try to listen to what the wind says.